VMED 5161 Terminology: Key Terms & Definitions for Anatomy

What is the study of word origin and how they got there meaning from usually Latin or Greek roots?

Etymology

What are some reasons for the Greek and Latin origins of medical terms?

- Greeks and Romans were the groups to first really study the body and its functions

- The words don't change over time

Where are the standardized revisions to anatomical terminology published by an international committee of specialists?

Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria

dia-

through, completely, across

epi-

on, upon, near over

hypo-

under

Why is medical terminology important?

- Universal between languages and across professions

- Descriptive and informative

What is the art of dissection?

Anatomy

What is the study of shape, architecture, and topography of structures and organs in animals?

Morphology

a- or an-

without

ecto-

outside, out of

endo-

within

meta-

among, between, beside

para-

beside, equal

peri-

around

pro-

before, Infront of

sym-/syn-

with, along with

ab-

away from

ad-

to, up, near

ante-

before, in front of

circum-

around

infra-

below, beneath

post-

after

pre-

before

retro-

backward

semi-

half

sub-

under

supra-

above

-ac, -ic

of the

-ion

diminutive

-issimus

forms the superlative

-oid

form, resemblance, shape, likeness

-logy

study of

-al, -an, -ar, -ary, -ile, -ory

of the

-ate

similar shapes

-er, -or, -sor, -tor

agents or doer of an action

-iform

similar shapes

-llus, -ella, ellum

diminutive

-olus, -ulus

diminutive

a. (plural aa.)

artery

v. (plural vv.)

vein

n. (plural nn.)

nerve

m. (plural mm.)

muscle

ln. (plural lnn.)

lymph node

__________ is the study of the form, arrangement, and structure of the tissues and organs that compose the body.

Anatomy

The use of light microscopy and

electron microscopy to study the structures invisible to the

eye is a subdiscipline of anatomy known as _______________

anatomy

microscopic

The discipline is also extended by the study of

the stages through which the organism evolves from conception through birth, youth, and maturity to old age; this

study, known as ___________ anatomy

developmental

What disciple is more specific than developmental anatomy and confines its attention to the unborn?

classic embryology

The central focus of the anatomy now is to understand the relationships between structure and function, which can be described as ______________ anatomy

functional

_______ anatomy is the study of groups and organs that are closely related in their functions to constitute body systems

Systemic

___________ anatomy is directly concerned with the form and relationships of all the organs present in particular parts or regions of the body

Regional

What are some organs which positions can be determined by auscultation?

Heart, lungs

What is the study of structures that can be dissected and observed with the unaided eye or with a hand lens?

Gross anatomy

What is the anatomy of one part in relation to other parts of the body?

Topographical anatomy

What is the practical application of topographical anatomy in the diagnosis and treatment of pathological conditions?

applied anatomy

What is the study of structures too small to be seen without a light microscope?

microscopic anatomy

What is the examination of structure with electron microscopes?

ultrastructural anatomy

What is the study of deceased animals or organs that are not functioning properly?

pathological anatomy

What is the study of the development of the individual from the fertilized oocyte to birth?

embryology

What is the study of the development from the zygote to the adult animal?

developmental anatomy

What is the study of abnormal development?

teratology

What is a surface, real or imaginary, along which any two points can be connected by a straight line?

Plane

What plane divides the head, body, or limb longitudinally into equal right and left halves?

Median Plane

What plane passes through the head, body or limb parallel to the median plane (not on midline)?

Sagittal Plane

What plane cuts across the head, body or limb at a right angle to its long axis or across the long axis of an organ or part?

Transverse Plane

What plane runs at right angles to the median and transverse planes and thus divides the body or head into dorsal and ventral portions?

Dorsal

What direction is toward or relatively near the upper surface (as opposed to the supporting surface) of the head, body, and tail?

Dorsal

What direction is toward or relatively near the supporting surface and the corresponding surface of the head, neck, thorax, and tail?

Ventral

What direction is toward or relatively near the median plane?

Medial

What direction is away from or relatively farther from the median plane?

Lateral

What direction is toward or relatively near the head; on the limbs it applies proximal to the carpus and tarsus?

Cranial

What term replaces cranial once the structure is on the head (means near nose)?

Rostral

What term means toward or relatively near the tail?

Caudal

What term references something close to, or in the direction of, the center of an organ, body cavity, or structure?

Internal or inner

What term references something away from the center of an organ or structure?

External or outer

What term means relatively near the surface of the body or the surface of a solid organ?

Superficial

What term means relatively near the center of the body of the center of a solid organ?

Deep

What term means relatively near the main mass or origin; in the limbs and tail, the free end of that structure?

Proximal

What term means away from the main mass or origin?

Distal

What term means on that side of the forearm (antebrachium) in which the radius is located?

Radial

What term means on that side of the forearm in which the ulna is located?

Ulnar

On the leg, the tibial side is considered to be __________ and the fibular side is considered to be ____________

medial, lateral

What term pertains to the aspect of the forepaw where the pads are located?

Palmar

What term pertains to the aspects of the hindpaw where the pads are located?

Plantar

What is a central line of the body or any of its parts?

axis

What means towards the axis, usually pertaining to the digits?

axial

What means away from the axis, usually pertaining to the digits?

abaxial

What is movement of one bone in relation to another in such a manner that the angle formed at their joint is reduced?

flexion

What is the movement of one bone in relation to another in such a manner that the angle formed at their joint is increased?

extension

What is the movement of a part away from the median plane?

abduction

What is the movement of a part closer to the median plane?

adduction

What is the movement of a part when outlining the surface of a cone?

circumduction

What is the movement of a part around its long axis?

rotation

What is lateral rotation of the appendage so that the palmar or plantar surface of the paw faces medially?

supination

What is medial rotation of the appendage from the supine position so that the palmar or plantar surface will face the substrate?

pronation