Chapter 5 - Medical terminology

Basic terminology - will add more later

abduction

motion of a limb AWAY from the midline

adduction

motion of a limb TOWARD the midline

anterior

the front surface of the body; the side facing you in the standard anatomic position

apex (plural apices)

the pointed extremity of a conical structure

bilateral

a body part or condition that appears on both sides of the midline (bi means both, lateral meaning side)

deep

farther inside the body and away from the skin

distal

farther from the trunk or nearer to the free end of the extremity

dorsal

the posterior surface of the body, including the back of the hand

extension

the straightening of a joint

flexion

the bending of a joint

Fowler position

an inclined position in which the head of the bed is raised

inferior

below a body part or nearer to the feet

lateral

parts of the body that lie farther from the midline; also called outer structure

medial

parts of the body that lie closer to the midline; also called inner structures

palmar

the forward-facing part of the hand in the anatomic position

plantar

the bottom surface of the foot

posterior

the back surface of the body; the side away from you in the anatomic position

prone

laying face down

proximal

closer to the trunk

quadrants

describes the sections of the abdominal cavity, in which two imaginary likes intersect at the umbilicus, dividing the abdomen into four equal areas

superficial

closer to or on the skin

superior

above a body part of nearer to the head

supine

lying face up

ventral

the anterior surface of the body

cardi

heart

hepat

liver

nephr

kidney

neur

nerves

psych

mind

thoarc

chest

hyper-

over, excessive, high

hypo-

under, below, normal

tachy-

rapid, fast

brady-

slow

pre-

before

post-

after, behind

-al

pertaining to

-algia

pertaining to pain

-ectomy

surgical removal of

-ic

pertaining to

-itis

inflammation

-logy

study of

-logist

specialist

-megaly

enlargement

-meter

measuring instrument

-oma

tumor

-pathy

disease

cyan/o

blue

leuk/o

white

erythr/o

red

cirrh/o

yellow-orange

melan/o

black

poli/o

gray

alb

white

chlor/o

green

ab-

away from

ad-

to, toward

de-

down from, away

circum-

around, about

peri-

around

trans-

across, through, beyond

epi-

above, upon, on

supra-

above, over

retro-

behind

sub-

under, beneath

infra-

below, under

para-

near, beside, beyond, apart from

contra-

against, opposite

ecto-

out, outside

endo-

within

extra-

outside, in addition

intra-

inside, within

ipsi-

same

acou/o

hear

aden/o

gland

adip/o

fat

alges/o

pain

vas/o

blood vessel

viscer/o

internal organs

thorac/o

chest

sinus

cavity, channel, or hollow space