EMS 1010: Medical Terminology

abdominal quadrants

four divisions of the abdomen used to pinpoint the location of a pain or injury: the right upper quadrant (RUQ), the left upper quadrant (LUQ), the right lower quadrant (RLQ), and the left lower quadrant (LLQ).

anatomic position

the standard reference position for the body in the study of anatomy. In this position, the body is standing erect, facing the observer, with arms down at the sides and the palms of the hands forward.

anatomy

The study of body structure

anterior

the front of the body or body part

bilateral

on both sides

combining form

A word root with an added vowel that can be joined with other words, roots, or suffixes to form a new word.

compound

a word formed from two or more whole words

distal

farther away from the torso

dorsal

referring to the back of the body or the back of the hand or foot. A synonym for posterior

Fowler position

sitting position

inferior

away from the head, usually compared with another structure that is closer to the head

lateral

to the side, away from the midline of the body

medial

toward the midline of the body

midaxillary line

a line drawn vertically from the middle of the armpit to the ankle

midclavicular line

the line through the center of each clavicle

midline

An imaginary line drawn down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left halves.

palmar

referring to the palm of the hand

physiology

the study of function

plane

a flat surface formed when slicing through a solid object

plantar

referring to the sole of the foot

posterior

the back of the body or body part

prefix

word part added to the beginning of a root or word to modify or qualify its meaning

prone

lying facedown

proximal

closer to the torso

recovery position

lying on the side. also called the lateral recumbent position

root

foundation of a word that is not a word that can stand on its own

suffix

a word part that can be added at the end of a root or word to complete its meaning

superior

toward the head

supine

lying on the back

torso

The trunk of the body, or the body without the head and the extremities.

unilateral

limited to one side

ventral

referring to the front of the body. a synonym for anterior