ALHS Body Structure

cellular level

smallest structural and functional unit of the body

tissue level

group of similar cells performing a function

organ level

structure made of different tissues working together

system level

group of organs working together

organism level

entire living being

anterior

front of body

posterior

back of body

superior

above

inferior

below

medial

toward the midline

lateral

away from midline

proximal

near the point of origin

distal

far from the point of origin

cephalad

toward the head

caudad

toward the tail

ventral

belly side

dorsal

back side

supine

lying face up

median plane

divides body into left and right halves

frontal plane

divides body into front and back

horizontal plane

divides body into upper and lower portions

cranial cavity

contains the brain

spinal cavity

contains spinal cord

thoracic cavity

contains heart and lungs

abdominal cavity

contains digestive organs

pelvic cavity

contains bladder and reproductive organs

RUQ

right upper quadrant

LUQ

left upper quadrant

RLQ

right lower quadrant

LLQ

left lower quadrant

right hypochondriac

upper right abdominal region

epigastric

region above stomach

left hypochondriac

upper left abdominal region

right lumbar

right middle region

umbilical

region around navel

left lumbar

left middle region

right inguinal

lower right region near groin

hypogastric

lower middle region

left inguinal

lower left region near groin

chondr/o

cartilage

cyt/o

cell

hist/o

tissue

nucle/o

nucleus

super/o

above

infer/o

below

anter/o

front

poster/o

back

medi/o

middle

ventr/o

belly side

caud/o

tail

cephal/o

head

cervic/o

neck

gastr/o

stomach

thorac/o

chest

cytometer

instrument to measure cells

mediad

toward the middle

histolysis

breakdown of tissue

thoracic

pertaining to chest

cervical

pertaining to neck

periumbilical

around the navel

craniometer

instrument to measure skull

chondroma

cartilage tumor

gastritis

inflammation of stomach

adhesion

scar tissue binding surfaces

endoscopy

visual exam using scope

fluoroscopy

real

inflammation

body response to injury or infection

sepsis

severe body response to infection

ultrasonography

imaging using sound waves

endoscope

instrument to view inside body

tomography

process of recording slices/images

cytologist

specialist in study of cells

hematology

study of blood

thermometer

instrument to measure heat

radiologist

specialist in x

gastrology

study of stomach

anastomosis

surgical connection between structures

cauterization

burning or freezing tissue to destroy it