Chapter 2: terms to pertaining to the body as a whole

EMT vocabulary

Anabolism

process of building up large proteins from small protein pieces called amino acids

Catabolism

process whereby complex nutrients are broken down to simpler substances and energy is released

cell membrane

Structure surrounding and protecting the cell. It determines what enters and leaves the cell.

Chromosomes

rod-shaped structures in the nucleus that contain regions of DNA called genes. There are 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in every cell except for the egg and sperm cells, which contain only 23 individual, unpaired chromosomes

Cytoplasm

all the material that is outside the nucleus and yet contained within the cell membrane

DNA

Chemical found within each chromosome. Arranged like a sequence of recipes in code, it directs the activities of the cell.

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Network of canals within the cytoplasm of the cell. Here, large proteins are made from smaller protein pieces.

Genes

regions of DNA within each chromosome

Karyotype

Picture (classification) of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell. The chromosomes are arranged in numerical order to determine their number and structure

Metabolism

Total of the chemical processes in a cell. It includes catabolism and anabolism.

Mitochondria

rod-shaped structures in the cytoplasm that provide the principal source of energy ( miniature "power plants") for the cell. Catabolism is the process that occurs in the mitochondria

Nucleus

Control center of the cell. It contains chromosomes and directs the activities of the cell

adipose tissue

collection of fat cells

cartilage

flexible connective tissue often attached to bones at joints. cartilage forms part of the external ear and the nose. Rings of cartilage surround the trachea

epithelial cells

skin cells that cover the outside of the body and line the internal surfaces of organs

histologist

specialist in the study of tissues

larynx

voice box; located above the trachea

pharynx

throat, the common passageway for food (from the mouth going to the esophagus) and air (from the nose to the trachea)

pituitary gland

endocrine gland at the base of the brain

thyroid gland

endocrine gland that surrounds the trachea in the neck

trachea

windpipe (tube leading from the throat and larynx to the bronchial tubes)

ureter

one of two tubes, each leading from a single kidney to the urinary bladder

urethra

tube from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body

Uterus

The womb. The organ that holds the embryo/fetus as it develops

viscera

the internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdomen

cranial cavity

space in the head containing the brain and surrounded by the skull

Diaphragm

muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities. the diaphragm moves up and down aids in breathing

Dorsal (posterior)

pertaining to the back

mediastinum

Centrally located space outside of and between the lungs

pelvic activity

space below the abdomen containing portions of the intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, and reproductive organs

pleura

double-folded membrane surrounding each lung

pleural cavity

space between the pleural layers

spinal cavity

space within the spinal column (backbones) containing the spinal cord

thoracic activity

space in the chest containing the heart, lungs, bronchial tubes, trachea, esophagus, and other organs

Ventral (anterior)

pertaining to the front

hypochondriac

upper regions beneath the ribs

epigastric

middle upper region above the stomach

lumbar

right and middle regions near the waist

umbilical

central region near the navel

inguinal

Right and left lower regions near the groin. Also called iliac regions.

hypogastric

middle lower region below the umbilical region

RUQ

right upper quadrant

LUQ

left upper quadrant

RLQ

right lower quadrant

LLQ

left lower quadrant

vertabra

single backbone

vertebrae

backbones

spinal column

bone tissue surrounding the spinal cavity

spinal cord

nervous tissue within the spinal cavity

disc

pad of cartilage between vertebrae

inferior

below another structure; pertaining to the lower portion of the body; example ; the feet

lateral

pertaining to the side example: when in the anatomic position ( palms of the hands facing outward), the thumb is lateral

medial

pertaining to the middle or near the medial plane of the body example: when in the anatomic position (palms of the hands facing outward), the fifth (little) finger is medial

Posterior (dorsal)

back surface of the body example: back of the head is posterior (dorsal) to the face

prone

lying on the belly example: (face down palms down) example: the backbone is examined in the prone position.

Proximal

near the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a structure example: the proximal end of the thigh bone (femur) joins with the hip socket

Surperficial

on the surface example: superficial veins can be viewed through the skin

superior (cephalic)

above another structure; pertaining to the head example: the head lies superior to the neck

supine

lying on the back (face up, palms up) example: when the patient lies supine during an examination of the abdomen and in females during a pelvic (gynecologic) exam

Anterior (ventral)

front surface of the body example: the forehead

deep

away from the surface example: stab wound penetrated deep into the abdomen

distal

far from the point of attachment to the trunk or far from the beginning of a structure example: at its distal end, the femur joins the the knee cap

Cervical(c1)

neck region. There are 7 cervical membranes ( c1-c7)

thoracic (t2)

chest regain. There are 13 thoracic vertebrae (t1-t12) each bone is joined to a rib

lumbar (L3)

10in (waist) or flank region (between the ribs and the hipbone). There are five lumbar vertebrae (L1 to L5).

sacral(s4)

5 bones (s1-s5) are fused to form one bone , the sacrum

coccygeal(5)

the coccyx (tailbone) is a small bone composed of four fused pieces

cranial cavity (1)

brain, pituitary gland

thoracic cavity (2)

lungs, heart, esophagus, trachea, bronchial tubes, thymus gland, aorta( large artery) plerual cavity : space surrounding each lung. mediastinum: space between each lung

abdominal cavity(3)

the peritoneum is the double folded membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity. It attaches the abdominal organs to the abdominal muscles and surrounds each organ to hold it in place, kidney are situated behind the abdominal cavity on either side of the backbone. contains the stomach, small and large intestines, spleen, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. the diaphragm divides the abdominal and thoracic cavity

pelvic cavity(4)

portions of the small and large intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, urethra, and ureters; uterus and vagina in the female

spinal cavity (5)

nerves of the spinal cord

digestive system

mouth, pharynx (throat), esophagus, stomach, intestines (small and large), liver, gallbladder, pancreas

urinary or excretory system

kidneys, ureters (tubes from the kidneys to the urinary bladder), urinary bladder, urethra (tube from the bladder to the outside of your body)

respiratory system

nose pharynx, larynx (voice box), trachea (windpipe), bronchial tubes, lungs ( where the exchange of gases takes place)

reproductive system

Female reproductive system is composed of ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, vagina, and mammary glands. Male reproductive system is composed of testes, urethra, penis, prostate gland, and associated tubes

endocrine system

thyroid gland (in the neck) pituitary gland (at the base of the brain), sex glands (ovaries and testes), adrenal glands, pancreas (islets of langerhans), parathyroid glands

nervous system

brain, spinal cord, nerves, and collections of nerves

circulatory system

Heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries), lymphatic vessels and nodes, spleen, thymus gland

Musculoskeletal

muscles, bones, and joints

skin and sense organs

skin, hair, nails, sweat glands, and sebaceous (oil) glands; eye, ear, nose, and tongue

frontal (coronal) plane

vertical plane dividing the body or structure into anterior and posterior portions. A common chest x-ray view is a PA (posterianterior- viewed from back to front)

transverse (axial) plane

horizontal (cross-sectional) plane dividing the body into upper and lower portions. ACT (computed tomography) scan is one of a series of x-ray pictures taken in the transverse (axial or cross-sectional) plane

sagittal (lateral) plane

lengthwise, vertical plane dividing the body or structure into right and left sides. A lateral (side to side) chest x-ray film is taken in the sagittal plane

pertaining to

-ior

pertaining to

-iac

pertaining to

-eal

meta-

change

intra-

within

inter-

between

hypo-

below

epi-

above

cata-

down

ana-

up

viscer/o

internal organs

vertebr/o

vertebra(e) backbone(s)

ventr/o

belly side of the body

umbilic/o

umbilicus, navel

trache/o

trachea, windpipe

thorac/o

chest