NURS 1045: Module 2

Chromatin

structural component of the nucleus, composed of nucleic acids and proteins

chromosome

threadlike structures within the nucleus composed of DNA that carries hereditary info encoded in genes

deoxyribonucleic acid

molecule that holds genetic information capable of replicating and producing an exact copy whenever the cell divides

metabolism

sum of all physical and chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism

organelle

cellular structure that provides a specialized function, such as the nucleus (reproduction), ribosomes (protein synthesis), Golgi apparatus (removal of material from the cell), and lysosomes (digestion)

midsagittal (median) plane

dividing into right and left halves, runs through the center of the body

coronal plane (frontal)

divides the body into anterior and posterior section

transverse plane (horizontal)

divides body into top and bottom sections

dorsal cavity (cranial, spinal)

located on the back of the body (posterior)

ventral cavity (thoracic, abdominopelvic)

located on the front (anterior)

right upper quadrant

right lobe of the liver, the gallbladder, part of the pancreas, part of the small and large intestines

left upper quadrant

left lobe of the liver, the stomach, the spleen, part of the pancreas, part of small and large intestines

right lower quadrant

part of the small and large intestines, the appendix, the right ovary, the right fallopian tube, and right ureter

left lower quadrant

part of the small and large intestines, the left ovary, the left fallopian tube, and the left ureter

left hypochondriac

upper left lateral region beneath ribs

epigastric

upper middle region

right hypochondriac

upper right lateral region beneath ribs

left lumbar

middle left lateral region

umbilical

region of the naval

right lumbar

middle right lateral region

left inguinal (iliac)

lower left lateral region

hypogastric

lower middle region

right inguinal (iliac)

lower right lateral region

abduction

movement away from the midsagittal plane

Adduction

movement toward the midsagittal plane

Medial

pertaining to the midline of the body or structure

Lateral

pertaining to a side

superior (cephalad)

toward the head or upper portion of a structure

inferior (caudal)

away from the head, or toward the tail or lower part of a structure

proximal

nearer to the center (trunk of the body) or to the point of attachment to the body

distal

further from the center (trunk of the body) or from the point of attachment to the body

anterior (ventral)

front of the body

posterior (dorsal)

back of the body

parietal

pertaining to the outer wall of the body cavity

visceral

pertaining to the viscera, or internal organs, especially the abdominal organs

prone

lying on the abdomen, face down

Supine

lying horizontally on the back, face up

inversion

turning inward or inside out

eversion

turning outward

palmar

pertaining to the palm of the hand

Plantar

pertaining to the sole of the foot

superficial

toward the surface of the body (external)

Deep

away from the surface of the body (internal)

adhesion

abnormal fibrous band that holds or binds together tissues that are normally separated

edema

abnormal accumulation of fluid within tissue spaces as a result of systemic disease or failure of the lymphatic system to drain tissue fluid from the site

febrile

having or showing symptoms of a fever

gangrene

death and decay of soft tissue, usually caused by circulatory obstruction or infection

hernia

protrusion of any organ through the structure that normally contains it

inflammation

body defense against injury, infection, or allergy marked by redness, swelling, heat, and pain, sometimes with loss of function

mycosis

any fungal infection in or on the body

perforation

hole that completely penetrates a structure

peritonitis

inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that surrounds the abdominal cavity and covers its organs, usually caused by bacteria or fungi

rupture

sudden breaking or bursting of a structure or organ

septicemia

severe bacterial infection or the tissues that spreads to the blood; also called sepsis or blood poisoning

Suppuration

process of forming pus

auscultation

listening to the heart, bowel, and lungs with or without stethoscope to assess the presence and quality of sounds

inspection

general observation of the patient as a whole, progressing to specific body areas

Palpation

gentle application of the hands to a specific structure or body area to determine size, consistency, texture, symmetry, and tenderness of underlying structures

percussion

tapping a body structure with the hand or fingers to assess consistency and the presence or absence of fluids within the underlying structure

endoscopy

visual examination of a body cavity or canal using a specialised lighted instrument called an endoscope

blood chemistry analysis

lab test, usually performed on serum, to determine the biochemical imbalances, abnormalities, and nutritional conditions

complete blood count

broad screening test used to evaluate red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to determine anemias, infections, and other diseases, CBC

computed tomography

Imaging technique that rotates an x-ray emitter around the area to be evaluated and measures the intensity of transmitted rays from different angles

fluoroscopy

technique in which x-rays are directed through the body to a fluorescent screen that displays internal structures in continuous motion

magnetic resonance imaging

technique that uses radio waves and strong magnetic fields, rather than an x-ray beam, to produce highly detailed, multiplanar, cross-sectional views of soft tissues

nuclear scan

technique radioactive material (radiopharmaceutical) tracer is put into body, and specialized camera (gamma camera) produces images of organs and structures

positron emission tomography

computed tomography records the positrons (positively charged particles) emitted from a radiopharmaceutical to produce a cross-sectional image of the metabolic activity of body tissues to determine the presence of disease, PET

radiography

technique x-rays passed through body or area and captured on film to generate an image, an X-ray

single-photon emission computed tomography

radiological technique using CT and radioactive material (tracer) injected into the bloodstream to visualize blood flow to tissues and organs

ultrasonography

high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) are directed at soft tissue and reflected as ‘echoes’ to produce an image on a monitor of an internal body structure; also called ultrasound, sonography, and echo

biopsy

removal of a representative tissue simple from a body site for microscopic examination, usually to establish a diagnosis, also called excisional or incisional

ablation

removal of a body part, pathway, or function by surgery, chemical destruction, electrocautery, freezing, or radio frequency (RF)

anastomosis

surgical joining of two ducts, vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to another

curettage

scraping of a body cavity with a spoon-shaped instrument called curette (curet)

electrocauterization

Use of an electrically activated instrument to burn and destroy diseased tissue

incision and drainage

incision made to allow the free flow of fluids and pus from a wound, abscess, or body cavity

laser surgery

use of high-intensity laser light bean to remove diseased tissues, to stop bleeding, or for cosmetic purposes

Revision

surgical procedure used to replace or compensate for a previously implanted deceive or correct an undesirable result or effect of a previous surgery

cyt/o

cell

hist/o

tissue

kary/o, nucle/o

nucleus

anter/o

anterior, front

caud/o

tail

cephal/o

head

dist/o

far, furthest

dors/o

back (of body)

infer/o

lower, below

later/o

side, to one side

medi/o

middle

poster/o

back (of body), behind, posterior

proxim/o

near, nearest

ventr/o

belly, belly side

albin/o, leuk/o

white

chrom/o

color

cirrh/o, jaund/o, xanth/o

yellow

cyan/o

blue

erythr/o

red

melan/o

black

poli/o

gray, gray matter (of the brain or spinal cord)

radi/o

radiation, x-ray; radius (lower arm bone on thumb side)