Body Positions/ Quadrants/ Vocabulary/Specialties

Lateral

Lying on the side.

Medial

Pertains to the middle or center, as in medial malleolus (inner ankle bone).

Prone position

Lying on the belly (face down).

Supine position

Lying on the back (face up).

RUQ

Right upper quadrant; contains the right lobe of the liver, gallbladder, part of the pancreas, and parts of the small and large intestine.

LUQ

Left upper quadrant; contains the left lobe of the liver, the stomach, the spleen, part of the pancreas, and part of the small and large intestines.

RLQ

Right lower quadrant; contains parts of the small and large intestines, right ovary, right fallopian tube, appendix, right ureter.

LLQ

Left lower quadrant; contains parts of the small and large intestines, left ovary, left fallopian tube, left ureter.

Diaphoresis

A condition of profuse sweating.

Anoxia

The term for without oxygen.

Debridement

Removal of dead or damaged tissue from a wound to facilitate healing.

Bradycardia

The term for a slow heartbeat.

Metastasis

The spread of a cancerous tumor to a secondary organ or tissue.

Allograft

Transplantation of healthy tissue from one person to another.

Autograft

Transplantation of healthy tissue from one site to another site in the same individual.

Pneumothorax

Air accumulates in the pleural cavity, between layers of the pleura.

Atelectasis

Collapsed lung, incomplete expansion.

Pleural effusion

Accumulation of fluid in the pleural space.

Emphysema

Hyperinflation of the air sacs with destruction of alveolar walls, a form of COPD.

Pulmonary edema

Fluid in the air sacs and bronchioles, often caused by heart failure.

Pulmonary embolism

Blood clot lodges in vessels of the lung.

Aorta

The largest blood vessel in the body.

Vertebrae

Sections of vertebrae: Cervical (7), Thoracic (12), Lumbar (5), Sacrum (5), Coccyx (4 fused).

Heart chambers

Right atrium, right ventricle, left atrium, left ventricle.

Saccular Aneurysm

A sac-like bulge on one side of a vessel.

Fusiform Aneurysm

Dilation of the entire circumference of the artery.

Dissecting Aneurysm

A split or tear of the vessel wall.

Nervous System

Coordinates the reception of stimuli and the function of all other body systems.

Digestive System

Breaks down food into absorbable units that enter the blood for distribution to body cells.

Excretory System

Removes waste from your body and controls water balance.

Reproductive System

Produces gametes and helps with fertilization and development of an embryo.

Endocrine System

The body's 'slow' chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

Respiratory System

Organ system functioning in the process of gas exchange between the body and the environment: O2 in, CO2 out.

Cardiovascular System

Pumps and distributes blood which carries oxygen, nutrients and wastes to and from the cells.

Muscular System

Provides body with mobility, allows movement of internal organs.

Skeletal System

Protects and supports body organs and provides a framework the muscles use to support movement.

Integumentary System

Protects the body from the external environment.

Immune System

An immunoresponse system that protects the body from bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances.

Kyphosis

A posterior curvature in the thoracic region.

Laminectomy

An operation performed to relieve the symptoms of compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots.

Lordosis

Abnormal anterior curvature of the lumbar spine (sway-back condition).

Bursa

The sac of fluid near a joint that promotes sliding of one tissue against another.

Syncope

'Passing out', loss of consciousness or fainting.

Insulin purpose

Lowers blood sugar.

Antibiotics

Drugs used to treat skin infections by killing bacteria.

Corticosteroids

The pharmacologic treatment for skin inflammation.

Bronchodilator

A medication that relaxes and expands the bronchial passages into the lungs.

Thrombolytics

Class of drugs that help break down and destroy a blood clot.

Epinephrine

Catecholamine secreted by the adrenal medulla that increases heart rate and blood pressure.

Radiology

Department to go for chest x-ray.

Ophthalmology

Study of the eye and eye diseases.

Rheumatology

Study and treatment of rheumatic diseases and musculoskeletal disorders.

Orthopedic

Branch of medicine treating disorders of the skeletal system and tissues related to movement.

Endocrinology

Study of hormones.