Unit 2 Medical Terminology Flashcards

anatomical terms and definitions, body planes, body cavities, abdominal divisions, clinical patient positions

acromial

pertaining to the acromion (point of the shoulder)

antebrachial

pertaining to the forearm

antecubital

pertaining to the area in front of the elbow

anterior (ventral)

toward the front or belly-side of the body

anteroposterior

passing from the anterior (front) toward the posterior (back) of the body

axillary

pertaining to the armpit

bilateral

pertaining to two sides

brachial

pertaining to the upper arm

buccal

pertaining to the cheek

calcaneal

pertaining to the heel bone

carpal

pertaining to the wrist

caudal

toward the tailbone

cephalic

pertaining to the head, toward the head

cephalocaudal

pattern of growth and development that proceeds from the head downward to the feet

cervical

pertaining to the neck

coxal

pertaining to the hip

cranial

pertaining to the skull

crural

pertaining to the leg, specifically the skin bone

cubtial

pertaining to the elbow

deep

more internal, further inside the body, away from the body surface

digital

pertaining to the fingers or toes

distal

situated farther away from the center of the body, the trunk, or the point where a limb attaches to the body

external

outer part of the body

femoral

pertaining to the thigh

fibular

refers to the lateral side of the lower leg

frontal

pertaining to the forehead

genital

pertaining to the reproductive organs

gluteal

pertaining to the buttock

inferior

positioned below or toward the feet

inguinal

pertaining to the groin

internal

inside the body

lateral

farther away from the midline, toward the side of the body

left

the left-handed side of a person in standard anatomical position

limbar

pertaining to the low back region and the 5 vertebrae between the chest and sacrum

mammary

pertaining to the breast region

medial

toward the midline, or center, of the body

mental

pertaining to the chin

metacarpal

pertaining to the hand bones

midline

an imaginary center line splitting the body into right and left halves

nasal

pertaining to the nose

occipital

pertaining to the back of the head

olecranal

pertaining to the olecranon, or the bony tip/pointy part of the elbow

oral

pertaining to the mouth

orbital

pertaining to the eye or eye socket

otic

pertaining to the ear

palmar

pertaining to the palm of the hand

parietal

pertaining to the outer wall of a body cavity

patellar

pertaining to the kneecap (patella)

pectoral

pertaining to the chest

perineal

pertaining to the perineum (path of flesh between the pen*s or vulva and an*s)

plantar

pertaining to the sole or bottom surface of the foot

popliteal

pertaining to the back (hollow) of the knee

posterior (dorsal)

toward the back or rear side of the body

posteroanterior

passing from the posterior (back) toward the anterior (front) of the body

prone

lying face down with palms downward

proximal

situated nearer to the center of the body, the trunk, or the point where a limb attaches to the body

pubic

refers the genital region

right

the right-hand side of a person in standard anatomical position

sacral

pertaining to the triangular bone at the base of the spine

scapular

pertaining to the scapula, or shoulder blades located on the upper back

sternal

pertaining to the sternum (breastbone)

superficial

toward the body surface, closer to the skin

superior

positioned above or higher than another part of the body

supine

lying flat on the back with palms facing upward

sural

relating to or located in the calf

tarsal

pertaining to the ankle

thoracic

pertaining the the chest (thorax)

umbilical

pertains to the navel or belly button

unilateral

pertaining to one side

vertebral

relating to the spine or backbone

visceral

pertaining to the internal organs

anatomical planes

overall term for the imagenary planes of a body

transverse plane (horizontal, axial)

divides the body horizontally into superior (top) and inferior (bottom) portions

frontal plane (coronal)

divides the body vertically into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions

sagittal plane

divides the body vertically into right and left portions

midsagittal plane (median sagittal)

divides the body down the exact middle of the body creating two equal halves, one left and one right side

parasagittal plane

divides the body into two off-center halves, one left and one right

oblique plane

imaginary flat surface that cuts through the body or organ at a slanted angle (neither horizontal or vertical)

anatomy

study of body structures

physiology

study of the functions of body structures

pathophysiology

study of disease

body cavities

overall term meaning the spaces within the body the hold/protect organs and body structures

dorsal cavity

protects the organs and tissue within the back side of the body

cranial cavity

located within the skull and protects the brain (part of the dorsal cavity)

middle ear cavity

air-filled space carved into the temporal bone (within the cranial cavity which is within the dorsal cavity)

orbital cavity

cone-shaped bony socket in the skull that houses and protects the eye (within the cranial cavity which is within the dorsal cavity)

nasal cavity

air-filled space behind the nose (within the cranial cavity which is within the dorsal cavity)

oral cavity

the mouth extended into the pharynx/throat (within the cranial cavity which is within the dorsal cavity)

spinal cavity

located within the spinal column and protects the spinal cord (within the dorsal cavity)

ventral cavity

protects the organs and tissues within the front side of the body

thoracic cavity (chest)

protects the heart, lungs, esophagus, and major blood vessels running through the chest (within the ventral cavity)

diaphragm

large muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities (within the ventral cavity)

pleural cavity

space between the outside of the lungs and interior chest wall (within the thoracic cavity which is within the ventral cavity)

mediastinum

central compartment of the chest, located between the two lungs, contains the heart and trachea and esophagus and thymus and the nerves and major blood vessels (within the thoracic cavity which is within ventral cavity)

pericardial cavity

small, fluid-filled space surrounding the heart, hold the pericardium which is a protective sac around the heart where fluid helps reduce frictions as the heart beats (within mediastinum which is within the thoracic cavity which is within the ventral cavity)

abdominal cavity

contains the stomach, liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreas, and parts of the large intestine

iliac crest

forms the upper borders of the largest pelvic bone (within the ventral cavity)

pelvic cavity

contains the urinary bladder, urethra, portions for the large intestine, and reproductive organs (within the ventral cavity)

abdominopelvic cavity

combination of the pelvic and abdominal cavities

right upper quadrant (RUQ)

contains the liver (right lobe), gallbladder, part of the pancreas, and portions of the small and large intestines