The Human Body In Health ad Disease

Medical Terminology for Health Professions (CH. 2)

Anatomy

is the study of the structures of the body

Anatomic refrence systems

are used to describe the locations of the structural units of the body.

physiology

is the study of the functions of the structures of the body

anatomic position

describes the body standing in the standard position

body planes

are imaginary vertical and horizontal lines used to describe the body into sections for descriptive purposes

vertical plane

is an up and down plane that is at a right angle to the horizon

sagital plane

is a vertical plane that divides the body into unequal left and right portions

midsagittal plane

also known as the midline, is the sagittal plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves

frontal plane

is a vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions. Also known as the coronal plane, it is located at right angles to the sagittal plane.

horizontal plane

is a flat, crosswise plane, such as the horizon.

transverse plane

is a horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. A transverse plane can be at the waist or at any other level across the body

ventral

refers to the front, or belly side of the organ or body. Ventral is the opposite of dorsal

dorsal

refers to the back of the organ or body. Dorsal is the opposite of Ventral

anterior

means situated in the front. It also means on the front or forwards part of an organ.

posterior

means situated in the back. It also means on the back part of an organ.

superior

means uppermost, above or toward the head.

inferior

means lowermost, below, or toward the feet

cephalic

means toward the head

caudal

means toward the lower part of the body

proximal

means situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure. Example: the proximal end of the humerus forms part of the shoulder

distal

means situated fathers from the midline or beginning of a body structure. example: the distal end of the humerus forms part of the elbow

medial

means the direction toward, or nearer the midline. Example: the medial ligament of the knee is near the inner surface of the leg

lateral

means the direction toward, or nearer the midline. Example: the lateral ligament of the knee is near the side of the leg

body cavities

which are the dorsal (back) and the ventral (front) cavitities, are spaces within the body that contain and protect internal organs

dorsal cavity

which is located along the back of the body and head, contains organs of the nervous system that coordinate body functions and is divided into two portions: cranial and spinal cavity

cranial cavity

which is located within the skull, surround and protects the brain

spinal cavity

which is located within the spinal column surround and protects the spinal cord

ventral cavity

which is located along the front of the body contains the body organs that sustain homeostasis

homeostasis

is the processes through which the body maintains a constant internal environment

thoracic cavity

also known as the chest cavity or thorax, surround and protects the heart and the lungs

abdominal cavity

contains the major organs of digestions

pelvic cavity

is the space formed by the hip bone and contains the organs of the reproductive and excretory systems

abdominopelvic cavity

refers to these two cavities as a single unit

inguinal

which means relating to the groin, refers to the entire lower are of the abdomen

regions of the thorax and abdomen

comprise a descriptive system that divides the abdomen and lower portion of the thorax into nine parts

right and left hydrochondriac regions

are covered by the lower ribs

epigastric region

is located above the stomach

right and left lumbar regions

are located near the inward curve of the spine

umbilical region

surround the umbilicus which is commonly known as the belly button or navel

right and left iliac regions

are located near the hip bones

hypogastric region

is located below the stomach

quadrant

divided into four

peritoneum

is a multilayered membrane that protects and holds the organs in place within the abdominal cavity

parietal peritoneum

is the outer layer of the peritoneum that lines the interior of the abdominal wall.

mesentery

is a fused double layer of the parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior abdominal wall

visceral peritoneum

is the inner layer of the peritoneum that surrounds the organs of the abdominal cavity

visceral

means relating to the internal organs

retroperitoneal

means located behind the peritoneum. Example: the location of the kidneys is retroperitoneal with one on each side of the spinal column

peritonitis

is inflammation of the peritoneum

cells

the basic structural and functional units of the body

cytology

is the study of the anatomy, physiology, pathology, and chemistry of the cell

cytologist

is a specialist in the study and analysis of cells

cell membrane

is the tissue that surround and protects the contencts of a cell from the external environment

cytoplasm

is the material within the cell membrane that is not part of the nucleus

nucleus

which is surrounded by the nuclear membrane, is a structure within the cell, Has 2 important functions: it controls the activities of the cell and it helps the cell divide

stem cells

are unspecialized cells that are able to renew themselves for long period of time by cell division.

adult stem cells

also known as somatic stem cells, are undifferentiated cells found among differentiated cells in a tissue or organ.

embryonic stem cells

are undifferentiated cells that are unlike any specific adult cell; however they cave the important ability to form any adult cell

gene

fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity

genetics

the study of how genes are transferred from parents to their children and the role of genes in health and disease

dominant gene

inherited from either parent the offspring will inherit that genetic condition or characteristic

genome

is the complete set of genetic information of an organism

chromosome

is a genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell

genetic mutation

is a change of the sequence of a DNA molecule

genetic disorder

a pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene

cystic fibrosis

a genetic disorder that is present at birth and affects both of the respiratory and digestive system

down syndrome

a genetic variation that is associated with a characteristic facial appearance, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and physical abnormalities

hemophilia

a group of hereditary bleeding disorders in which a blood-clotting factor is missing

huntingtons disease

a genetic disorder that is assed from parent to child.condition causes nerve degeneration with symptoms that most often appear in midlife

muscular dystrophy

a group of genetic diseases that are characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement

phenylketonuria

a rare genetic disorder in which the essential digestive enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase is missing

tissue

a group or layer of similarly specialized cells that join together to perform certain specific functions

histology

is the microscope study of the structure, composition, and function of tissues

histologist

is a non-physician specialist who studies the microscope structure of tissues

epithelial tissue

forms a protective covering for all the internal and external surfaces of the body. these tissues also form glands

epithelium

is the specialized epithelial tissue that forms the epidermis of the skin and the surface layer of mucous membranes

endothelium

is the specialized epithelial tissue that lines the blood and lymph vessels, body cavities, glands, and organs

connective tissues

support and connect organs and other body tissues

dense connective tissues

such as bone and cartilage, from the joints and framework of the body

adipose tissue

also known as fat, provides protective passing insulation and support

loose connective tissue

surrounds various organs and supports both nerve cells and blood vessels

liquid connective tissues

which are blood and lymph transport nutrients and waste products throughout the body

muscle tissue

contains cells with the specialized ability to contract and relax

nerve tissue

contains cells with the specialized ability to react to stimuli and to conduct electrical impulses

aplasia

is the defective development or the congential absence of an organ or tissue

hypoplasia

is the incomplete development of an organ or tissue usually due to deficiency in the number of cells

anaplasia

is a change in the structure of cells and in their orientation to each other

dysplacia

is the abnormal development of growth of cells , tissues, or organs

hyperplasia

is the enlargement of an organ or tissue because of an abnormal increase in teh number of cells in the tissues

hypertrophy

is a general increase in the bulk of body part or organ that is due to an increase in the size but not in the number of cells in the tissues

gland

is a group of specialized epithelial cells that are capable of producing secretions

exocrine glands

secrete chemical substances into ducts that lead either to other organs or out of the body such as sweat glands

endocrine glands

which produce hormones do not have ducts

adenoids

refers to a mass of gland like lymphoid tissue at the back of the upper pharynx

adenitis

is the inflammation of a gland

adenocarcinoma

is a malignant tumor that originates in glandular tissue

adenoma

is a benign tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue

adenomalacia

is the abnormal softening of a gland

adenosis

is any disease or condition of a gland

adenosclerosis

is the abnormal hardening of a gland