Medical Terminology: Body Structures, Diseases, and Surgical Procedures

cardi/o

heart

gastr/o

stomach

cephal/o

head

my/o

muscle

myel/o

spinal cord; bone marrow

oste/o

bone

neur/o

nerve

arthr/o

joint

arteri/o

artery

ather/o

plaque; fatty substance

adip/o

fat

path/o

disease

hist/o

tissue

cyt/o

cell

aden/o

gland

chondr/o

cartilage

dors/o

back

ventr/o

belly; front

anterior

front

posterior

back

-itis

inflammation

-ectomy

surgical removal

-ostomy

surgical creation of an opening

-otomy

surgical incision

-plasty

surgical repair

-rrhaphy

surgical suturing; repair

-algia

pain

-osis

abnormal condition

-pathy

disease

-ology

study of

-ologist

specialist who studies

-gram

picture or record

-graphy

process of producing a picture or record

-scopy

visual examination

-scope

instrument used for visual examination

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

-rrhea

flow; discharge

-megaly

enlargement

-sclerosis

abnormal hardening

-plasia

formation; development; growth

Anatomy

study of body structures

Physiology

study of the functions of body structures

Homeostasis

process through which the body maintains a constant internal environment

Dorsal

back

Ventral

belly; front

Superior

upper; toward the head

Inferior

lower

Proximal

nearer the midline or beginning of a body structure

Distal

farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure

Medial

toward or near the midline

Lateral

toward or near the side of the body

Sagittal plane

divides the body into left and right portions

Midsagittal plane

divides the body into equal left and right halves

Frontal plane

divides the body into anterior and posterior portions

Transverse plane

divides the body into upper and lower portions

Dorsal cavity

located along the back; contains the cranial and spinal cavities

Cranial cavity

contains the brain

Spinal cavity

contains the spinal cord

Ventral cavity

located along the front of the body

Thoracic cavity

chest cavity

Diaphragm

muscle separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities

Abdominal cavity

contains major digestive organs

Pelvic cavity

contains organs of the reproductive and excretory systems

Epigastric

pertaining to above the stomach

Hypogastric

located below the stomach

Adipose tissue

fat tissue that provides padding, insulation, and support

Endothelium

tissue that lines the blood vessels

Histology

microscopic study of tissues

Cytology

study of cells

Hyperplasia

increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ

Hypertrophy

increase in cell size, not cell number

Hemorrhage

sudden or severe bleeding

Diarrhea

frequent flow of loose or watery stools

Hypertension

abnormally high blood pressure

Arteriosclerosis

abnormal hardening of the arteries

Arthritis

inflammation of a joint

Arthralgia

joint pain

Neuroplasty

surgical repair of a nerve

Appendectomy

surgical removal of the appendix

Cardiology

study of the heart

Pathology

study of disease

Pathologist

specialist in pathology/disease

Adenoma

benign tumor

Adenocarcinoma

malignant tumor originating in glands

Sign

objective evidence that can be measured or observed

Symptom

subjective condition that only the patient can feel or express

Acute

rapid onset and relatively short duration

Chronic

long duration