chapter 2 medical terms (Med terms)

anatomy

it the study of structures of the body

physiology

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

anatomical position

this is the standing in the standard position which is standing straight up facing forward holding arms at the sides with hands turned so the palms face toward the front

vertical plane

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

sagittal plane

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

midsagittal plane

also known as the midline it divides the body into equal left and right halves

frontal plane

is a vertical plane that divides the body into front and back portions

horizontal plane

a flat crosswise plane such as the horizon

transverse plane

is a horizontal plane that divides the body into upper and lower portions

Ventral

refers to the front or belly side of the organ or body

dorsal

refers to the back of the organ or body

anterior

means situated in the front

posterior

means situated in the back or the back part of an organ

superior

means uppermost, above, or toward the head

inferior

means lowermost, below, or toward the feet

cephalic

towards the head

caudal

means toward the lower part of the body

proximal

means situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure

distal

means situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure

medial

means the direction toward, or nearer, the midline

lateral

means the direction toward, or nearer, the side of the body, away from the midline

cranial cavity

located within the skull, surrounds and protects the brain

spinal cavity

located in the spinal column, surrounds and protects the spinal cord

ventral cavity

located along the front of the body, contains the organs that sustain homeostasis

homeostasis

the processes through the body maintains a constant internal environment

thoracic cavity

surrounds and protects the heart and the lungs

abdominal cavity

contains the major organs of digestion

pelvic cavity

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

inguinal

means relating to the groin, refers to the entire lower area of the abdomen

hypochondriac

means below the ribs

epigastric region

located above the stomach

lumbar

describes the part of the back between the ribs and the pelvis

umbillical regions

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

iliac region

located near the hip bones

hypogastric region

located below the stomach

peritoneum

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

membrane

a thin layer of tissue that covers a surface, lines a cavity, or divides a space or organ

visceral

relating to internal organs

parietal peritoneum

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

retroperitoneal

means located behind the peritoneum

cells

the basic structural and functional units of the body

cell membrane

tissue that surrounds and protects the contents of a cell from the external environment

cytoplasm

the material within the cell membrane

nucleus

is surrounded by the nuclear membrane, is a structure within the cell

gene

a fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity

genome

is a complete set of genetic information of an organism

chromosomes

is a genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell made up of DNA molecules

DNA

is the main component of chromosomes, and is the material that carries the body’s genetic information