Med Term Chapters 4 and 5

chromatin

structural component of the nucleus, composed of nucleic acids and proteins (condense to form chromosomes during cell division)

chromosome

threadlike structures within the nucleus composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that carries hereditary information encoded in genes

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

molecule that holds genetic information capable of replicating and producing an exact copy whenever the cell divides

metabolism

sum of all physical and chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism

organelle

cellular structure that provides a specialized function, such as the nucleus (reproduction), ribosomes (protein synthesis), golgi apparatus (removal of material from the cell), and lysosomes (digestion)

epithelial tissue

covers surfaces of organs, lines cavities, and canals, forms tubes and ducts, provides secreting portions of glands, and makes up the outer layer (epidermis) of the skin

connective tissue

supports and connects other body tissues

muscle tissue

provides contractile tissue of body, responsible for movement

nervous tissue

transmits electrical impulses as it relays info throughout the entire body

coronal plane

(front), anterior/posterior

transverse plane

(horizontal) superior/inferior

midsagittal plane

lateral and medial

abduction

movement away from midsagittal (median) plane of the body or one of its parts

adduction

movement toward the midsagittal (median) plane of the body

medial

midline of the body/structure

lateral

pertaining to the side

superior (cephalad)

toward the head or upper position of a structure

inferior (caudal)

away from the head, or toward the tail or lower part of a structure

proximal

nearer to the center (trunk of the body) or to point of attachment to the body

distal

further from the center (trunk of the body) or from the point of attachment to the body

anterior (ventral)

front of the body

posterior (dorsal)

back of the body

parietal

pertaining to the outer wall of the body cavity

visceral

pertaining to the viscera, or internal organs, especially the abdominal organs

prone

lying on the abdomen, face down

supine

lying horizontally on the back, face up

inversion

turning inward or inside out

eversion

turning outward

palmar

pertaining to the palm of the hand

plantar

pertaining to the sole of the foot

superficial

toward the surface of the body (external)

deep

away from the surface of the body (incernal)

dorsal cavity

divided into the cranial and spinal cavities

cranial cavity

formed by the skull, contains the brain

spinal cavity

formed by the backbone (spine), contains the spinal cord

meninges

the membranes that line those cavities and also cover the brain and spinal cord

ventral cavity

divided into thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity

thoracic cavity

separated from abdominopelvic by muscular wall, diaphragm; contains lung and heart

abdominal pelvic

abdominal + pelvic cavity

abdominal cavity

contains liver, stomach, intestines, kidneys

pelvic cavity

contains urinary bladder and reproductive organs

right hypochondriac

upper right later region beneath the ribs

epigastric

upper middle region

left hypochondriac

upper lateral region beneath the ribs

right lumbar

middle right lateral region

umbilical

region of the navel

left lumbar

middle left lateral region

right inguinal (iliac)

lower right lateral region

spine

vertebral column or backbone; 26 irregular bones

cervical

neck

thoracic

chest

lumbar

loin

sacral

lower back

coccyx

tailbone

cyt-

cell

hist-

tissue

kary-

nucleus

nucle-

nucleus

anter-

the front, anterior

caud-

tail

cephal-

head

dist-

far, farthest

dorso-

back (of body)

infer-

lower, below

later-

side, to one side

medi-

middle

poster-

back (of body), behind, posterior

proxim

near, nearest

ventr-

belly, belly side

albin-

white

leuk-

white

chrom-

color

cirrh-

yellow

jaund-

yellow

xanth-

yellow

cyan-

blue

erythr-

red

melan-

black

poli-

gray

radi-

radiation, x-ray; radius

tom-

to cut

viscer-

internal organs

adhesion

abnormal fibrous band that holds or binds together tissues that are normally separated

edema

abnormal accumulation of fluid within tissue spaces as result of systemic disease or failure of the lymphatic system to drain tissue fluid from the site

febrile

having or showing symptoms of a fever

gangrene

death and decay of soft tissue, usually caused by circularloty obstruction or infection

hernia

protrusion of any organ through the structure that normally contains it

inflammation

body defense against injury, infection, or allergy marked by redness, swelling, heat, and pain, sometimes with loss of function

mycosis

any fungal infection in or on the body

perforation

hole that completely penetrates a structure

peritonitis

inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that surrounds the abdominal cavity and covers its organs, usually caused by bacteria or fungi

rupture

sudden breaking or bursting of a structure or organ

septicemia

severe bacterial infection of the tissues that spreads to the blood; also called sepsis or blood poisoning

suppuration

process of forming pus

ausculation

listening to the heart, bowel, and lungs with or without a stethoscope to assess presence/quality of sounds

inspection

general observation; from whole body to specific areas

palpation

gentle application of hands to specific structure or body areas to determine size, consistency, texture, symmetry, and tenderness of underlying structures

percussion

tapping a body structure with hand or fingers to assess consistency and presence/absence of fluids within underlying structure

endoscopy

visual exam of body cavity/canal using specilized lighted instrument, endoscope

blood chem analysis

lab test, usually performed on serum, to determine bio imbalances, abnormalities, and nutritional conditions