Overview of Human Body Systems - Medical Terminology Flashcards Week 1

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering medical terms, combining forms, body directions, planes, regions, positions, integumentary system, and musculoskeletal system.

Normal Anatomical Position

The standard starting point for describing the human body, where an individual stands straight up with eyes straight forward and arms down by the side with palms facing forward.

Transverse Plane

An imaginary slice through the body that divides it into a top and bottom half.

Sagittal Plane

An imaginary slice through the body that divides it into a right and left side.

Midsagittal Plane

A midline sagittal plane that divides the body equally into a left and right side.

Medial

A directional term referring to the direction toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

A directional term referring to the direction away from the midline of the body.

Bilateral

A term meaning pertaining to two sides, describing body structures (such as arms) present on both sides of the body or midline.

Unilateral

A term meaning pertaining to one side, describing a structure located on only one side of the body.

Frontal Plane

An imaginary slice through the body, also called the coronal plane, that divides the body into front and back sections.

Anterior

A directional term meaning pertaining to the front of the body, also referred to as ventral.

Posterior

A directional term meaning pertaining to the back of the body, also referred to as dorsal.

Posteroanterior

Describing the direction of x-rays traveling from the back through to the front of the body, abbreviated as PA.

Anteroposterior

Describing the direction of x-rays traveling from the front of the body through to the back of the body, abbreviated as AP.

Proximal

A directional term meaning toward the trunk of the body or point of attachment.

Distal

A directional term meaning away from the point of attachment.

Superior

A directional term used to describe a structure that is above something else.

Inferior

A directional term used to describe a structure that is below something else.

Umbilicus

The medical term for the belly button or navel, used as the central reference point for abdominal quadrants and regions.

Epigastric Region

The abdominal region located directly above the umbilical region, pertaining to the area above the stomach.

Hypogastric Region

The abdominal region located directly below the umbilical region, pertaining to the area below the stomach.

Hypochondriac Regions

The abdominal regions in the upper left and right corners of the grid, pertaining to below the cartilage of the ribs.

Inguinal Regions

The abdominal regions in the lower left and right corners of the grid, pertaining to the groin.

Thoracic Region

The body region pertaining to the chest.

Diaphragm

A wall of muscle that divides the thoracic region and abdominal regions.

Axillary Area

The regional area referring to the armpit.

Gluteal Region

The regional area referring to the buttock.

Supine Position

A body position in which a person is lying flat on his/her back, face up.

Prone Position

A body position in which a person is lying on his/her abdomen, face down.

Lateral Recumbent Position

A body position in which a person is lying on his/her side.

Fowler's Position

A body position in which a person is in a sitting position.

Trendelenburg Position

A body position in which a person lies on his/her back with the feet elevated, allowing blood to flow to the head to treat shock.

Lithotomy Position

A body position where the upper torso is supine, legs are raised, bent, and secured, and arms extended; used for gynecological, anal, and urological procedures.

Epidermis

The outermost waterproof layer of the skin that contains the protective pigment melanin.

Melanin

The protective pigment of the skin contained within the epidermis layer.

Dermis

The middle layer of skin containing elastin, blood vessels, hair, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands.

Elastin

A protein contained in the dermis layer that gives skin its elasticity.

Subcutaneous Layer

A layer of connective tissue under the dermis containing a layer of fat that insulates the body to conserve body heat.

Cranium

The bone of the head, composed of $8$ cranial bones.

Lacrimal Bones

Small bones located in the eye socket, named from the combining form for tears.

Maxilla

The upper jaw bone.

Mandible

The lower jaw bone.

Zygomatic Bones

The cheek bones.

Nasal Bone

The bone structure forming the nose.

Frontal Bone

The cranial bone located on the forehead area.

Parietal Bones

Two cranial bones forming the crown and posterior roof of the skull.

Temporal Bones

Cranial bones located on each side of the head below the parietal bones, above and behind the ears.

Occipital Bone

The cranial bone located in the lower back aspect and base of the head.

Sphenoid Bone

A butterfly-shaped cranial bone situated inside the skull anterior to the temporal bones.

Ethmoid Bone

A cranial bone located between the eye sockets and at the top of the nasal cavity.

Vertebrae

The $33$ bones that comprise the vertebral column and protect the spinal cord.

Cervical Vertebrae

The $7$ vertebrae located in the neck, designated as C1 through C7.

Thoracic Vertebrae

The $12$ vertebrae located inferior to the cervical vertebrae in the chest region, designated as T1 through T12.

Lumbar Vertebrae

The $5$ vertebrae located in the lower back, designated as L1 through L5.

Sacrum

A group of $5$ fused vertebrae located inferior to the lumbar vertebrae, designated as S1 through S5.

Coccyx

A group of $4$ fused vertebrae located inferior to the sacral vertebrae, commonly known as the tailbone.

Clavicles

Bones in the anterior thorax commonly known as the collar bones.

Scapulae

Bones in the thorax commonly known as the shoulder blades.

Sternum

The bone situated in the center of the anterior thorax, commonly known as the breast bone.

Ilium

The large, flat bone of the hip located superior to the other hip bones.

Ischium

The hip bone located inferior to the ilium.

Pubis

The hip bone located inferior and anterior to the ilium.

Pubis Symphysis

A small area of cartilage where the two pubis bones meet.

Humerus

The single large bone of the upper arm.

Radius

The bone of the lower arm located on the thumb side.

Ulna

The bone of the lower arm located on the little finger side.

Carpals

The $8$ bones that form the wrist.

Metacarpals

The bones of the hand located beyond the wrist carpals.

Phalanges

The bones that form the fingers and the toes.

Femur

The large bone located at the top of the leg.

Tibia

The larger bone of the lower leg.

Fibula

The smaller bone of the lower leg.

Patella

The bone forming the knee cap.

Menisci

Plates of cartilage situated within the knee joint space.

Bursa

Fluid-filled sacs containing synovial fluid that cushion joints and absorb stress.

Calcaneus

The bone forming the heel of the foot.

Tarsals

The $7$ bones forming the ankle.

Metatarsals

The bones of the foot located beyond the tarsals.

Skeletal Muscle

Voluntary muscles attached to bones by tendons that contract to provide body movement.

Smooth Muscle

Involuntary muscle that provides non-voluntary movement within internal organs such as the lungs and intestines.

Cardiac Muscle

Specialized involuntary muscle that provides the pumping action of the heart.

Tendons

Fibrous connective structures that attach muscles to bones.

cutane/o

Combining form meaning skin.

derm/o

Combining form meaning skin.

dermat/o

Combining form meaning skin.

hidr/o

Combining form meaning sweat.

onych/o

Combining form meaning nail.

seb/o

Combining form meaning sebum or oil.

trich/o

Combining form meaning hair.

oste/o

Combining form meaning bone.

arthr/o

Combining form meaning joint or joints.

chondr/o

Combining form meaning cartilage.

cervic/o

Combining form meaning neck or cervix.

coccyg/o

Combining form meaning coccyx (tailbone).

lumb/o

Combining form meaning lower back or lumbar region.

rachi/o

Combining form meaning vertebral column and spine.

sacr/o

Combining form meaning sacrum.

spondyl/o

Combining form meaning vertebrae or vertebra.

thorac/o

Combining form meaning chest, thoracic or thorax.

vertebr/o

Combining form meaning vertebrae or vertebra.

clavicul/o

Combining form meaning clavicle.