Rutgers Med term review

Frontal (coronal) plane

Divides the body into front and back sections

Midsagittal plane

Divides the body into equal left and right halves

Transverse plane

Divides the body into top (superior) and bottom (inferior) parts

Ventral / Anterior

Front of the body

Dorsal / Posterior

Back of the body

Superior / Cephalic

Toward the head

Inferior / Caudal

Toward the feet

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body

Proximal

Closer to the origin of a body part

Distal

Farther from the origin of a body part

Dorsal cavity

Includes the cranial and spinal cavities

Cranial cavity

Contains the brain

Spinal cavity

Contains the spinal cord

Ventral cavity

Includes the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities

Thoracic cavity

Contains the heart and lungs

Abdominal cavity

Contains digestive organs

Pelvic cavity

Contains reproductive and excretory organs

Epigastric region

Located above the stomach

Hypogastric region

Located below the stomach

Iliac regions

Located near the hip bones

RUQ

Right upper quadrant

LUQ

Left upper quadrant

RLQ

Right lower quadrant

LLQ

Left lower quadrant

Parietal peritoneum

Lines the abdominal wall

Visceral peritoneum

Covers the abdominal organs

Mesentery

Tissue that anchors the intestines to the abdominal wall

Adult stem cells

Found in tissue (e.g., bone marrow); limited potential

Embryonic stem cells

Can become any type of cell; replicate indefinitely; sourced from umbilical cord, placenta, or IVF embryos

Gene

Basic unit of heredity

Somatic cells

Have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs)

Gametes

Have 23 chromosomes; includes sperm and egg

Somatic mutation

Not inherited

Gametic mutation

Inheritable

Cystic fibrosis

Genetic disorder affecting lungs and pancreas

Hemophilia

Genetic disorder affecting blood clotting

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Genetic disorder where body can't break down phenylalanine

Epithelial tissue

Covers internal and external body surfaces

Dense connective tissue

Found in joints

Adipose tissue

Stores fat; insulates body

Loose connective tissue

Surrounds and supports organs

Liquid connective tissue

Includes blood and lymph

Muscle tissue

Contracts to cause movement

Nervous tissue

Sends electrical impulses throughout the body

Anaplasia

Loss of differentiation in cells; abnormal structure

Hyperplasia

Increase in number of cells

Hypertrophy

Increase in cell size

Exocrine glands

Secrete substances into ducts (e.g., sweat glands)

Endocrine glands

Secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream

Periosteum

Outer covering of bone; tough, fibrous tissue

Spongy bone

Porous bone tissue more susceptible to fractures

Medullary cavity

Central cavity in long bones storing bone marrow

Endosteum

Membrane lining the medullary cavity

Diaphysis

Shaft of a long bone

Epiphyses

Wider ends of long bones (proximal/distal)

Process

Projection from a bone for muscle or tendon attachment

Sphenoid bone

Wedge-shaped bone that touches all other cranial bones

Ethmoid bone

Spongy bone separating nasal cavity from the brain

Vomer

Forms base of nasal septum

Mandible

Only movable bone in the skull

Clavicle

Collarbone

Scapula

Shoulder blade

Olecranon process

Point of the elbow

Malleolus

Bony projections on either side of the ankle (tibia/fibula)

Talus

Ankle bone that articulates with tibia and fibula

Calcaneus

Heel bone

Acetabulum

Hip socket

Meniscus

Curved cartilage found in some joints (e.g., knees)

Sutures

Immovable joints found between skull bones

Adhesive capsulitis

Also known as frozen shoulder

Baker's cyst

Fluid-filled sac behind the knee

Hallux valgus

Bunion; enlargement at the joint of the big toe

Dislocation (luxation)

Bone completely out of joint

Subluxation

Partial dislocation of a joint

Gout

Uric acid crystal buildup in joints, especially big toe

Ankylosing spondylitis

Inflammation of spinal joints

Spondylolisthesis

Forward slipping of a vertebra

Spina bifida

Birth defect from incomplete spinal canal closure

Craniostenosis

Premature closure of skull sutures causing malformation

Rickets

Bone growth disorder in children from Vitamin D deficiency

Osteopenia

Mild decrease in bone density

Osteoporosis

Severe loss of bone density

Compression fracture

Bone is pressed together on itself

Colles' fracture

Fracture of the distal radius (wrist)

Fat embolus

Fat particles enter bloodstream after long bone fracture

Crepitation

Grating sound from bone movement

Bone marrow biopsy

Diagnostic test that examines bone marrow cells

Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)

Bone density measuring test

Ultrasonic bone density

Osteoporosis screening using sound waves

Hip resurfacing

Metal cap placed over femoral head

Revision surgery

Replacement of failed joint implant

Percutaneous vertebroplasty

Cement injected into spine to stabilize compression fracture

Osteoclasis

Surgical breaking of bone

Closed reduction

Manual realignment of a fractured bone

Traction

Pulling force used to realign bone or joint

Fascia

A connective tissue that supports, separates, or binds muscles.

Tendon vs. Ligament

Tendons attach muscle to bone; ligaments attach bone to bone.

Muscle fibers

Long, slender muscle cells.

Antagonistic muscle pairs

Muscles that work in opposition: one contracts, the other relaxes.