Medical Terminology, Body Planes, and Directional Terms

Vocabulary-style flashcards derived from the lecture notes covering root words, prefix and suffix meanings, anatomical planes, and directional terminology.

ADEN-

Gland

ARTHR

Joint

BRONCH-

Airway

CHONDT-

Cartilage

CUT

Cell

ENTER-

Intestine

REN-

Kidney

AMBI-

Both

ANTE- / PRE-

Before

DYS-

Difficulty

ECTO-

Outside

ENDO-

Within

EPI-

Upon

MACRO-

Large

MICRO-

Small

DOTHY

Disease

SCLERA-

Hard

THROMB-

Clot

POST-

After

VASCUL-

Vessel

MALIGN-

Harmful

RETRO-

Backward

TOXO-

Poison

SUB-

Below

-OSIS

Abnormal condition

-PATHY

Disease

-OSTOMY

Creation of opening

-OTOMY

Cutting into

-PLASIA

Development

-ALGIA

Pain

-RRHEA

Flow

-STASIS

Stopping

-GENESIS

Formation

SUPRA-

Above

TRANS-

Cross

VITRAL

Beyond

Frontal or Coronal Plane

A vertical plane parallel to the coronal suture of the skull that divides the body or structure into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Horizontal or Axial Plane

A plane parallel to the horizon that divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) parts.

Longitudinal Plane

A cut made lengthwise or vertical (from top to bottom) along the length or long axis of the body or an organ.

Median Plane (Midsagittal Plane)

The exact middle line of the body that divides it into equal left and right halves.

Sagittal Plane

Any vertical plane parallel to the sagittal suture of the skull that divides the body into left and right portions.

Parasagittal Plane

A sagittal plane that divides the body into unequal left and right portions.

Afferent

Conducting toward a structure or center (e.g., sensory nerves carrying signals toward the brain or spinal cord).

Efferent

Conducting away from a structure or center (e.g., motor nerves carrying commands from the brain to muscles).

Anterior or Ventral

Toward the belly or the front side of the body.

Posterior or Dorsal

Toward the back (e.g., shoulder blades and heels).

Caudal

Toward the back, toward the tail, or closer to the coccyx (tailbone).

Lateral

Toward the side of the body, away from the midline.

Intermediate

Located between two structures; neither too close to the midline nor too close to the side.

Medial

Toward the median plane, middle, or midline of the body.

Superficial

Near the surface of the body or an organ.

Deep

Away from the surface; farther inside the body.

Distal or Peripheral

Away from the beginning of a structure; farther from the point of attachment or origin of a limb to the trunk.

Proximal

Toward the beginning of a structure; nearer to the point of attachment where the limb connects to the trunk.

Inferior

Away from the head; situated below another structure.

Superior or Cephalic

Toward the head; situated above another structure.

Central Position

Located toward the middle part, area, or region of something, rather than being a specific thin median line.

Supine

Lying on the back (face upward) with palms usually facing upward or toward the sides.

Prone

Lying face downward toward the bed or floor.

Bilateral

Involving both sides of the body; structures or conditions that appear symmetrically on the left and right.

Unilateral

Involving only one side of the body.

Ipsilateral

On the same side of the body as another structure or condition.

Contralateral

On the opposite side of the body.

Parietal

Relating to the outer layer that lines the walls of a body cavity (from the Latin 'paries' meaning wall).