Medical Terminology Study Guide: Foundations

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering foundational science terms, directional word roots, body planes, cavities, abdominal quadrants, tissue types, anatomical regions, and body systems from the medical terminology study guide.

Anatomy

The study of the structure of the body and the relationships among its parts.

Physiology

The study of how the body and its parts function.

Biology

The study of living organisms and life processes in general.

Embryology

The study of the development of an organism from fertilization through the early stages of growth (embryo/fetus).

Histology

The study of the microscopic structure of tissues.

Pathology

The study of the nature, causes, and effects of disease.

anter/o

front, before

poster/o

back, behind

super/o

above, upper

infer/o

below, lower

medi/o

middle

later/o

side

proxim/o

near the point of origin/attachment

dist/o

far/distant from the point of origin

cephal/o

head

caud/o

tail (toward the lower end of the body)

dors/o

back of the body

ventr/o

belly side, front of the body

AP

Abbreviation for anteroposterior — from front to back (e.g., an AP x-ray view).

L, lt

Abbreviation for left.

R, rt

Abbreviation for right.

Prone

Lying face down, front side of the body facing downward.

Supine

Lying face up, front side of the body facing upward.

Sagittal plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into right and left portions (not necessarily equal).

Midsagittal plane

A sagittal plane that runs through the midline, dividing the body into equal right and left halves.

Frontal (coronal) plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

Transverse plane

A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

Cranial cavity

Space within the skull; contains the brain.

Thoracic (chest) cavity

Space within the chest, protected by the rib cage; contains the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels.

Abdominal (peritoneal) cavity

Space below the diaphragm; contains the stomach, liver, gallbladder, intestines, and other digestive organs.

Pelvic cavity

Space formed by the pelvic bones; contains the bladder, reproductive organs, and lower part of the large intestine.

Lumbar

Region of the lower back and side of the abdomen, between the ribs and the hip.

RUQ / URQ

Right upper quadrant / Upper right quadrant — contains most of the liver, gallbladder, and part of the stomach.

LUQ / ULQ

Left upper quadrant / Upper left quadrant — contains the spleen, part of the stomach, and part of the pancreas.

RLQ / LRQ

Right lower quadrant / Lower right quadrant — contains the appendix and part of the small/large intestine.

LLQ

Left lower quadrant — contains part of the descending/sigmoid colon.

abdomin/o

abdomen

acetabul/o

acetabulum (the cup-shaped hip socket that holds the head of the femur)

acromi/o

acromion (the bony point at the top of the shoulder blade/scapula)

cellul/o

cell, little cell

cyt/o (cyte)

cell

fibr/o

fiber

hist/o

tissue

lip/o

fat

my/o

muscle

neur/o

nerve

organ/o

organ

viscer/o

internal organs (viscera)

Auricular

Pertaining to the ear.

Axillary

Pertaining to the armpit (axilla).

Buccal

Pertaining to the cheek.

Cervical

Pertaining to the neck (also used for the cervix in reproductive anatomy).

Clavicular

Pertaining to the clavicle (collarbone).

Adipocytes

Fat cells; cells specialized for storing energy as fat.

Cyte/cyto

Combining form/suffix meaning cell.

Connective tissue

Tissue that supports, connects, and protects other tissues and organs (e.g., bone, cartilage, tendons, blood).

Epithelial tissue

Tissue that covers external body surfaces, lines internal organs and cavities, and forms glands.

Gamete cell

A reproductive (sex) cell — sperm in males, egg (ovum) in females — that unites with another gamete during fertilization.

Muscle fibers

Long, thin cells that make up muscle tissue and contract to produce movement.

Neuron

A nerve cell; the basic functional unit of the nervous system that transmits electrical/chemical signals.

Cardiovascular system

Heart and blood vessels; circulates blood, oxygen, and nutrients throughout the body.

Digestive (gastrointestinal) system

Breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste (mouth to anus, plus accessory organs like liver and pancreas).

Endocrine system

Glands that produce and secrete hormones to regulate body functions (e.g., thyroid, pancreas, adrenal glands).

Integumentary system

Skin, hair, and nails; protects the body, regulates temperature, and provides sensation.

Lymphatic system

Vessels, nodes, and organs that drain excess fluid and support immune function.

Musculoskeletal system

Bones, muscles, and joints; provides structure, support, and movement.

Reproductive system

Organs involved in producing offspring (male and female reproductive organs).

Respiratory system

Lungs and airways; responsible for breathing and gas exchange (oxygen in, carbon dioxide out).

Special senses

Sensory organs and systems for vision, hearing, smell, taste, and balance.

Urinary system

Kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra; filters blood and eliminates waste as urine.

Fever

An abnormally high body temperature, usually due to illness or infection.

Febrile

Adjective meaning having a fever; relating to fever.