final exam med term

abdominal cavity

space between the chest containing organs such as the liver, stomach, gallbladder, and intestines

(also called abdomen or peritoneal cavity)

cranial cavity

space in the head containing the brain and surrounded by the skull

(cranial means pertaining to the skull)

diaphragm

muscle separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities

(this moves up and down and aids in breathing)

dorsal(posterior)

pertaining to the back

mediastinum

centrally located space outside of and between the lungs

pelvic cavity

space between the abdomen containing portions of the intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, and reproductive organs.

(pelvic means pertaining to the pelvis, which is composed of the hip bones surrounding the pelvic cavity)

peritoneum

double-folded membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity. This attaches abdominal viscera to muscles and functions as a protective membrane(containing blood vessels and nerves) around the organs

pleura

double-folded membrane surrounding each lung

(pleura means pertaining to the pleura)

pleural cavity

space between the pleural layers

spinal cavity

space within the spinal column(backbones) containing the spinal cord

thoracic cavity

space in the chest containing the heart, lungs, bronchial tubes, trachea, esophagus, and other organs

ventral(anterior)

pertaining to the front

cervical

neck region. there are 7 of these vertebrae

thoracic

chest region. there are 12 of these vertebrae. each bone is joined to a rib

lumbar

loin(waist) or flank region(between the ribs and the hip bone). there are 5 of these vertebrae.

sacral

5 bones are fused to form one bone, the sacrum

coccygeal

the coccyx(tailbone) is a small bone composed of 4 fused pieces

anterior(ventral)

front side of the body

ex: forehead

posterior(dorsal)

back side of the body

ex: back of the head compared to the face

deep

away from the surface

ex: stab wound penetrated deep into the abdomen

superficial

on the surface

ex: superficial veins can be viewed through the skin

proximal

near the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a structure

ex: proximal end of the thigh bone(femur) joins at the hip socket

distal

far from the point of attachment to the trunk or far from the beginning of a structure

ex: distal end of thigh bone(femur) joins at the knee

inferior

below another structure

ex: feet are at the inferior part of the body and inferior to the knees

superior

above another structure

ex: head lies superior to the neck

medial

pertaining to the middle, or nearer the medial plane of the body

ex: anatomic position, fifth finger is medial

lateral

pertaining to the side of the body

supine

lying on the back

ex: patient lies supine during an examination of the abdomen and in females during pelvic exam

prone

lying on the belly

ex: backbone are examined in this position

frontal(coronal)

vertical plane dividing the body or structure into anterior and posterior portions

ex: common chest x-ray

sagittal(lateral)

lengthwise vertical plane dividing the body or structure into right and left sides

ex: lateral chest x-ray

transverse(axial)

horizontal(cross-sectional) plane running across the body parallel to the ground

ex: CT scan

anatomical position

standard reference position of the body, standing with arms at the side and palms turned forward, with head and feet pointing forward

dorsum

back or posterior surface of a part, in the foot it is the top of the foot

fowler’s

supine position with head higher than the feet approximately 45- 60 degrees (18- 20 inches above flat position)

mediolateral

going from the midline of a structure to the side of a structure

midline of the body

imaginary line created when the body is divided into equal right and left halves

midsagittal plane

plane the at divides the body into right and left equal portions

semi-fowler’s

supine position with head higher than feet approximately 30 degrees

sims’

recumbent position with the patient lying on the left anterior side with the left leg extended and the right knee and thigh partially flexed

trendelenburg

supine position with the head tilted downward

lateromedial

going from the side of a structure towards the midline of the structure

lithotomy

a supine position with the knees and hip flexed and thighs abducted and rotated externally, supported by ankle supports

longitudinal plane

divides the body into right and left segments

plantar

pertaining to the sole or bottom of the foot

decubitus

the patient is lying down and that the central ray is horizontal and parallel with the floor

oblique

rotating the entire body or body part so that the coronal plane is not parallel with the IR

recumbent

general term referring to lying down in any position

coronal plane

divides the body into anterior and posterior segments

absorption

passage of materials through the walls of the small intestine into the bloodstream

anus

opening of the rectum to the outside of the body

appendix

small, tube-like organ connected to the beginning of the large intestine(cecum). it is located in the RLQ of the abdomen

bile

digestive juice made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder

bowel

intestine. the large bowel is called the colon and the small bowel is the same intestine

cecum

first part of the large intestine(colon)

colon

large intestine

common bile duct

tube carrying bile from the liver and gallbladder into the duodenum(first part of the small intestine)

defecation

elimination of wastes and undigested foods through the anus

deglutition

swallowing

digestion

breakdown of complex foods to simpler forms

duodenum

first part of the small intestine

elimination

removal of materials from the body; in the digestive system, the removal of indigestible materials as feces

esophagus

tube that carries food from the pharynx(throat) to the stomach

feces

solid wastes, stools

gallbladder

small sac under the liver; stores bile

ileum

third part of the small intestine

jejunum

second part of the small intestine

liver

large, reddish-brown organ in the RUQ of the abdomen

lower esophageal splinter(cardiac sphincter)

ring of muscles between the esophagus and the stomach

mastication

chewing

palate

roof of the mouth; hard palate is the front bony portion and the soft palate is the posterior fleshy part near the throat

pancreas

gland located under and behind the stomach; produces the hormone insulin to transport sugar to cells and enzymes to digest foods

peristalsis

rhythmic contractions of the tubes of the gastrointestinal tract and other tubular structures

pharynx

throat

pyloric sphincter

ring of muscle that surrounds the opening of the stomach to the duodenum

pylorus

distal region of the stomach near the duodenum

rectum

last section of the large intestine(colon)

rugae

ridges on the hard palate and the wall of the stomach

saliva

digestive juice produced by salivary glands

sigmoid colon

lower, s-shaped segment of the colon, just before the rectum

sphincter

circular ring of muscle that constricts a passage or closes a natural opening

stomach

uvula

soft tissue hanging from the middle of the soft palate, at the back of the mouth

bucc/o

cheek

celi/o

belly; abdomen

cholecyst/o

gallbladder

enter/o

intestines(usually small intestine)

gastr/o

stomach

hepat/o

liver

lapar/o

abdominal wall; abdomen

or/o

mouth

pharyng/o

throat(pharynx)

bil/i

bile; gall

chol/e

bile; gall

lith/o

stone; calculus

anorexia

lack of appetite

ascites

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen

constipation

difficulty in passing(eliminating) feces(stool)

diarrhea

frequent passage of loose, watery stools

dysphagia

difficulty in swallowing