Chapter 2 medical terminology

Homeostasis

the normal dynamic process of balance needed to maintain a healthy body

organelles

structures within the cells

cytoplasm

holds the organelles of the cell

lysosome

organelle that serves a digestive function for the cell

-plasm

formation

lys/o

dissolving

-some

body

ribosome

site of protein formation; contains ribonucleic acid (RNA)

rib/o

ribose

home/o

same

-stasis

controlling, stopping

meta-

change, beyond

bol/o

throwing

-ism

state of

ana-

up, apart

cata-

down

mitochondrion (pl. mitochondria)

converts nutrients to energy in the presence of oxygen

-on

structure

mitochondri/o

mitochondria

nucleus

contains most of the genetic information, controls cell growth and replication, regulates cell metabolism, and is the cite of RNA synthesis

nucle/o

nucleus

-us

structure

tissue

is a group of similar cells from the same origin that together carry out a specific function

stromal tissue

supportive tissue

parenchymal tissue

does the actual work of the organ

epithelial tissue

acts as an internal or external covering for organs

hist/o

tissue

strom/o

stromal

en-

in

chym/o

juice

epi-

upon

thel/e

nipple

my/o

muscul/o

muscle

neur/o

nerve

cardi/o

heart

connective tissue

includes a variety of types, all of which have an internal structural network

ex: bone, blood, fat

Muscular tissue

Includes 3 types all of which share the unique property of being able to contract and relax.

ex: heart muscle, skeletal muscle, and visceral muscle

Nervous tissue

includes cells that provide transmission of information to regulate a variety of functions

ex: neurons (nerve cells)

apex (organ)

the pointed extremity of a conical structure

apic/o

apex

body(corporis) [organ]

the largest or most important part of an organ

corpor/o

som/o

somat/o

organ

fornix (organ)

any vaultlike or arched structure

fornic/o

fornix (pl. fornices)

fundus (organ)

the base or deepest part of a hollow organ that is the farthest from the mouth of the organ

fund/o

fundus

hilum (pl. hila) [organ]

recess, exit, or entrance of a duct into a gland, or of a nerve and vessels into an organ

hil/o

hilum

lumen (organ)

the space within an artery, vein, intestine, or tube

lumin/o

lumen

sinus (organ)

a cavity or channel in a bone, a dilated channel for blood, or a cavity that permits the escape of purulent (pus filled) material

antrum and sinus are synonyms

sin/o

sinus/o

sinus

vestibule (organ)

a small space or cavity at the beginning of a canal

vestibul/o

vestibule

musculoskeletal (body system)

function:

support, movement, protection

integumentary (body system)

function:

cover and protection

gastrointestinal (body system)

function:

nutrition

urinary (body system)

function:

elimination of nitrogenous waste

reproductive (body system)

function:

reproduction

blood/lymphatic/immune (body system)

function:

transportation of nutrients/waste, protection

cardiovascular (body system)

function:

transportation of blood

respiratory (body system)

function:

delivers oxygen to cells and removes carbon dioxide

nervous/behavioral (body system)

function:

receive/process information

special senses (body system)

function:

information gathering

endocrine (body system)

function:

effects changes through chemical messengers

hem/o

hemat/o

blood

Adjective form: hematic

oste/o

osse/o

bone

Adjective form: osseous, osteal

lys/o

breakdown, dissolve

Adjective form: lytic

cyt/o

cellul/o

cell

Adjective form: cellular

epitheli/o

epithelium

Adjective form: epithelial

adip/o

fat

Adjective form: adipose

myocardi/o

heart

Adjective form: myocardial

kary/o

nucle/o

nucleus

Adjective form: neural

organ/o

viscer/o

organ, viscera

Adjective form: visceral

system/o

system

Adjective form: systemic

ana-

up, apart, away

supra-

upward, above

-al

-ous

pertaining to

-ia

-ism

condition, state of

-on

structure

-us

structure

-um

structure, thing, membrane

-logy

study of

-tomy

incision, cutting

cytology

the study of cells

histology

study of tissue

anatomy

to cut apart; the study of the structure of the body

physi/o

growth

physiology

the study of growth; the study of the function of the body

pathology

the study of disease

path/o

disease

biopsy

process of viewing living tissue that has been removed for the purpose of diagnosis and/or treatment

bi/o

life, living

-opsy

process of viewing

necropsy

process of viewing dead tissue

necr/o

dead, death

autopsy

process of viewing by self; this term is commoly used to describe the examination of a dead body to determine cause(s) of death

auto-

self

anatomic position

position in which the body stands erect with face forward, arms at the sides, palms forward, with toes pointed forward

used to describe the surface anatomy of the body, both front (ventral) and back (dorsal)

buccal

pertaining to the cheek