Advanced Medical Terminology - Body Systems & Word Parts

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terms, combining forms, body planes, regions, and human body systems based on Columbus State Community College HIMT 1121 lecture notes.

Normal Anatomical Position

Standing straight up with eyes straight forward and arms down by the side with the palms of the hands facing forward.

Transverse Plane

An imaginary plane that divides the body into top and bottom halves.

Sagittal Plane

An imaginary plane that divides the body into a right and left side.

Medial

Direction toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Direction away from the midline of the body.

Bilateral

Pertaining to two sides of the body (bi- = two, later/o = side, -al = pertaining to).

Unilateral

Pertaining to one side of the body (uni- = one, later/o = side, -al = pertaining to).

Frontal Plane

An imaginary plane (also called coronal plane) that divides the body into front and back sections.

Anterior

Pertaining to the front of the body (also referred to as ventral).

Posterior

Pertaining to the back of the body (also referred to as dorsal).

Proximal

Toward the trunk of the body or point of attachment.

Distal

Away from the point of attachment or trunk of the body.

Umbilicus

The medical term for the belly button or navel.

Epigastric Region

Abdominal region located directly above the umbilical region and stomach (epi- = above/upon, gastr/o = stomach, -ic = pertaining to).

Hypogastric Region

Abdominal region located directly below the umbilical region and stomach (hypo- = below, gastr/o = stomach, -ic = pertaining to).

Hypochondriac Regions

Abdominal regions located in the top corners of the abdominal grid, below the cartilage of the ribs (hypo- = below, chondr/o = cartilage, -iac = pertaining to).

Inguinal Regions

Abdominal regions located in the lower corners in the groin area (inguin/o = groin, -al = pertaining to).

Supine Position

Body position lying flat on the back, face up.

Prone Position

Body position lying on the abdomen, face down.

Trendelenburg Position

Body position lying on the back with feet elevated to allow blood flow to the head.

Lithotomy Position

Body position with upper torso in supine position, legs raised, bent, and secure; used for gynecological, anal, and urological procedures.

Epidermis

The outermost waterproof layer of skin containing melanin (epi- = above/upon, dermis = skin).

Dermis

The layer of skin beneath the epidermis containing elastin protein, blood vessels, hair, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands.

Subcutaneous Layer

Layer of connective tissue containing fat located under the dermis that insulates to conserve body heat (sub- = under, cutane/o = skin, -us = pertaining to).

Melanin

Protective pigment of the skin found in the epidermis.

Oste/o

Combining form meaning bone.

Arthr/o

Combining form meaning joint or joints.

Chondr/o

Combining form meaning cartilage.

Maxilla

Upper jaw bone (combining form: maxill/o).

Mandible

Lower jaw bone (combining form: mandibul/o).

Cervical Vertebrae

The seven vertebrae of the neck (C1 through C7; cervic/o = neck or cervix).

Thoracic Vertebrae

The twelve vertebrae of the chest area (T1 through T12; thorac/o = chest/thorax).

Lumbar Vertebrae

The five vertebrae of the lower back (L1 through L5; lumb/o = lower back).

Sacrum

Five fused vertebrae inferior to the lumbar vertebrae (S1 through S5; combining form: sacr/o).

Coccyx

Four fused vertebrae inferior to the sacrum, commonly known as the tailbone (combining form: coccyg/o).

Clavicle

Collar bone (combining form: clavicul/o).

Scapula

Shoulder blade (combining form: scapul/o).

Cost/o

Combining form meaning ribs.

Sternum

Breast bone (combining form: stern/o).

Ilium

Large, flat bone located superior to other hip bones (combining form: ili/o).

Humerus

Bone of the upper arm (combining form: humer/o).

Radius

Lower arm bone located on the thumb side (combining form: radi/o).

Ulna

Lower arm bone located on the little finger side (combining form: uln/o).

Carpals

Eight bones of the wrist (combining form: carp/o).

Metacarpals

Hand bones located beyond the wrist (meta- = beyond, carp/o = wrist; combining form: metacarp/o).

Phalanges

Bones of the fingers and toes (singular: phalanx; combining form: phalang/o).

Femur

Large bone of the upper leg (combining form: femor/o).

Tibia

The larger of the two lower leg bones (combining form: tibi/o).

Fibula

The smaller of the two lower leg bones (combining form: fibul/o).

Patella

Kneecap (combining form: patell/o).

Calcaneus

Heel bone (combining form: calcane/o).

Tarsals

Seven bones forming the ankle (combining form: tars/o).

My/o

Combining form meaning muscle.

Kinesi/o

Combining form meaning movement.

Aden/o

Combining form meaning gland.

Adenopathy

Disease of a gland (aden/o = gland, -pathy = disease).

Pancreas

Endocrine and digestive organ posterior to the stomach that regulates blood sugar by secreting insulin and glucagon (combining form: pancreat/o).

Androgens

Male hormones secreted by the adrenal glands that produce male characteristics (andr/o = male, gen/o = formation/production).

Thyroid Gland

Endocrine gland located in the neck that affects metabolism (combining form: thyr/o).

Parathyroid Glands

Glands located alongside the thyroid that regulate blood calcium levels (para- = near/alongside, thyr/o = thyroid; calc/i = calcium).

Pituitary Gland

Endocrine gland located in the brain that regulates growth, metabolism, blood pressure, reproductive organs, water balance, and thyroid function (combining form: pituitar/o).

Encephal/o

Combining form meaning brain (en- = within, cephal/o = head).

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain, divided into frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes and right and left hemispheres (combining form: cerebr/o).

Cerebellum

Structure located below the cerebrum responsible for muscle coordination, posture, and balance (combining form: cerebell/o).

Thalamus

Brain structure serving as a relay station for sensory and motor nerve impulses to the cerebrum and regulating consciousness and sleep (combining form: thalam/o).

Hypothalamus

Structure located below the thalamus that controls hunger, thirst, and body temperature (hypo- = below, thalam/o = thalamus).

Meninges

Three-layered membrane covering the brain and spinal cord, consisting of dura mater, arachnoid, and pia mater (combining form: mening/o).

Myel/o

Combining form meaning spinal cord or bone marrow.

Radicul/o

Combining form meaning nerve root.

Neur/o

Combining form meaning nerve.

Ganglion

Mass of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system (plural: ganglia; combining forms: gangli/o, ganglion/o).

Iris

Colored part of the eye that regulates light entering through the pupil (combining forms: irid/o, ir/o).

Pupil

Opening in the center of the iris allowing light to travel into the eye (combining forms: pupill/o, cor/o, core/o).

Sclera

White part of the eye (combining form: scler/o).

Cornea

Transparent membrane located on the anterior part of the eye that bends light (combining form: corne/o).

Lens

Eye structure that changes shape to focus light onto the retina (combining forms: phac/o, phak/o).

Retina

Tissue layer at the back of the eye containing light-sensitive rod and cone cells (combining form: retin/o).

Tympanic Membrane

The eardrum (combining forms: tympan/o, myring/o).

Cochlea

Snail-shaped structure of the inner ear detecting vibrations and translating them into electrical impulses (combining form: cochle/o).

Peristalsis

Involuntary muscular contractions that propel food through the digestive tract.

Duodenum

The first segment of the small intestine (combining form: duoden/o).

Jejunum

The second segment of the small intestine (combining form: jejun/o).

Ileum

The third segment of the small intestine (combining form: ile/o).

Cecum

Pouch at the beginning of the large intestine to which the appendix is attached (combining form: cec/o).

Hepat/o

Combining form meaning liver.

Cholecyst/o

Combining form meaning gallbladder (chol/e = bile/gall, cyst/o = bladder).

Larynx

Voice box connecting pharynx and trachea (combining form: laryng/o).

Epiglottis

Cartilage flap located above the larynx that covers the airway during swallowing (epi- = above/upon, glott/o = opening to glottis).

Trachea

Airway tube extending from larynx to bronchi (combining form: trache/o).

Alveoli

Air sacs at the end of bronchioles where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged (singular: alveolus; combining form: alveol/o).

Pneumon/o

Combining form meaning lung or air.

Pleura

Membrane covering the lungs and chest cavity (combining form: pleur/o).

Hematopoiesis

Formation of blood cells in the bone marrow (hemat/o = blood, -poiesis = formation).

Erythrocyte

Red blood cell containing hemoglobin to carry oxygen (erythr/o = red, cyt/o = cell; RBC).

Leukocyte

White blood cell involved in immune defense against infection (leuk/o = white, cyt/o = cell; WBC).

Phagocytosis

Process by which white blood cells engulf and destroy bacteria (phag/o = eat, cyt/o = cell, -osis = condition of).

Thrombocyte

Blood cell (platelet) that forms clots to prevent blood loss (thromb/o = clot, cyt/o = cell).

Aorta

The largest artery in the body, carrying oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body (combining form: aort/o).

Sinoatrial Node

Neuromuscular tissue (SA node) acting as the heart's pacemaker to generate electrical impulses.

Glomerulus

Network of intertwining capillaries within the kidney where filtration begins (combining form: glomerul/o).