MedTerms Ch.2

Adeno

gland

Adip/o

fat

Anter/o

anterior, front

Caud/o

lower part of body, tail

Cephal/o

head

Chondr/o

cartilage

Chrom/o

color

Col/o

colon, large intestine

Coron/o

coronary, crown

Crani/o

skull

Cyt/o

cell

Dist/o

far, distant

Dors/o/i

back of body

Hepat/o

liver

Hist/o

tissue

Home/o

sameness, unchanging, constant

Hyster/o

uterus

Infer/o

below, beneath

Lapar/o

abdomen, abdominal wall

Later/o

side

Lumb/o

lower back, loin

Medi/o

Middle

Nephr/o

kidney

Oste/o

bone

Path/o

disease, suffering, feeling, emotion

Poster/o

behind, toward the back

Proxim/o

near

Somat/o, Som/a

body

Bi-

two, twice, double

Dia-

through, between, apart, complete

Epi-

Above, upon, on

Gen-

Producing, forming

Exo-

Out of, outside, away from

Eti-

Cause

A-

No, not without, away from, negative

Ante-

Down, lack of, from, not, removal

De-

Down, lack of, from, not, removal

Retro-

Behind, backward, back of

-crine

Secrete

-plasia

Development, formation, growth

-plasm

Formative material of cells

-stasis

Control, maintenance of a constant level

Abdominopelvic

Region of both the abdominal and pelvic cavities, as there is no divide between them both

Ascites

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity (serous fluid of abdomen)

Anatomic position

Position of the body upon which descriptions of the body are based: the body must standing up so the body is erect, facing forward, with the arms out at the side and the palms facing forward

Body Cavity

A space within the body that contains and protects the internal organs

Anomaly

A deviation from what is regarded normal

Anatomy

The study of the structures of the body

Cerebral Palsy

A birth injury that may be caused by premature birth or inadequate oxygen to the brain during birth

Cystic Fibrosis

genetic disorder of the exocrine glands

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Blueprint for the body, made up of genes that create a unique pattern for an individual

Diaphragm

A muscle in the thoracic cavity that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities

Down Syndrome/Trisomy 21

A genetic syndrome that is characterized by varying degrees of mental retardation and multiple physical abnormalities

Endothelium

The specialized epithelial tissue that lines the blood and lymph vessels, body cavities, glands, and organs

Epithelium

The specialized epithelial tissue that forms the epidermis of the skin and the surface layer of mucous membranes

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Prenatal and postnatal abnormalities formed by the ingestion of alcohol during pregnancy, characterized by growth deficiencies and brain damage

Gametes

Sex cells, haploid cells (with 23 chromosomes) that combine with another gamete from a partner's of the opposite sex to become fertilized and form new life

Hemophilia

A group of hereditary bleeding disorders in which one of the factors needed to clot the blood is missing, transferred from a mother to her son

Huntington's Disease/chorea

A hereditary disorder with symptoms that first arise in midlife, causes irreversible and progressive loss of muscle control and mental ability, 50% of people containing the HD gene will develop this disease

Hypochondriac

Meaning “below the ribs”, means both the regions located on the opposite sides of the body covered by the lower ribs and an individual with an abnormal and excessive concern about his or her health

iatrogenic

A problem (like a side effect or unfavorable response) that arises from a prescribed medical treatment

Idiopathic

An illness without known cause

Inguinal

Of the groin

Mesentery

A fold of membrane that attaches the intestine to the wall and around the stomach area and holds it in place.

Muscular Dystrophy

A group of inherited muscle disorders that cause muscle weakness without affecting the nervous system.

Nosocomial

Pertaining to a hospital-acquired infection that was not present on admission but appears 72 hours or more after hospitalization.

Nucleus

A part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction. Powerhouse of the cell

Parietal

Pertaining to the outer wall of the body cavity

Peritoneum

A serous membrane lining the cavity of the abdomen and covering the abdominal organs.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

A genetic disorder in which an essential digestive enzyme is missing.

Sagittal

A plane that divides the body into right and left portions

Physiology

A branch of biology that deals with how and why a body part functions

Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle/crescent shaped red blood cells that become rigid and sticky, slowing or blocking blood flow with no cure.

Stem Cells

Cells with the potential to develop into many different types of cells in the body.

Tay-Sachs Disease

Hereditary disease marked by progressive physical degeneration, mental retardation, and early death at around 5 years of age.

Transverse

A plane that divides the body into upper and lower parts

Umbilical

Navel, belly button

Visceral

Pertaining to the internal organs.