The Language of Medicine, Chapter 2

anabolism

Process of building up large proteins from small protein pieces called amino acids. Ana- means up, bol means to cast, and -ism is a process.

catabolism

Process whereby complex nutrients are broken down to simpler substances and energy is released. Cata- means down, bol means to cast, and -ism is a process.

cell membrane

Structure surrounding and protecting the cell. It determines what enters and leaves the cell.

chromosomes

Rod-shaped structures in the nucleus that contain regions of DNA called genes. There are 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in every cell except for the egg and sperm cells, which contain only 23 individual, unpaired chromosomes.

cytoplasm

All of the material that is outside the nucleus and yet contained within the cell membrane.

DNA

Chemical found within each chromosome. Arranged like a sequence of recipes in code, it directs the activities of the cell.

endoplasmic reticulum

Network of canals within the cytoplasm of the cell. Here, large proteins are made from smaller protein pieces.

genes

Regions of DNA within each chromosome.

karyotype

Picture (classification) of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell. The chromosomes are arranged in numerical order to determine their number and structure.

metabolism

Total of the chemical processes in a cell. It includes catabolism and anabolism. Meta- means change, bol means to cast, and -ism means a process.

mitochondria

Rod-shaped structures in the cytoplasm that provide the principal source of energy (miniature "power plants") for the cell. Catabolism is the process that occurs in mitochondria. (From the Greek mitos meaning thread and chondrion meaning granule.)

nucleus

Control center of the cell. It contains chromosomes and directs the activities of the cell.

adipose tissue

Collection of fat cells.

cartilage

Flexible connective tissue often attached to bones at joints. Cartilage forms part of the external ear and the nose. Rings of cartilage surround the trachea.

epithelial cells

Skin cells that cover the outside of the body and line the internal surfaces of organs.

histologist

Specialist in the study of tissues.

larynx

(LAH-RINKS) Voice box; located above the trachea.

laryngitis - inflammation of the voice box

pharynx

"(FAH-RINKS) Throat.

The pharynx serves as the common passageway for food (from the mouth going to the esophagus) and air (from the nose to the trachea). HINT: Note that "y" comes before "n" in both pharynx and larynx.

pituitary gland

Endocrine gland at the base of the brain. HINT: Be careful spelling pituitary; it contains 2 i's.

thyroid gland

Endocrine gland that surrounds the trachea in the neck.

trachea

Windpipe (tube leading from the throat and larynx to the bronchial tubes.)

ureter

One of two tubes, each leading from a single kidney to the urinary bladder. Spelling clue: Ureter has two e's, and there are two ureters.

urethra

Tube from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. Spelling clue: Urethra has one e, and there is only one urethra.

uterus

Womb; the organ that holds the embryo/fetus as it develops.

viscera

Internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially in the abdomen.

Cranial

Brain, pituitary gland.

Thoracic

Lungs, heart, esophagus, trachea, bronchial tubes, thymus gland, aorta (large artery). The thoracic cavity is divided into two smaller cavities.

1. Pleural cavity—space surrounding each lung. The pleura is a double membrane that surrounds the lungs and protects them. If the pleura is inflamed (as in pleuritis or pleurisy), the pleural cavity may fill with fluid. This is called a pleural effusion.

2. Mediastinum—centrally located space outside of and between the lungs. It contains the heart, aorta, trachea, esophagus, thymus gland, bronchial tubes, and many lymph nodes.

Abdominal

The peritoneum is the double-folded membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity. It attaches the abdominal organs to the abdominal muscles and surrounds each organ to hold it in place. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs situated behind the abdominal cavity (retroperitoneal area) on either side of the backbone. The abdominal cavity also contains the stomach, small and large intestines, spleen, pancreas, liver, and gallbladder. The diaphragm (a muscular wall) divides the abdominal and thoracic cavities

Pelvic

Portions of the small and large intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, urethra, and ureters; uterus and vagina in the female.

Spinal

Nerves of the spinal cord.

abdominal cavity

Space below the chest containing organs such as the liver, stomach, gallbladder, and intestines; also called the 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. The diaphragm 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 below the abdomen containing portions of the intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, and reproductive organs. Pelvic means pertaining to the pelvis, composed of the hip bones surrounding the pelvic cavity.

peritoneum

Double-folded membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity. The peritoneum 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. Pleural means pertaining to the pleura. HINT: Don't confuse pleural with plural, which means more than one!

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.

Right hypochondriac region

right upper region below (hypo-) the cartilage (chondr/o) of the ribs that extend over the abdomen

Left hypochondriac region

left upper region below the rib cartilage

Epigastric region

region above the stomach

Right lumbar region

right middle region near the waist

Left lumbar region

left middle region near the waist

Umbilical region

region of the navel or umbilicus

Right inguinal region

right lower region near the groin (inguin/o= groin), which is the area where the legs join the trunk of the body. This region also is known as the right iliac region because it lies near the ilium (the upper portion of the hip bone).

Left inguinal region

left lower region near the groin. Also called the left iliac region.

Hypogastric region

middle lower region below the umbilical region.

Right upper quadrant (RUQ)

contains the liver (right lobe), gallbladder, part of the pancreas, parts of the small and large intestines

Left upper quadrant (LUQ)

contains the liver (left lobe), stomach, spleen, part of the pancreas, parts of the small and large intestines

Right lower quadrant (RLQ)

contains parts of the small and large intestines, right ovary, right fallopian tube, appendix, right ureter

Left lower quadrant (LLQ)

contains parts of the small and large intestines, left ovary, left fallopian tube, left ureter

Cervical (C)

Neck region. There are seven cervical vertebrae (C1 to C7)

Thoracic (T)

Chest region. There are 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1 to T12). Each bone is joined to a rib.

Lumbar (L)

Loin (waist) or flank region (between the ribs and the hipbone). There are five lumbar vertebrae (L1 to L5).

Sacral (S)

Five bones (S1 to S5) are fused to form one bone, the sacrum.

Coccygeal

The coccyx (tailbone) is a small bone composed of four fused pieces.

vertebra

Single backbone. HINT: There are two e's in vertebra

vertebrae

Backbones. (VER-teh-bray)

spinal column

Bone tissue surrounding the spinal cavity.

spinal cord

Nervous tissue within the spinal cavity.

disc

Pad of cartilage between vertebrae.

Deep

Away from the surface.

Example: The stab wound penetrated deep into the abdomen.

Superficial

On the surface.

Example: Superficial veins can be viewed through the skin.

Proximal

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

Example: The proximal end of the thigh bone (femur) joins with the hip socket.

Distal

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

Example: At its distal end, the femur joins with the knee.

Inferior

Below another structure.

Example: The feet are at the inferior part of the body. They are inferior to the knees.

Superior

Above another structure.

Example: The head lies superior to the neck. Cephalic (pertaining to the head) also means above another structure.

Medial

Pertaining to the middle, or nearer the medial plane of the body.

Example: When in the anatomic position (palms of the hands facing outward), the fifth (little) finger is medial.

Lateral

Pertaining to the side.

Example: When in the anatomic position (palms of the hands facing outward), the thumb is lateral.

Supine

Lying on the back.

Example: The patient lies supine during an examination of the abdomen and, in females, during a pelvic (gynecologic) exam.

Prone

Lying on the belly.

Example: The backbones are examined with the patient in a prone position. A patient lies on his/her stomach in the prone position.

Frontal (coronal) plane

Vertical plane dividing the body or structure into anterior and posterior portions. A common chest x-ray view is a PA (posteroanterior—viewed from back to front) view, which is in the frontal (coronal) plane.

Sagittal (lateral) plane

Lengthwise vertical plane dividing the body or structure into right and left sides. The midsagittal plane divides the body into right and left halves. A lateral (side-to-side) chest x-ray film is taken in the sagittal plane.

Transverse (axial) plane

Horizontal (cross-sectional) plane running across the body parallel to the ground. This cross-sectional plane divides the body or structure into upper and lower portions. A CT (computed tomography) scan is one of a series of x-ray pictures taken in the transverse (axial or cross-sectional) plane.

abdomin/o

abdomen.

abdominal - The abdomen is the region below the chest containing internal organs (such as the liver, intestines, stomach, and gallbladder)

adip/o

fat.

adipose (The suffix -ose means pertaining to or full of. Another combining form meaning fat is lip/o. Lipids are fats.)

anter/o

front.

anterior (The suffix -ior means pertaining to.)

cervic/o

neck (of the body or of the uterus).

cervical - The cervix is the neck of the uterus.

chondr/o

cartilage (type of connective tissue).

chondroma - This is a benign tumor.,

chondrosarcoma - This is a malignant tumor. The root sarc indicates that the malignant tumor arises from a type of flesh or connective tissue.

chrom/o

colour.

chromosomes - These nuclear structures absorb the color of dyes used to stain the cell. The suffix -somes means bodies. Literally, this term means "bodies of color," because this is how they appeared to researchers who first saw them under the microscope.

coccyg/o

coccyx (tailbone).

coccygeal

crani/o

skull.

craniotomy

cyt/o

cell.

cytoplasm (The suffix -plasm means formation.)

dist/o

far, distant.

distal

dors/o

back portion of the body.

dorsal

hist/o

tissue.

histology

ili/o

ilium (upper part of the hip bone).

iliac

inguin/o

groin.

inguinal

kary/o

nucleus.

karyotype (The suffix -type means classification or picture.)

later/o

side.

lateral

lumb/o

lower back.

lumbosacral

medi/o

middle.

medial

nucle/o

nucleus.

nucleic

pelv/i

pelvis.

pelvic - The pelvis includes all the bones that surround the pelvic cavity

pharyng/o

pharynx (throat).

pharyngeal - The pharynx (FAH-rinks) is the common passageway for food from the mouth and air from the nose.

poster/o

back, behind.

posterior