body structures

albin/o

white

leuk/o

white

chrom/o

color

cirrh/o

yellow

jaund/o

yellow

xanth/o

yellow

cyan/o

blue

erythr/o

red

melan/o

black

poli/o

gray; gray matter (of the brain or spinal cord)

radi/o

radiation, x-ray; radius (lower arm bone on thumb side)

tom/o

to cut

viscer/o

internal organs

cyt/o

cell

hist/o

tissue

kary/o

nucleus

nucle/o

nucleus

anter/o

anterior, front

caud/o

tail

cephal/o

head

dist/o

far, farthest

dors/o

back (of body)

infer/o

lower, below

later/o

side, to one side

medi/o

middle

poster/o

back (of body), behind, posterior

proxim/o

near, nearest

ventr/o

belly, belly side

Abduction

Movement away from the midsagittal (median) plane of the body or one of its parts

Adduction

Movement toward the midsagittal (median) plane of the body

Medial

Pertaining to the midline of the body or structure

Lateral

Pertaining to a side

Superior (cephalad)

Toward the head or upper portion of a structure

Inferior (caudal)

Away from the head, or toward the tail or lower part of a structure

Proximal

Nearer to the center (trunk of the body) or to the point of attachment to the body

Distal

Further from the center (trunk of the body) or from the point of attachment to the body

Anterior (ventral)

Front of the body

Posterior (dorsal)

Back of the body

Parietal

Pertaining to the outer wall of the body cavity

Visceral

Pertaining to the viscera, or internal organs, especially the abdominal organs

Prone

Lying on the abdomen, face down

Supine

Lying horizontally on the back, face up

Inversion

Turning inward or inside out

Eversion

Turning outward

Palmar

Pertaining to the palm of the hand

Plantar

Pertaining to the sole of the foot

Superficial

Toward the surface of the body (external)

Deep

Away from the surface of the body (internal)

Chromatin

Structural component of the nucleus, composed of nucleic acids and proteins

Chromosome

Threadlike structures within the nucleus composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that carries hereditary information encoded in genes

DNA

Molecule that holds genetic information capable of replicating and producing an exact copy whenever the cell divides

Metabolism

Sum of all physical and chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism

organelle

Cellular structure that provides a specialized function, such as the nucleus (reproduction), ribosomes (protein synthesis), Golgi apparatus (removal of material from the cell), and lysosomes (digestion)

Cells

three main structures: cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus. The study of the body at the cellular level is called cytology.

Tissues

Tissue is composed of similar cells that perform specialized or common functions. The study of tissues is called histology.

Epithelial tissue

covers surfaces of organs, lines cavities and canals, forms tubes and ducts, provides the secreting portions of glands, and makes up the outer layer (epidermis) of the skin

Connective tissue

supports and connects other body tissues. There are various types of connective tissue, including cartilage, adipose (fat), bone, elastic fiber, and even blood.

Muscle tissue

provides the contractile tissue of the body, which is responsible for movement.

Nervous Tissue

transmits electrical impulses as it relays information throughout the body.

Disease

When homeostasis is disrupted and cells, tissues, organs, or systems are unable to function effectively, the condition is called

symptom (Sx)

a subjective indicator of disease. As such, only the patient can experience

prognosis

the prediction of the course of a disease and its probable outcome.

idiopathic disease

one whose cause is unknown or exists without any connection with a known cause

Adhesion

Abnormal fibrous band that holds or binds together tissues that are normally separated

Edema

Abnormal accumulation of fluid within tissue spaces as a result of systemic disease or failure of the lymphatic system to drain tissue fluid from the site

Febrile

Having or showing symptoms of a fever

Gangrene

Death and decay of soft tissue, usually caused by circulatory obstruction or infection

Hernia

Protrusion of any organ through the structure that normally contains it

Inflammation

Body defense against injury, infection, or allergy marked by redness, swelling, heat, and pain, sometimes with loss of function

Mycosis

Any fungal infection in or on the body

Perforation

hole that completely a structure

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that surrounds the abdominal cavity and covers its organs, usually caused by bacteria or fungi

Rupture

Sudden breaking or bursting of a structure or organ

Septicemia

Severe bacterial infection of the tissues that spreads to the blood; also called sepsis or blood poisoning

suppuration

Process of forming puss