medical terminology chapter 2 - The Human Body in Health & Disease

word parts/definition

aden/o

gland

adip/o

fat

anter/o

before, front

caud/o

lower part of body, tail

cephal/o

head

cyt/o

cell

-cyte

cell

end-

in, within, inside

endo-

in, within, inside

exo-

out of, outside, away from

hist/o

tissue

-ologist

specialist

-ology

the science or study of

path/o

disease, suffering, feeling, emotion

-pathy

disease, suffering, feeling, emotion

-plasia

development, growth, formation

poster/o

behind, toward the back

-stasis

control, maintenance of a constant level

-static

control, maintenance of a constant level

abdominal cavity

contains the major organs of digestion

adenocarcinoma

malignant tumor that originates in the glands and may spread to other parts of the body

adenoma

benign tumor that starts in the epithelial tissue of a gland or gland-like structure

anaplasia

change in the structure of cells and in their orientation to each other

anatomy

study of the structures of the body

anomaly

deviation from what is regarded as normal

anterior

situated in the front

aplasia

defective development, or the congenital absence, of an organ or tissue

atresia

congenital absence or narrowing of a normal body opening or passage

autopsy

a postmortem examination

bloodborne transmission

the spread of pathogens through infected blood or other body fluids

caudal

toward the lower part of the body

cephalic

toward the head

chromosome

genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell

communicable disease

any condition that is transmitted from one person to another either directly or by indirect contact with contaminated objects

congenital disorder

abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth

cytoplasm

material within the cell membrane that is not part of the nucleus

distal

situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure

dorsal

back of the organ or body

dysplasia

abnormal development or growth of cells, or the presence of abnormal cells within a type of tissue

endemic

ongoing presence of a disease within a population, group, or area

endocrine glands

produce hormones, do not have ducts

epidemic

sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease within a specific population group or area

epigastric region

located above the stomach

etiology

study of the causes of diseases or abnormal conditions

exocrine glands

secrete chemical substances into ducts that lead either to other organs or out of the body

functional disorder

condition that produced physical symptoms for which no disease or other organic cause can be identified

genetic disorder

pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene

geriatrician

physician who specializes in the care of older people

hemophilia

hereditary bleeding disorder in which a blood-clotting factor is missing

histology

microscopic study of the structure, composition, and function of tissues

homeostasis

processes through which the body maintains a constant inernal environment

hyperplasia

increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ

hypertrophy

general increase in the bulk of a body part or organ due to an increase in the size, but not the number, of cells in the tissues

hypogastric region

located below the stomach

hypoplasia

underdevelopment of an organ or tissue, usually due to a deficiency in the number of cells

iatrogenic illness

unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment

idiopathic disease

any disease without a known cause

infectious disease

illness caused by living pathogenic organisms such as bacteria and viruses

inguinal

relating to the groin, refers to the entire lower area of the abdomen

medial

direction toward, or, nearer the midline

mesentery

fused double layer of the parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior abdominal wall

midsagittal plane

AKA the midline, the sagittal plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves

nosocomial infection

disease acquired in a hospital or clinical setting

pandemic

outbreak of a disease occurring over a large geographic area, sometimes even worldwide

pathology

study of disease

pelvic cavity

space formed by the hip bones and contains the organs of the reproductive and excretory systems

peritoneum

multilayered membrane that protects and holds the organs in place within the abdominal cavity

peritonitis

inflammation of the peritoneum

physiology

study of the functions of the structures of the body

posterior

situated in the back or on the back part of an organ

proximal

situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure

retroperitoneal

located behind the peritoneum

stem cells

unspecialized cells that are able to renew themselves for long periods of time by cell division

syndrome

set of signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process

thoracic cavity

AKA the chest cavity or thorax; surrounds and protects the heart and lungs

transverse plane

horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions

umbilicus

commonly known as the belly button or navel, this pit in the center of the abdominal wall marks the point where the umbilical cord was attached before birth

vector-borne transmission

the spread of certain disease through blood-sucking vectors

ventral

refers to the front, or belly side, of the organ or body