Medical Terminology & Anatomy

Anterior (ventral)

Toward the front of the body

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward the back of the body

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

Lateral

Toward the side of the body

Proximal

Nearer to the point of attachment or to a given reference point

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment or from a given reference point

Superior (cranial)

Above; toward the head

Inferior (caudal)

Below; toward the lower end of the spine

Superficial (external)

Closer to the surface of the body

Deep (internal)

Closer to the center of the body

Supine

Lying face up

Prone

Lying face down

Ec-, ecto-

Out; outside

End/o-

In; within

Epi-

Outer, above, on

Mes/o

Middle

Ab-

Away from

Ad-

Toward; near

Per-

Through

Trans-

Through; across

Infra-

Below

Inter-

Between

Sub-

Beneath; under

Ante-

Before; forward

Pre-

Before, in front of

Post-

After; behind

Mon/o

One; single

Bi-

Two, twice

Tri-

Three

Quadri-

Four

Poly-

Many, much

-gram

A record of data

-graphy

Act of recording data

-meter

Instrument for measuring

-scope

Instrument for viewing or examining

-scopy

Examination of

-centesis

Puncture tap

-desis

Binding, fusion

-ectomy

Excision, surgical removal

-pexy

surgical fixation

-plasty

Plastic repair, plastic surgery, reconstruction

-rhaphy

surgical repair, suture

-stomy

surgical creation of an opening

-tome

Instrument for incising (cutting)

-tomy

Incision; cutting

-tripsy

Crushing

Integumentary

(integument=outer covering)—The largest organ in the body. Comprised of the skin, hair, and nails.

Musculoskeletal

(muscul/o=muscles; skeletal=bones)—A system of muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments providing movement, form, strength, and protection. Various muscle and bone types work together in this body system.

Cardiovascular

(cardi/o= heart; vascular=vessels)—Comprised of the heart and the blood vessels, working together to move blood throughout the body. Blood provides nutrients and oxygen to all organs and tissues within the body

Lymphatic

(lymph/o=lymphocyte)—Comprised of lymph vessels and lymph nodes. This system collects excess fluid from the interstitial spaces (potential spaces between tissues) and returns it to the heart.

Respiratory

(spir/o=breathing)—Includes the nose, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and their smaller branches, lungs, and alveoli. It functions to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. The respiratory system is also referred to as the pulmonary (pulmon/o=lung) system

Digestive

—The digestive system is also referred to as the gastrointestinal (gastr/o=stomach;entero/o=small and large intestines) system. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract and its ancillary organs make up the digestive system. The GI tract begins in the mouth and ends at the anus. This continuous structure (also called the alimentary tract) winds through several body cavities and encompasses a multitude of structures and organs. The system mechanically and chemically breaks down food into miniscule or molecular size for absorption into the blood stream and use at the cellular level.

Urinary

—Includes two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra. The urinary system produces urine for excretion of metabolic wastes and fluid and electrolyte balance, and provides transportation and temporary storage of urine prior to the intermittent process of urination.

Male Reproductive

—External male genitalia include the testes, epididymis, scrotum, and penis. Internal organs of the male genital system include the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and Cowper’s glands. A system of tubes and ducts that sperm travel through to leave the body is comprised of the vas deferens, ejaculatory duct, and urethra.

Female Reproductive

—External female genitalia include the vulva, labia majora and minora, clitoris, external opening of the vagina (also called the introitus), opening of the urethra or urinary meatus, Skene’s glands (found on either side of the urinary meatus), and Bartholin’s glands (found on either side of the introitus). Internal female genital system organs include the vagina, uterus, two fallopian tubes, and two ovaries

Nervous

—The nervous system is an enormous network of nerve fibers traversing the human body. The nervous system is composed of central and peripheral portions. The brain and spinal cord are the components of the central nervous system (CNS). The peripheral nervous system (PNS) includes the cranial and spinal nerves.

Organs of sense

Eye—Organ of sight..

Endocrine

—Comprised of glands located throughout the body producing various hormones.

Hematologic

—The hemic system involves the blood.

Immune

—The body’s defense system.

What four categories, is the human body divided into?

- Cells

- Tissues

- Organs

- Systems

What's the structure of a cell?

- Cell Membrane

- Cytoplasm

- Nucleus

- Chromosomes

What types of tissues are there?

1. Muscle - movement

2. Nerve - Impulses to the brain

3. Connective - Supports Adipose (fat) and Osseous (bone)

4. Epithelial - Skin and lining blood vessels, respiratory, intestinal, urinary tracts, etc

Cell membrane

—Surrounds and protects the individual cell.

Nucleus

—Small, round structure within the cell containing chromosomes and nucleoplasm (deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA] and ribonucleic acid [RNA]).

Chromosome

—Linear strand made of DNA carrying genetic information.

Cytology

—Study of cells including the formation, structure, and function of cells.

RNA (Ribonucleic acid)

—Contained within the nucleus, is transcribed from DNA by enzymes and plays a crucial role in protein synthesis.

Gene

—Specific segment of base pairs in chromosomes; functional unit of heredity.

Mitosis

—Cells divide and multiply to form two cells.

Infectious disease

Disorders caused by organisms, like bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites

Deficiency disease

Resulting from a dietary deficiency of minerals, vitamins, essential nutrients, like proteins or carbohydrates

Genetic disease

When a change to a gene (pathogenic variant) affects your genes or when you have the wrong amount of genetic material

Physiological disease

When the body malfunctions and causes illness, such as diabetes, glaucoma, or asthma