MedTerm Ch02

The cells, tissues, and glands that form the body systems that work together to enable the body to function properly.

Structures of the Body

A group of similarly specialized cells that work together to perform specific functions.

Tissues

A group of specialized cells that is capable of producing secretions.

Glands

gland

aden/o

fat

adip/o

before, front

anter/o

lower part of body, tail

caud/o

head

cephal/o

cell (prefix)

cyt/o

cell (suffix)

-cyte

in, within, inside

end/o

out of, outside, away from (prefix)

exo-

tissue

hist/o

specialist

-ologist

the science or study of

-ology

disease, suffering, feeling, emotion

path/o

development, growth, formation

-plasia

behind, toward the back

poster/o

control, maintenance of a constant level

-stasis

contains the major organs of digestion

abdominal cavity

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

adenocarcinoma

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

adenoma

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

anaplasia

the study of the structures of the body

anatomy

a deviation from what is regarded as normal

anomaly

situated in the front

anterior

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

aplasia

congenital absence or narrowing of a normal body opening or passage

atresia

a postmortem examination

autopsy

the spread of pathogens through infected blood or other body fluids

bloodborne transmission

toward the lower part of the body

caudal

toward the head

cephalic

a genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell

chromosome

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

communicable disease

an abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth

congenital disorder

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

cytoplasm

situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure

distal

the back of the organ or body

dorsal

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

dysplasia

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

endemic

produce hormones, do not have ducts

endocrine glands

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

epidemic

located above the stomach

epigastric region

the study of the causes of diseases or abnormal conditions

etiology

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

exocrine glands

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

functional disorder

a pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene

genetic disorder

a physician who specializes in the care of older people

geriatrician

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

hemophilia

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

histology

the processes through which the body maintains a constant internal environment

homeostasis

an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ

hyperplasia

a 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.

hypertrophy

located below the stomach

hypogastric region

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

hypoplasia

an unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment

iatrogenic illness

any disease without a known cause

idiopathic disease

an illness caused by living pathogenic organisms such as bacteria and viruses

infectious disease

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

inguinal

the direction toward, or, nearer the midline

medial

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

mesentery

also known as the midline, the sagittal plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves

midsagittal plane

a disease acquired in a hospital or clinical setting

nosocomial infection

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

pandemic

the study of disease

pathology

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

pelvic cavity

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

peritoneum

inflammation of the peritoneum

peritonitis

the study of the functions of the structures of the body

physiology

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

posterior

situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure

proximal

located behind the peritoneum

retroperitoneal

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

stem cells

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

syndrome

also known as the chest cavity or thorax; surrounds and protects the hearts and lungs

thoracic cavity

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

transverse plane

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

umbilicus

is the spread of certain disease through blood-sucking vectors

vector-borne transmission

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

ventral

the study of the structures of the body

anatomy

means referring to anatomy

anatomical

the study of the functions of the strucutres of the body

physiology

means nature or physical (prefix)

physi-

describes the body standing in the standard position. (standing straight, facing forward, arms at side with palms faced toward front)

anatomical position

a vertical plane that divides the body into unequal left and right portions

sagittal plane

vertical plane that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions.

frontal plane or coronal plane

a flat, crosswise plane, such as the horizon

horizontal plane

a horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. A transverse plane can be at the waist or at any other level across the body

transverse plane

toward the side and away from the midline

lateral

means belly side of the body (prefix)

ventr-

means back of the body (prefix)

dors-

means front or before (prefix)

anter-

means pertaining to

-ior

means back or toward the back

poster-

means tail or lower part of the body

caud-

means relating to, or having, two sides

bilateral

located within the skull and surrounds and protects the brain

Cranial cavity

located within the spinal column and surrounds and protects the spinal cord.

spinal cavity

located along the front of the body and contains the organs that sustain homeostasis.

ventral cavity

means constant

home/o