MedTerm Ch02

Anatomical Reference Systems

Terms used to describe the location of body planes, directions, and cavities.

Structures of the Body

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

Tissues

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

Glands

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

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- or end/o

in, within, inside

exo-

out of, outside, away from

hist/o

tissue

-ologist

specialist

-ology

the science or study of

path/o or -pathy

disease, suffering, feeling, emotion

-plasia

development, growth, formation

poster/o

behind, toward the back

-stasis or -static

control, maintenance of a constant level

abdominal cavity

contains the major organs of digestion

adenocarcinoma

a 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

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

anatomy

the study of the structures of the body

anomaly

a deviation from what is regarded as normal

anterior

situated in the front

aplasia

the 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

a 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

an abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth

cytoplasm

the 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

the back of the organ or body

dysplasia

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

endemic

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

endocrine glands

produce hormones, do not have ducts

epidemic

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

epigastric region

located above the stomach

etiology

the 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

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

genetic disorder

a pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene

geriatrician

a physician who specializes in the care of older people

hemophilia

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

histology

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

homeostasis

the processes through which the body maintains a constant internal environment

hyperplasia

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

hypertrophy

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.

hypogastric region

located below the stomach

hypoplasia

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

iatrogenic illness

an unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment

idiopathic disease

any disease without a known cause

infectious disease

an 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

the direction toward, or, nearer the midline

mesentery

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

midsagittal plane

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

nosocomial infection

a disease acquired in a hospital or clinical setting

pandemic

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

pathology

the study of disease

pelvic cavity

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

peritoneum

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

peritonitis

inflammation of the peritoneum

physiology

the 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

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

thoracic cavity

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

transverse plane

a 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

is the spread of certain disease through blood-sucking vectors

ventral

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

anatomy

the study of the structures of the body

anatomical

means referring to anatomy

physiology

the study of the functions of the strucutres of the body

physi-

means nature or physical

the anatomical position

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

sagittal plane

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

frontal plane or coronal plane

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

horizontal plane

a flat, crosswise plane, such as the horizon

transverse 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

lateral

toward the side and away from the midline

ventr-

means belly side of the body

dors-

means back of the body

ventral is opposite of?

dorsal

dorsal is opposite of?

ventral

anter-

means front or before

-ior

means pertaining to

anterior is opposite of?

posterior

poster-

means back or toward the back

posterior is opposite of?

anterior

caud-

means tail or lower part of the body