Ch.1 Anatomy Terms, Prefixes and Descriptive Terms

Anatomy

Is the study of the structure and form of an organism; human anatomy deals with the structure and form of the various parts of the human body

Structure study of anatomy will include

1. The composition or materials composing a part.

2. The manner in which these are put together

3. Whether the unit is hollow with coverings, or is it solid

4. The number of such units

5. Size, shape, and position in the body

Is the study of any part of the body as seen with the naked eye. This study is frequently undertaken in an anatomy laboratory upon a corpse.

Gross or Macroscopic Anatomy

Is the study of the structure of minute parts such as cells or tissues that are not visible as separate entities to the naked eye. A lens, a light microscope, or an electron microscope is therefore used to magnify them.

Histology or Microscopic Anatomy

Embryology or Developmental Anatomy

Is the study of the structural changes that take place in the fertilized ovum to the time of birth

(for radiographers) Would be the study of what part of the surface of the body corresponds to the various organs and structures within the body. It would also include a study of what structures are responsible for the prominences and depressions visible or palpable (able to be felt) through the skin

Surface or Regional or Topographical Anatomy

Is the study of the similarities and differences in structure of the various parts of the body, among different species of living things. Often man is compared to some species of animal

Comparative Anatomy

Is the study of the function or behavior of the organs or other structures of the body. In the handbook it will be limited to the normal functions of the normal structures

Physiology

Pathology

Is the study of disease, its causes and effects upon the body.

Lying on back, face up, palms up

Supine

Lying on face down, palms down

Prone

Demi

Half

Epi

Above/upon

Infra

Below

Inter

Between

Intra

Within

Sub

Beneath

Supra

Above

Anterior

Nearer the front of the body

Distal

Further away, the lower end of a bone

Dorsal

The back surface of the body

External

Outside

Inferior

Below

Internal

Inside

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body

Medial

Nearer the midline of the body

Posterior

Nearer the back of the body

Proximal

Closer to; the upper end of a bone

Superior

Above

Ventral/Volar

Nearer the front of the body

Median Sagittal Plane (MSP)

Dividing the body into left and right sides directly down the middle

Sagittal Plane

Either side of the median sagittal plane, dividing the body into left and right

Coronal plane

Dividing the body into anterior and posterior (front and back)

Axial or Transverse plane

Divides the body horizontally; top and bottom

Ab

Away from

Ad

Toward to

Ambi

Both sides

Pre/Pro

Before

Anti/Contra

Against

Bi/Bis/Dis

Two, twice, or double

Auto

Self

Dys

Difficult, bad, painful

Hemi/Semi

Half

Homo

Same

Hydro

Water

Hyper/super/supra

Above, over

Hypo/Infra/Sub

Below/Under

Inter

Between

Leuko/Leuco

White

Macro

Large

Micro

Small

Mal

Bad

Poly

Many, much

Post

After

Pseudo

False

Retro

Back, Behind

Uni

One or single

Sym/Syn

Together or with

Algia

Pain

Centesis

Tapping or Puncture

Ectomy

Cut of, excise, Removal of

Otomy

Incision or to cut into

Ostomy

Opening or mouth

Itis

Inflammation

Oma

Tumor

Pathy

Disease

Uria

Urine/Urination

Cutting front to back equally

Midcoronal Plane

The top of the foot is called the

Dorsal surface