Chapter 2: Human Body

anter/o

before, front

caud/o

lower part of body, tail

aden/o

gland

adip/o

fat

cephal/o

head

cyt/o, -cyte

cell

endo-

in, within, inside

exo-

out of, outside, away from

hist/o

tissue

end-

in, within, inside

-ologist

specialist

poster/o

behind, toward the back

-ology

the science or study of

-pathy, patho/o

disease, suffering, feeling, emotion

-plasia

development, growth, formation

-static, -stasis

control, maintenance of a constant level

adenocarcinoma

carcinoma derived from glandular tissue

adenoma

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

abdominal cavity

The cavity containing the major organs of digestion.

Anaplasia

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

Anatomy

The study of the structures of the body.

autopsy

postmortem (after death) examination.

anomaly

a deviation from what is regarded as normal.

atresia

The congenital absence or narrowing of a normal body opening or passage.

Anterior

Situated in the front.

Aplasia

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

Bloodborne transmission

the spread of a disease through contact with infected blood or other body fluids that are contaminated with infected blood.

cephalic

when a baby is born head first.

Caudal

Toward the lower part of the body.

chromosome

A genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell.

congenital disorder

an abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth.

communicable disease

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

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

position in which the patient is lying on the back, face up, with the knees bent.

Endocrine glands

Glands that produce hormones, and do not have ducts.

Endemic

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

Dysplasia

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

epidemic

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

functional disorder

a condition that produces symptoms for which no disease or other organic cause can be identified.

epigastric region

Located above the stomach.

Etiology

the study of the causes of diseases.

genetic disorder

a pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene.

Exocrine glands

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

geriatrician

A physician who specializes in the care of older people.

Homeostasis

the processes through which the body maintains a constant internal environment.

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.

Histology

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

Hemophilia

a group of hereditary bleeding disorders in which a blood-clotting factor is missing.

Hyperplasia

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

hypogastric region

Located below the stomach.

Hypoplasia

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

idiopathic disease

any disease without a known cause.

inguinal

the protrusion of a small loop of bowel through a weak place in the lower abdominal wall or groin.

iatrogenic illness

an unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment.

Medial

The direction toward, or nearer, the midline.

infectious disease

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

mesentery

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

peritoneum

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

Pandemic

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

midsagittal plane

The sagittal plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves.

pelvic cavity

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

nosocomial infection

a disease acquired in a hospital or clinical setting.

Peritonitis

inflammation of the peritoneum.

Retroperitoneal

Located behind the peritoneum.

Physiology

The study of the functions of the structures of the body.

Posterior

Situated in the back; on the back part of an organ.

Proximal

Situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure.

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 heart and the lungs.

transverse plane

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

umbilicus

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 due to the bite of a vector (insects or animals that are capable of transmitting a disease).

Ventral

Refers to the front, or belly side, of the organ or body.