The Human Body in Health and Disease

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.

Genetics

The genetic components that transfer characteristics from parents to their child.

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.

Body Systems and Related Organs

Organs are somewhat independent parts of the body that perform specific functions. Organs with related functions are organized into body systems.

Pathology

The study of the nature and cause of disease that involve changes in structure and function.

aden/o

gland

adip/o

fat

anter/o

before, front

caud/o

lower part of body, tail

cephal/o

head

cyt/o, -cyte

cell

end-, endo-

in, within, inside

exo-

out of, outside, away from

hist/o

tissue

-ologist

specialist

-ology

the science or study of

path/o, -pathy

disease, suffering, feeling emotion

plas/i, plas/o, -plasia

development, growth, formation

poster/o

behind, toward the back

-stasis, -static

control, maintenance of a constant level

abdominal cavity (ab-DOM-ih-nal)

contains the major organs of digestion.

adenocarcinoma (ad-eh-noh-kar-sih-NOH-mah)

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

adenoma (ad-eh-NOH-mah)

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

anaplasia (an-ah-PLAY-zhee-ah)

anaplasia (an-ah-PLAY-zhee-ah)

anatomy (ah-NAT-oh-mee)

the study of the structures of the body.

anomaly (ah-NOM-ah-lee)

a deviation from what is regarded as normal.

anterior (an-TEER-ee-or)

situated in the front; also means on the front or forward part of an organ.

aplasia (ah-PLAY-zhee-ah)

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

atresia (ah-TREE-zee-ah)

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

bloodborne transmission

the spread of pathogens through infected blood or other body fluids.

caudal (KAW-dal)

toward the lower part of the body.

cephalic (seh-FAL-ick)

toward the head.

chromosome (KROH-moh-sohme)

a genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell.

communicable disease (kuh-MEW-nih-kuh-bul)

also known as a contagious disease, is any condition that is transmitted from one person to another either directly or by indirect contact with contaminated objects.

congenital disorder (kon-JEN-ih-tahl)

an abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth.

cytoplasm (SIGH-toh-plazm)

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

distal (DIS-tal)

situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure.

dorsal (DOR-sal)

the back of the organ or body.

dysplasia (dis-PLAY-zhee-ah)

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

endemic (en-DEM-ick)

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

endocrine glands (EN-doh-krin)

produce hormones, do not have ducts.

epidemic (ep-ih-DEM-ick)

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

epigastric region (ep-ih-GAS-trick)

located above the stomach.

etiology (ee-tee-OL-oh-jee)

the study of the causes of diseases or abnormal conditions.

exocrine glands (ECK-soh-krin)

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

functional disorder

also known as a non-organic disorder, produces physical symptoms for which no disease or other organic cause can be identified.

genetic disorder

also known as a hereditary disease, is a pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene.

genome (JEE-nohm)

the complete set of genetic information of an organism.

hemophilia (hee-moh-FILL-ee-ah)

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

histology (hiss-TOL-oh-jee)

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

homeostasis (hoh-mee-oh-STAY-sis)

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

hyperplasia (high-per-PLAY-zhee-ah)

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

hypertrophy (high-PER-troh-fee)

a general increase In the bulk of a body part or organ that is due to an increase in the size, but not the number, of cells in the tissues.

hypogastric region (high-poh-GAS-trick)

located below the stomach

hypoplasia (high-poh-PLAY-zhee-ah)

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

iatrogenic illness (eye-at-roh-JEN-ick)

an unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment.

idiopathic disease (id-ee-oh-PATH-ick)

any disease without a known cause.

infectious disease (in-FECK-shus)

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

inguinal (ING-gwih-nal)

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

intensivist (in-TEN-siv-ist)

a physician specializing in the care of critically ill patients hospitalized in the ICU.

medial (MEE-dee-al)

the direction toward, or nearer, the midline.

mesentery (MESS-en-terr-ee)

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

midsagittal plane (mid-SADJ-ih-tal)

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

nosocomial infection (nahs-oh-KOH-mee-al)

also known as a hospital-acquired infection (HAI), is a disease acquired in a hospital or clinical setting.

pandemic (pan-DEM-ick)

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

pathology (pah-THOL-oh-jee)

the study of disease: its nature and cause as well as the produced changes in structure and function.

pelvic cavity (PEL-vick)

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

peritoneum (pehr-ih-toh-NEE-um)

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

peritonitis (pehr-ih-toh-NIGH-tis)

inflammation of the peritoneum.

physiology (fiz-ee-OL-oh-jee)

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

posterior (pos-TEER-ee-or)

situated in the back; also means on the back part of an organ.

proximal (PROCK-sih-mal)

situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure.

retroperitoneal (ret-roh-pehr-ih-toh-NEE-al)

located behind the peritoneum.

stem cells

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

thoracic cavity (thoh-RAS-ick)

also known as the chest cavity or thorax, surrounds and protects the heart and the lungs.

transverse plane (trans-VERSE)

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

umbilicus (um-BILL-ih-kus)

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

or an insect bite, is the spread of certain disease through blood-sucking vectors.

ventral (VEN-tral)

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

Anatomy (ah-NAT-oh-mee)

is the study of the structures of the body.

Physiology (fiz-ee-OL-oh-jee)

is the study of the functions of the structures of the body (physi means nature or physical, and -ology means study of).

right and left hypochondriac regions (high-poh-KON-dree-ack) are covered by

the lower ribs (hypo- means below, chondr/i means cartilage, and -ac means pertaining to). As used here, the term hypochondriac means below the ribs. This term also describes an individual with an abnormal concern about his or her health.

The right and left lumbar regions (LUM-bar) are located near the

inward curve of the spine (lumb means lower back, and -ar means pertaining to).

The umbilical region (um-BILL-ih-kal) surrounds the

umbilicus (um-BILL-ih-kus), which is 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.

right and left iliac regions (ILL-ee-ack)

are located near the hip bones (ili means hip bone, and -ac means pertaining to).

The hypogastric region (high-poh-GAS-trick) is

located below the stomach (hypo- means below, gastr means stomach, and -ic means pertaining to).

peritoneum (pehr-ih-toh-NEE-um)

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

parietal peritoneum (pah-RYE-eh-tal pehr-ih-toh-NEE-um)

is the outer layer of the peritoneum that lines the interior of the abdominal wall. Parietal means cavity wall.

visceral peritoneum (VIS-er-al pehr-ih-toh-NEE-um)

is the inner layer of the peritoneum that surrounds the organs of the abdominal cavity. Visceral means relating to the internal organs.

Retroperitoneal (ret-roh-pehr-ih-toh-NEE-al)

means located behind the peritoneum (retro- means behind, periton means peritoneum, and -eal means pertaining to).

nucleus (NEW-klee-us)

which is surrounded by the nuclear membrane, is a structure within the cell. It has two important functions: it controls the activities of the cell, and it helps the cell divide.

Adult stem cells, also known as somatic stem cells, are

undifferentiated cells found among differentiated cells in a tissue or organ.

Embryonic stem cells (em-bree-ON-ik) are

undifferentiated cells that are unlike any specific adult cell; however, they have the important ability to form any adult cell.