Allied Health Study Guide | CHP. 2

WORD PARTS - CHP 2, PT 1



  1. Aden/o - Gland

  2. Adip/o - Fat

  3. Anter/o - Before, front

  4. Caud/o - Lower part of body, tall

  5. Cephal/o - Head

  6. Cyt/o, -cyte - Cell

  7. End-, endo- - In, within, inside

  8. Exo - Out of, outside, away from

  9. Hist/o, histi/o - Tissue

  10. -Ologist - Specialist

  11. -Ology - The science or study of

  12. Path/o, -pathy - Disease, suffering, feeling, emotion

  13. Plas/i, plas/o, -plasia - Development, growth, formation

  14. Poster/o - Behind, toward the back

  15. -Stasis, -static - Control, maintenance of a constant level



Body Direction Terms: 



  1. Ventral - Referring to the front of the body (abdomen)

  2. Dorsal - Back (buttocks)

  3. Superior - Uppermost, or above

  4. Anterior - Front (abdominal muscles are anterior to the intestines)

  5. Posterior - Back (the pancreas is posterior to the stomach)

  6. Inferior - Lowermost, or below

  7. Cephalic - Toward the head

  8. Caudal - Toward lower part of the body

  9. Proximal - Nearest the midline

  10. Distal - Farthest from the midline

  11. Medial - Toward the body

  12. Lateral - Away from the body

  13. Superficial - Toward the body surface

  14. Deep - Away from the surface/more internal

Terms (Pt. 1) 



  1. Abdominal Cavity - Major organs of digestion

  2. Anatomy - The study of the structures of the body

  • The neurologist observed the anatomy of the patient to locate any bodily injuries.

  1. Anomaly - Abnormality at birth (?)

  2. Anterior - Front (abdominal muscles are anterior to the intestines)

  3. Bloodborne Transmission - The spread of a disease through contact with blood or other body fluids that are contaminated with blood

  4. Caudal - Toward lower part of the body

  5. Cephalic - Toward the head

  • Unfortunately, the cephalic vein was blocked, which caused intense swelling.

  1. Chromosomes - The genetic structures located within the nucleus of each cell

  • Doctors discovered that the baby lacked one chromosome, meaning that he may have some developmental problems such as heart defects.

  1. Communicable Disease - Also known as contagious disease, it is any condition that is transmitted from one person to another through direct or indirect contact with contaminated objects

  2. Congenital Disorder - An abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth



Terms (Pt. 2)



  1. Distal - Situated farthest from the midline or beginning of  a body structure

  2. Dorsal - The back of the organ or body

  3. Dysplasia - The abnormal development or growth of cells, tissues, or organs

  4. Endemic - The ongoing presence of a disease within a population, group, or area

  5. Endocrine Glands - Produce hormones and do not have ducts

  6. Epidemic - A sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease within a specific population group or area

  7. Epigastric Region - Located above the stomach

  8. Etiology - The study of the causes of diseases

  9. Exocrine Glands - Secrete chemical substances into ducts that lead either to other organs or out the body, such as sweat glands

  10. Functional Disorder - Produces symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified

  11. Genetic Disorder - Also known as a hereditary disorder, a pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene

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

  13. Histology - The study of the structure, composition, and function of tissues

  14. Homeostasis - The processes through which the body maintains a constant internal environment

  15. Hypogastric Region - Located below the stomach

  16. Iatrogenic Illness - An unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment

  17. Idiopathic Disorder - An illness without known cause

  18. Infectious Disease - An illness caused by living pathogenic organisms such as bacteria and viruses

  19. Medial - The direction toward, or nearer, the midline