Question | Answer |
abdominal cavity | Body space between the abdominal walls, above the pelvis, and below the diaphragm. |
blood system | Body system that includes blood and all its component parts. |
cardiovascular system | Body system that includes the heart and blood vessels; circulatory system. |
cell | Smallest unit of a living structure. |
connective tissue | Fibrous substance that forms the body's supportive framework. |
cranial cavity | Space in the head that contains the brain. |
diaphragm | Muscle that divides the abdominal and thoracic cavities. |
digestive system | Body system that includes all organs of digestion and waste excretion, from the mouth to the anus. |
dorsal cavity | Main cavity on the back side of the body containing the cranial and spinal cavities. |
endocrine system | Body system that includes glands which secrete hormones to regulate certain body functions. |
epithelial tissue | Tissue that covers or lines the body or its parts. |
integumentary system | Body system that includes skin, hair, and nails. |
lymphatic and immune system | Body system that includes the lymph, glands of the lymphatic system, lymphatic vessels, and the specific and nonspecific defenses of the immune system. |
muscle tissue | Tissue that is able to contract and relax. |
musculoskeletal system | Body system that includes muscles, bones, and cartilage. |
nervous system | Body system that includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves and controls most body functions by sending and receiving messages. |
nervous tissue | Specialized tissue that forms nerve cells and is capable of transmitting messages. |
organ | Group of specialized tissue that performs a specific function. |
pelvic cavity | Body space below the abdominal cavity that includes the reproductive organs. |
reproductive system | Either the male or female body system that controls reproduction. |
respiratory system | Body system that includes the lungs and airways and performs breathing. |
sensory system | Body system that includes the eyes and ears and those parts of other systems involved in the reactions of the five senses. |
spinal cavity | Body space that contains the spinal cord. |
system | Any group of organs and ancillary parts that work together to perform a major body function. |
thoracic cavity | Body space above the abdominal cavity that contains the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels. |
tissue | Any group of cells that work together to perform a single function. |
urinary system | Body system that includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra and helps maintain homeostasis by removing fluid and dissolved waste. |
ventral cavity | Major cavity in the front of the body containing the thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic cavities. |
anterior | At or toward the front (of the body). |
coronal plane | Imaginary line that divides the body into anterior and posterior positions. |
cross-sectional plane | Imaginary line that intersects the body horizontally. |
deep | Away from the surface (of the body). |
distal | Away from the point of attachment to the trunk. |
dorsal | At or toward the back of the body. |
epigastric region | Area of the body immediately above the stomach. |
frontal plane | Imaginary line that divides the body into anterior and posterior positions. |
hypochondriac regions | Left and right regions of the body just below the cartilage of the ribs and immediately above the abdomen. |
hypogastric region | Are of the body just below the umbilical region. |
iliac regions | Left and right regions of the body near the upper portion of the hip bone. |
inferior | Below another body structure. |
inguinal regions | Left and right regions of the body near the upper portion of the hip bone. |
lateral | To the side. |
lateral plane | Imaginary line that divides the body perpendicularly to the medial plane. |
left lower quadrant (LLQ) | Quadrant on the lower left anterior side of the patient's body. |
left upper quadrant (LUQ) | Quadrant on the upper left anterior side of the patient's body. |
lumbar regions | Left and right regions of the body near the abdomen. |
medial | At or near the middle (of the body). |
medial plane | Imaginary line that divides the body into equal left and right halves. |
midsagittal plane | Imaginary line that divides the body into equal left and right halves. |
posterior | At or toward the back side (of the body). |
prone | Lying on the stomach with the face down. |
proximal | At or near the point of attachment to the trunk. |
right lower quadrant (RLQ) | Quadrant on the lower right anterior side of the patient's body. |
right upper quadrant (RUQ) | Quadrant on the upper right anterior side of the patient's body. |
sagittal plane | Imaginary line that divides the body into right and left portions. |
superficial | At or near the surface (of the body). |
superior | Above another body structure. |
supine | Lying on the spine facing upward. |
transverse plane | Imaginary line that intersects the body horizontally. |
umbilical region | Area of the body surrounding the umbilicus. |
ventral | At or toward the front (of the body). |
mitochondria | organelles that provide energy for the body's tasks |
ribosomes | organelles which manufacture proteins |
lysosomes | organelles which can break down substances, such as bacteria |