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Ch. 2 Where/Why/What
Veterinary Medical Terminology
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Midsagittal Plane (Median/Midline) | the plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves |
Sagittal Plane | the plane that divides the body into unequal right and left parts |
Dorsal Plane (Frontal, Coronal) | the plane that divides the body into dorsal (back) and ventral (belly) parts |
Transverse Plane (Horizontal, Cross-sectional) | the palne that divides the body into cranial and caudal parts |
Ventral | refers to the belly or underside of a body or body part |
Dorsal | refers to the back |
Cranial | towards the head |
Caudal | towards the tail |
Anterior | front of the body (used for organs or body parts) |
Posterior | rear of the body (used for organs of body parts) |
Rostral | towards the nose end of the head |
Medial | towards the midline |
Lateral | away from the midline |
Superior | uppermost, above, or towards the head (used more in bipeds) |
Inferior | means lowermost, below, or toward the tail (used more in bipeds) |
Proximal | nearest the midline or nearest to the beginning of a structure |
Distal | farthest from the midline or farthest from the beginning of a stucture |
Superficial | near the surface |
Deep | away from the surface |
Palmar | the caudal surface of the manus (front paw) including the carpus (from the antebrachial joint distally) |
Plantar | the caudal surface of the pes (rear paw) including the tarsus (from the tibiotarsal joint distally) |
-ology | study of |
Anatomy | the study of body stucture |
Physiology | the study of body functions |
Physi/o- | nature |
Pathology | the study of the nature, causes, and development of abnormal conditions |
Path/o- | disease |
Pathophysiology | the study of changes in function caused by disease |
Etiology | the study of disease causes |
Eti/o- | cause of |
-logist | a specialist |
Cardiologist | a heart specialist |
dermat/o- | skin |
Dermatologist | a skin specialist |
Dental Arcade | term used to describe how teeth are arranged in the the mouth |
Arcade | a series of arches |
Lingual Surface | the aspect of the tooth that faces the tongue |
Maxilla | upper jaw |
Mandible | lower jaw |
Palatal Surface | the tooth surface of the maxilla that faces the tongue |
Buccal Surface (Vestibular Surface) | the aspect of the tooth that faces the cheek |
Occusal Surface | the aspects of the teeth that meet when the animal chews |
Labial Surface | the tooth surface facing the lips |
Contact Surfaces | the aspects of the tooth that touch other teeth |
Mesial | surface closest to the midline |
Distal | surface furthest from the midline |
Cavity | hole or hollow space in the body that contains and protects internal organs |
Cranial Cavity | hollow space that contains the brain in the skull |
Spinal Cavity | hollow space that contains the spinal cord within the spinal column |
Thoracic Cavity (Chest Cavity) | hollow space that contains the heart and lungs within the ribs between the neck and diaphragm |
Abdominal Cavity | hollow space that contains the major organs of digestion located between the diaphragm and pelvic cavity |
Peritoneal Cavity | hollow space within the abdominal cavity between the parietal peritoneum and the visceral peritoneum |
Pelvic Cavity | hollow space that contains the reproductive and some excretory systems |
Abdomen | the portion of the body between the thorax and pelvis |
Thorax | the chest region located between the neck and the diaphragm |
Groin (Inguinal Area) | the caudal region of the abdomen adjacent to the thigh |
Membranes | thin layers of tissue that covers a surface, line a cavity, or divide a space or an organ |
Peritoneum | the membrane lining the walls of the abdominal and pelvic cavities and covers some organs in the area |
Parietal Peritoneum | outer layer of the peritoneum that lines the abdominal and pelvic cavities |
Visceral Peritoneum | inner layer of the peritoneum that surrounds the abdominal organs |
Peritonitis | inflammation of the peritoneum |
Umbilicus (Navel) | the pit in the abdominal wall marking the point where the umbilical cord entered the fetus |
Mesentery | the layer of the peritoneum that suspends parts of the intestine in the abdominal cavity |
Retroperitoneal | superficial to the peritoneum |
Recumbent | the only term you can use to mean "laying down" |
Dorsal Recumbency | lying on the back |
Ventral Recumbency (Sternal Recumbency) | Lying on the belly, or sternum |
Left Lateral Recumbency | lying on the left side |
Right Lateral Recumbency | Lying on the right side |
Prone | lying in ventral or sternal recumbency |
Supine | lying in dorsal recumbency |
Adduction | movement towards the midline |
Abduction | movement away from the midline |
Flexion | closure of a joint, reduction in angle between 2 bones |
Extension | straightening of a joint, increase in angle between 2 bones |
Hyperflexion | a joint that is flexed too far |
Hyperextension | a joint that is extended too far |
Supination | act of rotating the limb or body part so that the palmar surface is turned upward |
Pronation | the act of rotating limb or body part so that the palmar surface is turned downward |
Rotation | term of movement that means circular movement around an axis |
Cyt/o- | cell |
Cytology | study of cells |
Protoplasm | the cell membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus colectively |
Cell Membrane (Plasma Membrane) | the structure lining the cell that protects the cell's contents and regulates what goes in and out of the cell |
Cytoplasm | the gelatinous material in the cell membrane that is not part of the nucleus |
Nucleus | the structure in a cell that contains Nucleoplasm, Chromosomes, and surrounding membrane |
Nucleoplasm | material in the nucleus |
Chromosomes | structures in the nucleus composed of DNA that transmits genetic information |
Genetic Disorder | any inherited disease or condition caused by defective genes |
Congenital | something that is present at birth |
Anomaly | deviation from what is regarded as normal (used instead of defect) |
Tissue | a group of specialized cells that is similar in structure and function |
Histology | the study of the structure, composition, and function of tissue |
Hist/o- | tissue |
Epithelial Tissue (Epithelium) | covers internal and external body surfaces and is made up of tightly packed cells in a variety of arrangements |
Epi- | above |
Endothelium | cellular covering that forms the lining of the internal organs, including blood vessels (part of the Epithelium) |
Mesothelium | the cellular covering that forms the lining of serious membranes such as the peritoneum (part of the Epithelium) |
Meso- | Middle |
Connective Tissue | adds support and structure to the body by holding the organs in place and binding body parts together |
Adipose Tissue | fat, connective tissue |
Adip/o- | fat |
Muscle Tissue | tissue that contains cell material with the specialized ability to contract and relax |
Nervous Tissue | contains cells with the specialized ability to react to stimuli and conduct electrical impulses |
-plasia | describes formation, development, and growth in the number of cells in an organ or tissue |
-trophy | formation, development, and growth in the size of an organ or a tissue or individual cell |
Anaplasia | a change in the structure of cells and their orientation to each other. |
Aplasia | lack of development of an organ or a tissue or a cell |
Dysplasia | an abnormal growth or development of an organ or a tissue or a cell |
Hyperplasia | an abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement in an organ or tissue |
Hypoplasia | incomplete or less than normal development of an organ or a tissue or cell |
Neoplasia | any abnormal new growth of tissue in which multiplication of cells is uncontrolled, more rapid than normal, and progressive (tumor) |
Tumor | a benign (not reoccuring) or malignant (tending to spread, life threatening) mass of abnormal tissue |
-oma | tumor or neoplasm |
Atrophy | decrease in size or complete wasting of an organ or tissue or cell |
Dystropy | defective growth in the size of an organ or tissue or cell |
Hypertrophy | increase in the size of an organ to tissue of cell |
Glands | groups of specialized cells that secrete material used elsewhere in the body |
Aden/o- | gland |
Exocrine Glands | groups of cells that secrete their chemical substances into ducts that lead out of the body or another organ |
Endocrine Glands | a group of cells that secrete their chemical substances directly into the bloodstream, which transports them throughout the body |
Organ | a part of the body that performs a special function or functions |
Bicornuate Uterus | Uterus with 2 horns |
Unilateral | Pertaining to 1 side |
Bilateral | Pertaining to 2 sides |
Oste/o-, Oss/e-, Oss/i- | Bones |
Arthr/o- | Joints |
Chondr/o- | Cartilage |
My/o- | Muscles |
Fasc/i-, Fasci/o- | Fascia |
Ten/o-, Tend/o-, Tendin/o- | Tendons |
Cardi/o- | Heart |
Arteri/o- | Arteries |
Ven/o-, phleb/o- | Veins |
Hem/o-, Hemat/o- | Blood |
Lymph/o- | Lymph vessels, fluid, nodes |
Tonsill/o- | Tonsils |
Splen/o- | Spleen |
Thym/o- | Thymus |
Nas/o-, Rhin/o- | Nose or nares |
Pharyng/o- | Pharynx |
Trache/o- | Trachea |
Laryng/o- | Larynx |
Pneum/o-, Pneumon/o-, Pulm/o-, Pulmon/o- | Lungs |
Or/o-, Stomat/o | Mouth |
Esophag/o- | Esophagus |
Gastr/o- | Stomach |
Enter/o- | Small intestine |
Col/o-, Colon/o- | Large intestine |
Hepat/o- | Liver |
Pancreat/o | Pancreas |
Ren/o-, Nephr/o- | Kidneys |
Ureter/o- | Ureters |
Cyst/o- | Urinary bladder |
Urethr/o- | Urethra |
Neur/o-, Neur/i- | Nerves |
Encephal/o- | Brain |
Ophthalm/o-, Ocul/o-, Opt/o-, Opt/i- | Eyes |
Optic/o- | Sight |
Ot/o-, Audit/o-, Aud/i- | Ears |
Aur/i-, Aur/o- | External Ear |
Dermat/o-, Derm/o-, Cutane/o- | Skin |
Adren/o- | Adrenals |
Gonad/o- | Gonads |
Pineal/o- | Pineal |
Pituit/o- | Pituitary |
Thyroid/o-, Thyr/o- | Thyroid |
Orch/o-, Orch/i-, Orchid/o-, Testicul/o- | Testes |
Ovari/o-, Oophor/o- | Ovaries |
Hyster/o-, Metr/o-, Metr/i-, Metri/o-, Uter/o- | Uterus |
Uni- | One |
Mono- | One |
Duo-, Bi- | Two |
Dyo- | Two |
Tri- | Three |
Quadri-, Quadro | Four |
Tetr-, Tetra | Four |
Quinqu-, Quint- | Five |
Pent-, Penta | Five |
Sex- | Six |
Hex-, Hexa- | Six |
Sept-, Septi- | Seven |
Hept-, Hepta- | Seven |
Octo- | Eight |
Oct-, Octa-, Octo- | Eight |
Novem-, Nonus- | Nine |
Ennea- | Nine |
Deca-, Decem- | Ten |
Dek-, Deka- | Ten |