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Ch 4 Whole Body
Medical Terminology
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| abdominal cavity | the cavity beneath the thoracic cavity that is seperated from the thoracic cavity by the diaphragm: contains the liver, gallbladder, spleen, stomach, pancreas, intestines, and kidneys. |
| anaplasia | a change in the structure and orientation of cells, characterized by a loss of differentiation and reversion to a more primitive form. |
| anatomical position | the standard reference position for the body as a whole. |
| anterior | pertaining to the front of the body or toward the belly of the body. |
| aplasia | a developmental failure resulting in the absence of any organ or tissue. |
| cardiac muscle | the muscle that makes up the muscular wall of the heart. |
| caudal | pertaining to the tail. |
| cell | the smallest and most numerous structural unit of living matter. |
| cell membrane | the semipermeable barrier that is the outer covering of a cell. |
| cervical vertebrae | the first seven segments of the spinal column; identified as C1 through C7. |
| chromosomes | the threadlike structures within the nucleus that control the functions of growth, repair, and reproduction for the body. |
| coccyx | the tailbone. |
| connective tissue | tissue that supports and binds other body tissue parts. |
| cranial | pertaining to the skull or cranium. |
| cranial cavity | the cavity that contains the brain. |
| cytology | the study of cells. |
| cytoplasm | a gel-like substance that surrounds the nucleus of a cell. the cytoplasm contains cell organs, called organelles, which carry out the essential functions of the cell. |
| deep | away from the surface and toward the inside of the body. |
| distal | away from or farthest from the trunk of the body, or farthest from the point of origin of a body part. |
| dorsal | pertaining to the back. |
| dorsum | the back or posterior surface of a part; in the foot, the top of the foot. |
| dysplasia | any abnormal development of tissues or organs. |
| epigastric tissue | the region of the abdomen located between the right and left hypochondriac regions in the upper section of the abdomen, beneath the cartilage of the ribs. |
| epithelial tissue | the tissue that covers the internal and external organs of the body; it also lines the vessels, body cavities, glands, and body organs. |
| frontal plane | any of the vertical planes passing through the body from the head to the feet, dividing the body into front and back portions. |
| genes | segments of chromosomes that transmit hereditary characteristics. |
| histologist | a medical scientist who specializes in the study of tissues. |
| hyperplasia | an increase in the number of cells of a body part. |
| hypochondriac region | the right and left regions of the upper abdomen, beneath the cartilage of the lower ribs; located on either side of the epigastric region. |
| hypogastric region | the middle section of the lower abdomen, beneath the umbilical region. |
| hypoplasia | Incomplete or underdeveloped organ or tissue, usually the result of a decrease in the number of cells. |
| inferior | below or downward toward the tail or feet. |
| inguinal region | the right and left regions of the upper abdomen, beneath the cartilage of the lower ribs; located on either side of the epigastric region. |
| lateral | toward the side of the body, away from the midline of the body. |
| lumbar region | the right and left regions of the middle section of the abdomen. |
| McBurney's point | a point on the right side of the abdomen |
| medial | toward the midline of the body |
| mediolateral | pertaining to the middle and side of a structure. |
| membrane | a thin layer of tissue that covers a surface, lines a cavity, or divides a space |
| midline of the body | the imaginary "line" craeted when the body is divided into equal right and left halves. |
| midsagittal plane | the plane that divides the body (or structure)into right and left equal portions. |
| mitochondria | cell organs (or organelles), which provide the energy needed by the cell to carry on its essential functions. |
| muscle tissue | the tissue capable of producing movement of the parts and organs of the body by contracting and relaxing its fibers. |
| navel | the umbilicus; the belly button. |
| neoplasia | the new and abnormal development of cells that may be benign or malignant. |
| nervous tissue | tissues that transmits impulses throughout the body, therby activating, coordinating, and controlling the many functions of the body. |
| nucleus | the central controlling body within a living cell that is enclosed within the cell membrane. |
| organ | tissues arranged together to perform a special function. |
| pelvic cavity | the lower front cavity of the body, located beneath the abdominal cavity; contains the urinary bladder and reproductive organs. |
| peritoneum | a specific serous membrane that covers the entire abdominal wall of the body and is reflected over the contained viscera. |
| plane | imaginary slices (or cuts) made through the body |
| plantar | pertaining to the sole or bottom of the foot. |
| posterior | pertaining to the back of the body. |
| prone | lying facedown on the abdomen. |
| proximal | toward or nearest to the trunk of the body, nearest to the point of the origin of a body part. |
| ribosomes | cell organs (or organelles) that synthesize proteins; often called the "protein factories." |
| sacrum | the singular triangular-shaped bone that results from the fusion of the five individual sacral bones of the child. |
| skeletal muscle | muscle that is attached to the bone and is responsible for the movemant of the skeleton. |
| smooth muscle | muscle found in the walls of the hollow internal organs of the body such as the stomach and intestines. |
| spinal cavity | the cavity that contains the nerves of the spinal cord; also known as the spinal canal. |
| superficial | pertaining to the surface of the body, or near the surface. |
| superior | above or upward toward the head. |
| supination | a movement that allows the palms of the hands to turn upward or forward. |
| supine | lying horizontally on the back, faceup. |
| system | organs that work together to perform the many functions of the body as a whole. |
| thoracic cavity | the chest cavity, which contains the lungs, heart, aorta, esophagus, and trachea. |
| tissue | a group of cells that performs specialized functions. |
| transverse plane | any of the planes cutting across the body, dividing the body into supior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. |
| umbilical region | the region of the abdomen located in the middle section of the abdomen |
| umbilicus | the navel; also called the belly button. |
| ventral | pertaining to the front; belly side. |
| visceral | pertaining to the internal organs. |
| visceral muscle | smooth muscle |