Question | Answer |
Abdomen | Area of the body between the body between the chest and pelvis region. |
Abdominal cavity | Area of the body between the chest and pelvis (hip region). |
Adipose | Pertaining to fat. |
Anabolism | Process of building up or synthesizing substances (such as proteins) in a cell. |
Anterior | Pertaining to the front of a structure. |
Cartilage | Elastic, connective tissue found at joints, within the trachea and larynx, and connected to ribs, nose, and ear. |
Catabolism | Cellular process of breaking down of a complex substance into simple compounds. Energy is released to do the work of the cell. |
Caudad | Toward the tail or end of the body. |
Caudal | Pertaining to the tail, or to the lower portion of the body; also means away from the head or below another structure. |
Cell membrane | Thin and delicate structure surrounding a cell; allows materials to pass in and out. |
Cephalad | Toward the head, or the upper portion of the body or a structure. |
Cephalic | Pertaining to the head; also means above another structure. |
Cervical | Pertaining to the neck of the body or lower neck-line portion of the uterus. |
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Chondroma | Tumor (benign) of cartilage. |
Chondrosarcoma | Malignant, cancerous tumor of cartilage. |
Chromosome | Threadlike structure within the nucleus of a cell; contains genetic material (DNA). |
Coccygeal | Pertaining to the tailbone or coccyx. |
Coccyx | Tailbone at the end of the spinal or vetebral column. |
Cranial cavity | Pertaining to the space within the skull containing the brain and pituitary gland. |
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Craniotomy | Incision of the skull. |
Cytoplasm | All of the substance of a cell other than the nucleus. |
Deep | Away from the surface of the body or an organ. |
Diaphragm | Muscular wall separating the chest and abdomen. |
Disk (disc) | Circular platelike structure composed of cartilage. |
Distal | Pertaining to far from the beginning of a structure. |
Dorsal | Pertaining to the back, or posterior portion of the body. |
Endoplasmic reticulum | Network of canals within the cytoplasm of the cell. |
Epigastric region | The upper middle region of the abdomen, between the right and left hypochondriac regions. |
Epithelial cells | Cells arranged in layers and covering or lining a surface of the body. |
Frontal plane | A vertical plane passing through the body and dividing it into the front and back portions; coronal plane. |
Genes | Segments of DNA that determine hereditary characteristics. |
Histology | Study of tissues. |
Hypochondriac region | An upper abdominal area on either side of the epigastric (middle) region beneath the cartilage of the lower ribs. |
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Hypogastric | Lower middle region of the abdomen. |
Iliac | Pertaining to the ilium, which is the right or left upper most portion of the hipbone. |
Inguinal region | Lowermost region of the abdomen on either side of the hypogastric region. |
Intervertebral | Pertaining to between the vertebrae (backbones). |
Karyotype | Classification of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell determined by a photograph taken during cell division. |
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Larynx | The voice box. |
Lateral | Pertaining to the side. |
Lumbar region | One of two middle lateral regions on either side of the umbilical region (near the naval). |
Lumbosacral | Pertaining to the lumbar and sacral regions of the back. |
Medial | Pertaining to the middle or midline of the body. |
Mediastinum | Part of the thoracic (chest) cavity between the lungs. |
Metabolism | Chemical processes that occur in cells; including catabolism (breaking down process) and anabolism (building up process). |
Mitochondria | Rod-like, threadlike or granular structures in a cell; site of catabolism and release of energy. |
Nucleic | Pertaining to the nucleus. |
Nucleus | Central, controlling structure in a cell; contains chromosomes with DNA (genetic material). |
Pelvic cavity | Pertaining to the space surrounded by the bone of the hip region. |
Peritoneum | Membrane surrounding the organs in the abdomen. |
Pharynx | The throat. |
Pituitary gland | Endocrine gland at the base of the brain; secretes many hormones that control growth and organs including the thyroid, adrenal and sex glands (ovaries and testes). |
Pleura | A delicate membrane surrounding each lung and divided into two layers. |
Pleural cavity | Space between the layers of the pleura in the chest. |
Posterior | Pertaining to the back or dorsal side of the body or structure. |
Prone | Lying in a horizontal position with face downward. |
Proximal | Pertaining to a location near the point of attachment or beginning of an organ. |
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Sacral | Pertaining to the sacrum. |
Sacrum | Large, triangular bone is at the dorsal part the pelvis, wedged between the two ilia or hipbones. |
Sagittal plane | Vertical plane that divides the body into a right and left portion. |
Sarcoma | Tumor of flesh tissue such as bone, fat, muscle or cartilage. |
Spinal cavity | Space surrounded by the backbones or spine. |
Spinal cord | The nervous tissue within the spinal cavity. |
Spinal column | Series of backbones (vertebrae) located on the posterior side of the body. |
Superficial | Pertaining to or the surface of the body. |
Supine | Lying horizontally on the back with face upward. |
Thoracic cavity | The space in the chest surrounded by the ribs, spinal column, breastbone, diaphragm, and chest wall muscles. |
Thoracotomy | Incision of the chest. |
Thyroid gland | Endocrine gland in the neck; secretes the hormone thyroxine (Ty). |
Trachea | Windpipe; tube leading from the larynx (voice box) to the bronchial tubes. |
Tracheal | Pertaining to the trachea. |
Transverse plane | Horizontal plane that divides the body into upper and lower portions. |
Umbilical region | Region in the area of the navel or umbilicus. |
Ureter | One of two tubes carrying urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. |
Urethra | Tube leading from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. |
Uterus | Muscular organ in a female that nourishes the developing embryo during pregnancy; womb. |
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Ventral | Pertaining to the front or anterior of the body. |
Vertebra | Backbone. |
Vertebrae | Two or more backbones. |
Vertebral | Pertaining to backbones. |
Viscera | Internal organs. |
Visceral | Pertaining to internal organs. |