Term | Definition |
Anatomy | Studies the shape and structure of an organism's body and the relationship of one body part to another. |
Biology | The study of all forms of life. |
Physiology | Studies the function of each body part and how the functions of the various body parts coordinate to form a complete living organism. |
Disease | Any abnormal change in a structure or function that produces symptoms. |
Gross anatomy | The study of large and easily observable structures on an organism |
Microscopic anatomy | The use of microscopes to enable one to see the minute details of organ parts. Divided into 2 branches- Cytology and Histology |
Cytology | The study of the structure, function and development of cells that comprise the different body parts. |
Histology | Studies the tissues and organs that make up the entire body of an organism. |
Developmental anatomy | Studies the growth and development of an organism during its lifetime. |
Embryology | Studies the formation of an organism from fertilized egg to birth. |
Comparative anatomy | The study of human and other animals body parts in regard to similarities and differences from in the animal kingdom. |
Systematic anatomy | The study of the structure of various organs or parts that comprise a particular organ system. |
Dermatology | Study of integumentary system (skin, hair and nails) |
Endocrinology | Study of the endocrine or hormonal system. |
Neurology | Study of the nervous system. |
Anterior or Ventral | Front or in front of- examples- the knees are located on the anterior surface of the human body. The ventral hernia may protrude from the front or belly of the abdomen. |
Cephalic | Refers to direction- example-means "skull" or "head end" of the body. |
Caudal | Refers to direction- example- Means "tail end." Caudal anesthesia is injected in the lower spine. |
Superior | "Upper" or above another. Example- the heart and lungs are situated superior to the diaphragm. |
Inferior | "Lower" or below another. Example- The intestines are inferior to the diaphragm. |
Medial | Toward the midline or median plane of the body. Example- the nose is medial to the eyes. |
Lateral | Away or toward the side of the body. Example- the ears are lateral to the nose. |
Proximal | Toward the point of attachment to the body or toward the trunk of the body. Example- The wrist is proximal to the hand. Used primarily to describe the appendages or extremities. |
Posterior or dorsal | "Back or in back of." Example- Human shoulder blades are found on the posterior surface of the body. |
Distal | "Away from the point of attachment or origin" or "farthest from the trunk." Example-The elbow is distal to the shoulder. Used primarily to describe the appendages or extremities. |
Superficial | "On or near the surface of the body." Example-A superficial wound involves and injury to the outer skin. |
Deep injury | Refers to a deep injury involves damage to an internal organ such as the stomach. |
Internal and External | Specifically used to refer to body cavities and hollow organs. |
Sagittal plane | Divides the body into left and right parts. |
Midsaggittal plane | Starts in the middle of the skull and proceeded down, bisecting the sternum and the vertebral column, the body would be divided equally into right and left halves. |
Coronal (frontal) plane | A vertical cut at right angles to the sagittal plane, dividing the body into anterior and posterior portions. |
Transverse plane | A horizontal cut that divides the body into upper and lower portions. |
Abdominopelvic cavity | One large cavity with no separation between the abdomen and pelvis. |
Abdominal cavity | Contains the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, small intestine, appendix and part of the large intestine. |
Pelvic cavity | The urinary bladder, reproductive organs, rectum and remainder of the large intestine. |
Umbilical | Located around the navel. |
Tissue | Special cells- grouped according to function, shape, size and structure. |
Organ system | Organs function interdependently with one another to form a live, functioning organism. Some are grouped together because more than one is needed to perform a function. |
Dorsal cavity | Contains the brain and spinal cord |
Cranial cavity | The brain |
Spinal cavity | Spinal cord |
Thoracic cavity | Between the lungs and extends from the sternum (breastbone) to the vertebrae of the back. Contains the esophagus, bronchi, lungs, trachea, thymus gland, and heart. |
Hypogastric | Referred to the pubic area. |
Orbital cavity | The eyes, eyeball muscles, optic nerves, and lacrimal (tear) ducts. |
Nasal cavity | Parts that form the nose. |
Oral cavity or Buccal cavity | The teeth and tongue. |
Acid | Chemical compound that ionizes to form hydrogen ions (H+) in aqueous solution. |
Amino acid | Small molecular units that make up protein molecules. |
Base | Chemical compound yielding hydroxyl ions (OH-) in an aqueous solution, which will react with acid to form a salt and water. |
Buffer | A compound that maintains the chemical balance in a living organism. |
Carbohydrate | An organic compound of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen as sugar or starch. |
Cholesterol | A steroid normally synthesized in the liver and also ingested in egg yolks, animal fats and tissues. |
Compound | Elements combined in definite proportion by weight to form a new substance. |
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) | A nucleic acid containing the elements of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus; genetic material. |
Electrolyte | Electrically charged particles that help determine fluid and acid-base balance. |
Element | Made up of like atoms; substance that can neither be created nor destroyed. |
Electron | A subatomic particle of an atom that is arranged around the nucleus in orbital zones or electron shells. An electron has a negative (-) charge. |
Enzyme | Organic catalysts that initiate and accelerate a chemical reaction. |
Ion | An electrically charged atom. |
Isotope | Atoms of a specific element that have the same number of protons by a different number of neutrons. |
Matter | Anything that has weight and occupies space. |
Molecule | The smallest unit of a compound that still has the properties of the compound. |
Neutron | A subatomic particle of an atom that, with a proton, makes up the nucleus of the atom; a neutron has no electric charge. |
Organic compound | Found in living things and the products they make. They contain the element carbon, combined with hydrogen and other elements. |
pH scale | Measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. |
Protein | An organic compound containing the elements of carbon; hydrogen; oxygen; nitrogen; and most times, phosphorus and sulfur. Protein is necessary to build and repair body tissue. |
Proton | A subatomic particle of an atom; with neutrons it makes up the nucleus of the atom. The proton has a positive (+) charge. |
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) | Type of nucleic acid. Contains ribose sugar. |
Salt | Compound formed when a negative ion of acid combines with a positive ion of a base. |
Steroid | Lipids or fats that contain cholesterol. |
Active transport | Process by which solute molecules are transported across a membrane against a concentration gradient, from an area of low concentration to one of high concentration. |
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) | Chemical compound consisting of one molecule of adenine, one of ribose, and three of phosphoric acid. This is the high-energy fuel a cell requires to function. |
Atrophy | Wasting away of tissue. |
Benign | Nonmalignant (non cancerous). |
Cancer | The presence of a malignant tumor, which may affect all body parts. |
Cell membrane | Structure that encloses the cell; also known as plasma membrane. |
Chromosome | Nuclear material that determines hereditary characteristics. |
Cytoplasm | Protoplasm of the cell body, excluding the nucleus. |
Diffusion | Molecules move from higher concentration to lower concentration |
Endoplasmic reticulum | Transport system of a cell; can be smooth or rough. |
Filtration | Movement of water and particles across a semipermeable membrane by a mechanical force such as blood pressure. |
Golgi apparatus | A membranous network that resembles a stack of pancakes; it stores and packages secretions to be secreted by the cell. |
Hypertonic solution | A solution in which water molecules are moving out of a cell, causing it to shrink. |
Hypotonic solution | A solution in which water molecules are moving into a cell, causing it to swell. |
Interphase | The resting phase in the process of mitosis. |
Isotonic solution | A solution in which movement of water molecules into and out of a cell is the same. |
Lysosome | Cytoplasmic organelle containing digestive enzymes. |
Meiosis | Cell division of gametes or cells; reduces the number of chromosomes. |
Metaphase | Phase 3 in the process of mitosis; nuclear membrane disappears. |
Mitochondria | Organelle that supplies energy to the cell. |
Mitosis | Cell division involving two distinct processes: (1) Mitosis, the exact duplication of the nucleus to form two identical nuclei; and (2) cytoplasmic division. After nuclear division, to cytoplasm is divided into two approximately equal parts. |
Nuclear membrane | Double-layered membrane that surrounds the nucleus. |
Nucleolus | Small spherical structure within the cell nucleus. |
Nucleus | Core or center of a cell containing large quantities of DNA; also |
Organelle | Microscopic structure within the cell having a special function or capacity. |
Osmosis | Passage of fluid through a membrane |
Passive transport | The process of moving materials across a cell membrane without using energy, such as diffusion, osmosis, or filtration. |
Phagocytosis | Ingestion of foreign or other particles by certain cells. |
Pinocytosis | Process of engulfing large molecules in solution and taking them into the cell. |
Prophase | Phase 2 in the process of mitosis. |
Replication | Occurs when a exact copy of each nuclear chromosome is made during the early part of the first stage of mitosis (early interphase) |
Ribosome | Submicroscopic particle attached to endoplasmic reticulum; site of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm of a cell. |
Solute | Dissolved substance in a solution. |
Telophase | The final stage in the mitosis process. Chromosomes migrate to the opposite poles of the cell. Uncoil to become loosely arranged chromatin granules. |
Adipose tissue | Stores lipid (fat), acts as filler tissue, and cushions, supports, and insulates the body. Loose connective tissue composed of saclike adipose cells. |
Aponeurosis | Connective tissue- they are flat, wide bands of tissue that hold on muscle to another or to the periosteum (bone covering). |
Areolar tissue | |