| A | B |
|---|
| anatomy | the study of the structures of the body |
| physiology | study of the functions of the structures of the body |
| anatomic position | describes the body standing in the standard position: standing erect,facing forward with the palms facing towards the front |
| body planes | imaginary vertical & horizontal lines used to divide the body into sections |
| vertical plane | is an up & down plane that is a right angle to the horizon |
| sagittal plane | vertical plane that divides the body into UNEQUAL left & right portions |
| midsagittal plane | aka midline, plane that divides the body into EQUAL left & right halves |
| frontal plane | vertical plane that divides the body into anterior(front) & posterior(back) portions |
| horizontal planes | flat crosswise plane,such as the horizon |
| transverse plane | horizontal plane that divides the body into superior(upper) & inferior(lower) portions |
| ventral | refers to the front or belly side of the organ or body |
| dorsal | refers to the back of the organ or body |
| anterior | means situated in the front, also front or forward part of an organ |
| posterior | means situated in the back, also means on the back part of an organ |
| superior | means uppermost, above or toward the head |
| inferior | means lowermost, below or toward the feet |
| cephalic | means towards the head |
| caudal | means towards the lower part of the body |
| proximal | means situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure |
| distal | means situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure |
| medial | means the direction toward, or nearer, the midline |
| lateral | means the direction toward, or nearer, the side of the body, away from the midline |
| body cavities | (dorsal & ventral) are spaces within the body that contain & protect internal organs |
| dorsal cavity | located along the back of the body & head,contains organs of the nervous system |
| cranial cavity | located within the skull, surrounds & protects the brain |
| spinal cavity | located within the spinal column, surrounds & protects the spinal cord |
| ventral cavity | located along the front of the body,contains organs that sustain homeostasis |
| homeostasis | process through which the body maintains a constant internal environment |
| thoracic cavity | aka chest or thorax, protects the heart & lungs |
| abdominal cavity | contains primarily the major organs of digestion |
| pelvic cavity | space formed by the hip bones & contains primarily the organs of the reproductive & excretory systems |
| abdominopelvic cavity | refers to these cavities as a single unit |
| inguinal | means relating to the groin,refers to the entire lower area of the abdomen |
| regions of the thorax & abdomen | divides the abdomin & lower portion of the thorax into 9 parts |
| right & left hypochondriac region | is covered by the lower ribs |
| epigastric region | located above the stomach |
| right & left lumbar region | located near the inward curve of the spine |
| umbilical region | surrounds the umbilicus( navel/belly button) |
| right & left iliac region | located over the hip bone |
| hypogastric region | located near the stomach |
| peritoneum | multilayered membrane that protects & holds the organs in place within the abdominal cavity |
| parietal peritoneum | outer layer of the peritoneum that lines the interior of the abdominal wall |
| mesentery | a fused double layer of parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior abdominal wall |
| visceral peritoneum | inner layer of the peritoneum that surrounds the organs of the abdominal cavity |
| retroperitoneal | means located behind the peritoneum |
| cells | basic structural & functional units of the body |
| cytology | the study of the anatomy, physiology & chemistry of the cell |
| cytologist | specialist in the study & analysis of cells |
| cell membrane | the tissue that surrounds & protects the contents of the cell by seperating them from its external environment |
| cytoplasm | the material within the cell membrane that is not part of the nucleus |
| nucleus | a structure within the cell w/ 2 important functions. It controls the activities of the cell & helps it divide |
| stem cells | unspecialized cells that are able to renew themselves for long periods of time by cell division |
| adult stem cells | aka somatic stem cells. Undifferentiated cells found among differentiated cells in tissue or organs |
| embryonic stem cells | undifferentiated cells that are unlike any specific adult cell but have the important ability to form ANY adult cell |
| gene | fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity |
| genetics | study of how genes are transferred from parents to children & the role of genes in health & disease |
| dominant gene | inherited from either parent, offspring WILL inherit thatgenetic condition or characteristic |
| genome | complete set of genetic information of an organism |
| chromosome | genetic structures located within the nucleus of each cell |
| somatic cell | any cell in the body EXCEPT the gametes |
| gamete | sex cell |
| genetic mutation | change of the sequence of a DNA molecule |
| genetic disorder | pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene |
| cystic fibrosis | genetic disorder present at birth, affects both the respiratory & digestive systems |
| down syndrome | genetic variation that is associated w/ a characteristic facial appearance, learning disabilities, & physical abnormalities such as heart valve disease |
| hemophilia | group of hereditary bleeding disorders in which a blood clotting factor is missing |
| huntingtons disease | genetic disorder that is passed from parent to child,causes nerve degeneration |
| muscular dystrophy (MS) | group of genetic diseases that are characterized by progressive weakness & degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement |
| phenylketonuria | genetic disorder in which the essential digestive enzyme PHENYLALANINE HYDROXYLASE is missing |
| tay-sachs disease | fatal genetic disorder in which harmful quantities of fatty substance buildup in tissues & nerve cells in the brain |
| tissue | group or layer of similarly specialized cells that join together to perform certain specific functions |
| histology | study of the structure, composition, & function of tissues |
| histologist | a specialist in the study of the organization of tissues at all levels |
| epithelial tissues | form a protective covering for all of the internal & external surfaces of the body |
| epithelium | specialized epithelial tissue that forms the epidermis of the skin & surface layer of mucous membranes |
| endothelium | specialized epithelial tissue that lines the blood & lymph vessels,body cavities, glands & organs |
| connective tissue | support & connect organs & other body tissue |
| dense connective tissue | such as bones & cartilage, form the joints & framework of the body |
| adipose tissue | aka fat, provides protective padding, insulation, and support |
| loose connective tissue | surrounds various organs & supports both nerve cells & blood vessels |
| muscle tissue | contains cells w/ specialized ability to contract & relax |
| nerve tissue | cells with the specialized ability to react to stimuli & to conduct electrical impulses |
| apalsia | defective development or the congenital absence, of an organ or tissue |
| hypoplasia | incomplete development of an organ or tissue usually due to a deficiency in the number of cells |
| anaplasia | change in the structure of cells & their orientation to each other |
| dysplasia | abnormal development or growth of cells, tissue, or organs |
| hyperplasia | enlargement of an organ or tissue because of an abnormal increase in the number of cells in the tissue |
| hypertrophy | general increase in the bulk of a body part or organ that is due to an increase in the size but not in the number, of cells in the tissue |
| gland | group of specialized epithelial cells that are capale of producing secretions |
| exocrine gland | secrets chemical substances into ducts that lead either to other organs or out of the body |
| endocrine glands | produce hormones,do not have ducts |
| adentis | inflammation of a gland |
| adenocarcinoma | malignant tumor that orginates in a glandular tissue |
| adenoma | benign tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue |
| adenomalacia | abnormal softening of a gland |
| adenosis | any disease or condition of a gland |
| adenosclerosis | abnormal hardening of a gland |
| adenectomy | surgical removal of a gland |
| organ | somewhat independent part of the body that performs a specific function |
| pathology | study of disease |
| pathologist | specializes in the laboratory analysis of tissue samples to confirm or establish a diagnosis |
| etiology | study of the CAUSES of diseases |
| pathogen | disease-producing microorganism such as a virus |
| communicable disease | aka contagious disease, any condition that is transmitted from one person to another |
| indirect contact transmission | situations in which a susceptible person is infected by contact w/ a contaminated surface |
| bloodborne transmission | spread of disease through contact w/ blood or other body fluids that are contaminated w/ blood |
| airborne transmission | occurs through contact w/ contaminated respiratory droplets spread by a cough or sneeze |
| food-borne & waterborne transmission | caused by eating/drinking contaminated food or water that has not been properly treated to remove contamination or kill any pathogens |
| vector-borne transmission | spread of certain disease due to the bite of a vector ( ex. insects,fleas,ticks,rats,dogs) |
| epidemiologist | specialist in the study of outbreaks of disease within a population group |
| endemic | ongoing presence of a disease within a population, group, or area |
| epidemic | sudden & widespread outbreak of a disease within a specific population group or area |
| pandemic | outbreak of a disease occurring over a large geographic area, possibly worldwide |
| functional disorder | produces symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified |
| iatrogenic illness | unfavorable response due to a prescribed medical treatment |
| idiopathic disorder | illness w/o known cause |
| infectious disease | illness caused by living pathogenic organisms such as bacteria |
| nosocomial infection | disease acquired in a hospital or clinical setting |
| organic disorder | produces symptoms caused by detectable physical changes in the body |
| congenital disorder | abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth |
| developmental disorder | aka birth defect, can result in an anomaly or malformation |
| anomaly | deviation from what is regarded as normal |
| atresia | congenital absence of a normal body opening or the failure of a structure to be tubular |
| prenatal influences | mother's health, behavior, and the prenatal medical care she does/does not receive before delivery |
| fetal alcohol syndrome | caused by the mothers consumption of alcohol during pregnany |
| geriatrics | study of medical problems & care of older people |
| autopsy | postmortem examination |
| general practitioner | provides ongoing care for patients of all ages |
| internist | physician who specializes in diagnosing & treating diseases & disorders of the internal organs & related body systems |
| pediatrician | physician who specializes in diagnosing,treating and preventing disorders & diseases of infants & children |
| geriatrician | physician who specializes in the care of older people |
| hospitalist | focuses on the genral medical care of hospitalized patients |
