| A | B |
|---|
| Anatomy | study of the structures of the body |
| Physiology | study of the functions of the structures in the body |
| anatomic position | standing up with body erect, facing forward, arms at sides, palms toward the front |
| vertical plane | up and down line that is at a right angle to the horizon |
| midsagital plane or midline | vertical plane that divides the body from top to bottom into equal left and right halves |
| sagital plane | vertical plane parallel to the midline that divides the body into unequal left and right portions |
| coronal or frontal plane | vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions |
| horizontal plane | flat crosswise line like the horizon |
| transverse or horizontal plane | divides the body into superior and inferior portions (can be at the waist or any other level across the body) |
| anterior | front |
| posterior | back |
| ventral | front or belly side of the body or organ |
| dorsal | back of the body or organ |
| superior | uppermost, above, or toward the head |
| inferior | lowermost, below, or toward the feet |
| cephalic | toward the head |
| caudal | toward the lower part of the body |
| proximal | nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure |
| distal | situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure |
| medial | toward or nearer the midline |
| lateral | toward or nearer the side and away from the midline |
| bilateral | two sides |
| body cavity | space within the body that contains and protects the internal organs |
| dorsal cavity divided into 2 parts | cranial cavity and spinal cavity |
| ventral cavity divided into 3 parts | thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity, and pelvic cavity |
| Divisions of the abdominal cavity or quadrants | RUQ, LUQ, RLQ, and LLQ |
| Regions of the thorax and abdomen | R & L hypochondriac, epigastric, R & L lumbar, umbillical, hypogastric, and R & L iliac |
| peritoneum | membrane that protects and supports the organs located in the abdominal cavity |
| parietal peritoneum | outer layer of the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity |
| visceral peritoneum | inner layer of the membrane that surrounds the organs of the abdominal cavity |
| visceral | relating to the internal organs |
| parietal | cavity wall |
| mesentery | layer of the peritoneum that suspends parts of the intestine within the abdominal cavity |
| retroperitoneal | located behind the peritoneum of the abdominal cavity |
| retro | behind |
| peritonitis | inflammation of the peritoneum |
| ascites | abnormal accumulation of clear or milky serous (watery fluid in the peritoneal cavity |
| laparoscopy | visual examination of the interior of the abdomen with the use of a laparoscope |
| laparoscopic surgery | explore and examine the interior of the abdomen, take specimens to be biopsied, and perform surgical procedures |
| cytology | study of the formation, structure, and function of cells |
| cytoplasm | material within the cell membrane that is not part of the nucleus |
| nucleus | structure within the cell that has two important functions: controls the activities of the cell, and helps the cell divide |
| chromosomes | 46 arranged into 23 pairs, and 22 identical pairs plus the single pair (XX or XY) that determines the sex of a child |
| sex cells | gametes and each mature sex cell has 23 single chromosomes |
| DNA | deoxyribonucleic acid |
| genes | functional units of heredity |
| genetics | study of how genes are transferred from the parents to their children and the role of genes in health and disease |
| geneticist | specialist in the field of genetics |
| genetic engineering | research to identify defective genes and to develop gene therapy to treat or replace faulty genes |
| genetic mutation | changes that occur within genes |
| somatic cell mutation | change within the cells of the body (affect the individual but cannot be transmitted to the next generation) |
| gametic cell mutation | change with the genes found in the gametes (can be transmitted by parents to their children) |
| genetic disorders or hereditary disorders | diseases or conditions caused by a defective gene |
| cystic fibrosis | genetic disorder of the exocrine glands |
| Down syndrome or trisomy 21 | genetic syndrome characterized by varying degrees of mental retardation and multiple physical abnormalities |
| Hemophilia | group of hereditary bleeding disorders where one of the factors needed to clot the blood is missing (genetic transmission is from mother to her son) |
| Huntington's disease or Huntington's chorea | hereditary disorder with symptoms that first appear in midlife and cause the irreversible and progressive loss of muscle control and mental ability |
| Muscular dystrophy | group of genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness of muscle fibers |
| Phenylketonuria (PKU) | genetic disorder in which an essential digestive enzyme is missing (can be detected by a blood test at birth) |
| Sickle cell anemia | serious genetic disorder caused by genes that produce abnormal hemoglobin in the RBC's |
| Tay-Sachs disease | hereditary disease marked by progressive physical degeneration, mental retardation, and early death |
| congenital disorder | abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth and may be causedc by a developmental disorder before birth, prenatal influences, premature birth, or injuries during birth |
| anomaly | deviation from what is normal |
| fetal alcohol syndrome | characterized by traits including growth deficiencies and abnormalities, mental retardation, brain damage, and socialization difficulties |
| cerebral palsy | caused by premature birth or due to inadequate oxygen to the brain during birth |
| histology | study of the structure, composition and function of tissues |
| stem cells or precursor cells | cells with the ability to divide without limit and to give rise to specialized cells |
| epithelial tissues | form a protective covering for all of the internal and external surfaces of the body |
| epithelium | specialized epithelial tissue that forms the epidermis of the skin and the surface layer of mucous membranes |
| endothelium | specialized epithelial tissue that lines the blood and lymph vessels, body cavities, glands, and organs |
| connective tissues | support and connect organs and other body tissues |
| adipose tissue (fat) | provides protective padding, insulation, and support and acts as a nutrient reserve |
| loose connective tissue | surrounds various organs and supports both nerve cells and blood vessels |
| muscle tissue | contains cell material with the specialized ability to contract and relax |
| nerve tissue | contains cells with the specialized ability to react to stimuli and conduct electrical impulses |
| aplasia | lack of development of an organ or tissue |
| plasia | formation |
| hypoplasia | incomplete development of an organ or tissue |
| hyperplasia | abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement in a tissue |
| dysplasia | abnormal development or growth, especially of cells |
| anaplasia | change in the structure of cells and in their orientation to each other (these abnormal cells are characteristic of malignancy which is a life-threathening tumor that tends to spread to distant body sites) |
| secretion | substance produced by a gland |
| exocrine gland | sweat glands (secrete their chemical substances into ducts that lead either to other organs or out of the body |
| exo | out |
| crine | secrete |
| endocrine gland | secrete hormones and do not have ducts (these secretions flow directly into the bloodstream for transportation to organs and other structures throughout the body |
| adenectomy | surgical removal of a gland |
| aden | gland |
| adenitis | inflammation of a gland |
| adenoma | benign tumor in which the cells form recognizable glandular structures |
| oma | tumor |
| adenomalacia | abnormal softening of a gland |
| adenosclerosis | abnormal hardening of a gland |
| adenosis | disease condition of a gland |
| pathology | study of structural and functional changes caused by disease |
| pathologist | specializes in the laboratory analysis of tissue samples removed at operations and postmortem (after death) esxaminations to confirm or establish a diagnosis |
| etiology | study of the causes of diseases |
| communicaqble disease | contagious disease (any disease transmitted from one person to another either by direct contact or indirectly byb contact with contaminated objects |
| infectious disease | illness caused by a pathogenic organism |
| idiopathic disorder | illness without known cause |
| organic disorder | pathologic, physical changes that explain the symptoms being experienced by the patient |
| functional disorder | no detectable physical changes to explain the symptoms that are being experienced by the patient |
| iatrogenic illness | problem, such as a side effect or an unfavorgable response that occurs from a prescribed medical treatment |
| nosocomial infection | infection acquired in a hospital setting that was not present on admission but appears 72 hours or more after hospitalization |
| contaminated | possible presence of an infectious agent (may occur through a lack of proper hygiene standars such as handwashing or taking proper precautions) |
| bloodborne transmission | contact with blood or body fluids that are contaminated with blood |
| sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) | require direct person-to-person contact or contact with lesions |
| airborne transmission | occurs through respiratory droplets such as contact with material from a cough or a sneeze |
| foodborne and waterborne transmission (fecal/oral transmission) | caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water that has not been prepared properly to kill the contamination |
| epidemiologist | specializes 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 and widespread outbreak of a disease within a population, group, or area |
| pandemic | outbreak of a disease occurring over a large geographic area, possibly worldwide |
