Medical Terminology Chapter 4

Front 1

Abdominal Cavity

Back 1

The cavity beneath the thoracic cavity that is separated fromt he thoracic cavity by the diaphragm; contains the liver, gallbladder, spleen, stomach, pancreas, intestines, and kidneys.

Front 2

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Back 2

A term that describes the abdominal and pelvic cavity collectively; refers to the space between the diaphragm and the groin.

Front 3

Anaplasia

Back 3

A change in the structure and orientation of cells, characterized by a loss of differentiation and reversion to a more primitive form.

Front 4

anatomical position

Back 4

The standard reference position for the body as a whole: The person is standing with arms at the side and palms turned forward; the individuals head and feet are also pointing forward.

Front 5

Anterior

Back 5

Pertaining to the front of the body or toward the belly of the body.

Front 6

Aplasia

Back 6

A developmental failure resulting in the absence of any organ or tissue.

Front 7

Cardiac Muscle

Back 7

The muscle that makes up the muscular wall of the heart.

Front 8

Caudal

Back 8

Pertaining to the tail.

Front 9

Cell

Back 9

The smallest and most numerous structural unit of living matter.

Front 10

Cell Membrane

Back 10

The semipermeable barrier that is the outer covering of a cell.

Front 11

Cervical Vertebrae

Back 11

The first seven segments of the spinal column.

Front 12

Chromosomes

Back 12

The threadlike structures within the nucleus that control the functions of growth, repair, and reproduction for the body.

Front 13

Coccyx

Back 13

The tailbone. Located at the end of the vertebral column, the coccyx results from the fusion of four individual coccygeal bones in the child.

Front 14

Connective Tissue

Back 14

Tissues that supports and binds other body tissue and parts.

Front 15

Cranial

Back 15

Pertaining to the skull or cranium.

Front 16

Cranial Cavity

Back 16

The cavity that contains the brain.

Front 17

Cytology

Back 17

The study of cells.

Front 18

Cytoplasm

Back 18

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.

Front 19

Deep

Back 19

Away from the surface.

Front 20

Distal

Back 20

Away from or farthest from the trunk of the body, or farthest from the point of origin of a body part.

Front 21

Dorsal

Back 21

Pertaining to the back.

Front 22

Dorsum

Back 22

The back or posterior surface of a part; in the foot, the top of the foot

Front 23

Dysplasia

Back 23

Any abnormal development of tissues or organs.

Front 24

Epiglastric Region

Back 24

The region of the abdomen located between the right and left hypchrondriac regions in the upper section of the abdomen, beneath the cartilage of the ribs.

Front 25

Frontal Plane

Back 25

Any of the vertical planes passing through the body from the head to the feet, perpendicular to the sagittal planes and dividing the body into front and back portions.

Front 26

Genes

Back 26

Segments of chromosomes that transmit hereditary characteristics.

Front 27

Histologist

Back 27

A medical scientist who specializes in the study of tissues.

Front 28

Hyperplasia

Back 28

An increase in the number of cells of a body part.

Front 29

Hypchondriac Region

Back 29

The right and left regions of the upper abdomen, beneath the carilage of the lower ribs; located on either side of the epigastric region.

Front 30

Hypogastric Region

Back 30

The middle section of the lower abdomen, beneath the umbilical region.

Front 31

Hypoplasia

Back 31

Incomplete or underdeveloped organ or tissue, usually the result of a decrease in the number of cells.

Front 32

Inferior

Back 32

Below or downward toward the tail or feet.

Front 33

Inguinal region

Back 33

The right or left regions of the lower section of the abdomen; also called the iliac region.

Front 34

Lateral

Back 34

Toward the side of the body, away from teh midline of the body.

Front 35

Lumbar Region

Back 35

The right and left regions of the middle section of the abdomen.

Front 36

Lumbar Vertebrae

Back 36

The largest and strongest of the vertebrae of the spinal column, located in the lower back. The lumbar vertebrae consists of five large segments of the movable part of the spinal column.

Front 37

Lysosomes

Back 37

Cell organs, or organelles that contain various kinds of enzymes capable of breaking down all the main components of cells; lysosomes destroy bacteria by digesting them.

Front 38

Mcurney's Point

Back 38

A point on the right side of the abdomen, about two-thirds of the distance between the umbilicus and the anterior bony preminence of the hip.

Front 39

Medial

Back 39

Toward the midline of the body.

Front 40

Mediolateral

Back 40

Pertaining to the middle and side of the structure.

Front 41

Membrane

Back 41

A thin layer of tissue that covers a surface, lines a cavity, or divides a space, such as the abdominal membrane that lines the abdominal wall.

Front 42

Midline of the Body

Back 42

The imaginary line that is created when the body is divided into equal right and left halves.

Front 43

Midsagittal Plane

Back 43

The plane that divides the body or a structure into right and left equal portions.

Front 44

Mitochondria

Back 44

Cell organs, or organelles, which provide the energy needed by the cell to carry on its essential functions.

Front 45

Munro's Point

Back 45

A point on the left side of the abdomen, about halfway between the umbilicus and the anterior bony prominence of the hip.

Front 46

Muscle Tissue

Back 46

The tissue that is capable of producing movements of the parts and organs of the body by contracting and relaxing its fibers.

Front 47

Navel

Back 47

THe umbilicus; the belly button

Front 48

Neoplasia

Back 48

The new and abnormal development of cells that may be benign or malignant.

Front 49

Nervous Tissue

Back 49

Tisse that transmits impulses throughout the body, thereby activating, coordinating, and controlling the many functions of the body.

Front 50

Nucleus

Back 50

The central controlling body within a living cell that is enclosed within the cell membrane.

Front 51

Organ

Back 51

Tissues that are arranged together to perform a special function.

Front 52

Pelvic Cavity

Back 52

The lower front cavity of the body, located beneath the abdominal cavity; contains the urinary bladder and reproductive organs

Front 53

Peritoneum

Back 53

A specific, serous membrane that covers the entire abdominal wall of the body and is reflected over the contained viscera.

Front 54

Plane

Back 54

Imaginary slices or cuts made through the body as if a dividing sheet were passed through the body at a particular angle and in a particular direction, permitting a view from a different angle.

Front 55

Plantar

Back 55

Pertaining to the sole or bottom of the foot.

Front 56

Posterior

Back 56

Pertaining to the back of the body.

Front 57

Pronation

Back 57

A movement that allows the palms of the hands to turn downward and backward.

Front 58

Prone

Back 58

Lying facedown on the abdomen.

Front 59

Proximal

Back 59

Toward or nearest to the trunk of the body, or nearest to the point of origin of a body part.

Front 60

Ribosomes

Back 60

Cell organs, or organelles that synthesize proteins; often called the cells protein factories.

Front 61

Sacrum

Back 61

The singular, triagular-shaped bone that results from the fusion of the 5 individual sacral bones of the child.

Front 62

Skeletal Muscle

Back 62

Muscle that is attached to bone and is responsible for the movement of the skeleton.

Front 63

Smooth Muscle/Visceral Muscle

Back 63

Muscle that is found in the walls of the hollow internal organs of the body such as the stomach and intestines.

Front 64

Spinal Cavity

Back 64

The cavity that contains the nerves of the spinal cord; also known as the spinal canal.

Front 65

Superficail

Back 65

Pertaining to the surface of the body, or near the surface.

Front 66

Superior

Back 66

Above or upward toward the head.

Front 67

Supination

Back 67

A movement that allows the palms of the hands to turn upward or forward.

Front 68

Supine

Back 68

Lying horizontally on the back, faceup

Front 69

System

Back 69

Organs that work together to perform the many functions of the body as a whole.

Front 70

Thoracic Cavity

Back 70

The chest cavity which contains the lungs, heart, aorta, esophagus, and trachea

Front 71

Thoracic Vertebrae

Back 71

The second segment of 12 vertebrae that make up the vertebral bones of the chest.

Front 72

Tissue

Back 72

A group of cells that perform specialized functions.

Front 73

Transverse plane

Back 73

Any of the planes cutting across the body perpendicular to the sagittal and the frontal planes, dividing the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

Front 74

Umbilical Region

Back 74

The region of the abdomen located in the middle section of the abdomen, between the right and left lumbar regions and directly beneath the epigastric region.

Front 75

Umbilicus

Back 75

The navel; also called the belly button.

Front 76

Ventral

Back 76

Pertaining to the front; belly side.

Front 77

Visceral

Back 77

Pertaining to the internal organs.