Chapter 2. Body as a Whole - Medical Terms Flashcards
abdomen
area of the body between the chest and the 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
caudal
pertaining to 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
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
chondroma
tumor (benign) of cartilage
chrondrosarcoma
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 vertebral column
cranial cavity
pertaining to the space within the skull containing the brain and pituitary gland
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 the 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
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