Chapter 2 medical terms Flashcards
anatomy
the study of the structures of the body
anatomical position
standing up straight so that the body is erect and facing forward
holding arms at the sides with the hands turned so that the palms face toward the front
abdominal cavity
contains the MAJOR organs of digestion. The cavity is frequently referred to simply as the abdomen
adenocarcinoma
(cancerous) (tumor) malignant tumor that originates in the glands and may spread to other parts of the body
adenoma
benign tumor that starts in the epithelial tissue of a gland or gland like structure
anaplasia
a change in the structure of cells and their orientation to each other
anomaly
a deviation from what is regarded as normal
anterior
situated in the front, front or forward part of organ
aplasia
the defective development or congenital absence of an organ or tissue
atresia
congenital absence or narrowing of a normal body opening or passage
autopsy
postmortem examination. Determine cause of death, or evaluating the presence of disease and the effectiveness of treatment
bloodborne transmission
the spread of pathogens through infected blood or other body fluids. Infected fluids must enter the bloodstream to cause infection
caudal
toward the lower part of the body (tail)
cephalic
toward the head
chromosome
genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell
communicable disease
any condition that is transmitted from one person to another either directly or indirect contact with contaminated objects
congenital disorder
abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth
cytoplasm
the material within the cell membrane that is NOT part of the nucleus
distal
situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure
dorsal
back of the organ or body
dysplasia
the abnormal development or growth of cells within a type of tissue
endemic
ongoing presence of a disease within a population, group, or area
endocrine glands
produce hormones, do not have ducts
epidemic
a sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease within a population, group, or area
epigastric region
located above the stomach
hypogastric region
located below the stomach
hypoplasia
underdevelopment of an organ or tissue, usually due to a deficiency in the number of cells
iatrogenic illness
is an unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment
idiopathic disease
any disease WITHOUT a known cause
infectious disease
an illness caused by living pathogenic organism such as bacteria and virus
inguinal
relating to the groin, refers to the entire lower area of the abdomen
medial
direction toward, or nearer, the midline
mesentery
(hold intestine in place) fused double layer of the parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior abdominal wall
midsagittal plane (aka midline)
is the sagittal plane that divide the body into EQUAL left and right halves
nosocomial infection (aka hospital acquired infection)
is a disease acquired in a hospital or clinical setting
pandemic
refers to an outbreak of a disease occurring over a large geographic area, possibly worldwide
pathology
the study of a disease: its nature and cause as well as the produced changes in structure and function
pelvic cavity
the space formed by the hip bones and contains the organs of the reproductive and excretory systems
peritoneum
multilayered membrane that protects and holds the organs in place within the abdominal cavity
peritonitis
inflammation of the peritoneum
physiology
the study of the functions of the structures of the body
posterior
situated in the back/back part of an organ
proximal
situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure (near)
retroperitoneal
located behind the peritoneum
stem cells
unspecialized cells that are able to renew themselves for long periods of time by cell division
syndrome
a set of signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process
thoracic cavity (aka chest or thorax)
surrounds and protects the heart and lungs
transverse plane
a horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions
umbilicus (aka belly button/navel)
where the umbilical cord was attached before birth
vector-borne transmission (aka insect bite)
is the spread of certain disease through blood-sucking vectors
ventral
the front, belly side, of the organ or body
etiology
the study of the causes of diseases or abnormal condition
exocrine glands
secrete chemical substances into ducts that lead either to organs or out of the body (sweat)
functional disorder (aka non organic disorder)
produces physical symptoms for which no disease or other organic cause can be identified (chronic fatigue syndrome)
genetic disorder (aka hereditary disease)
is a pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene
geriatrician (gerontologist)
is a physician who specializes in the care of older people
hemophilia
hereditary bleeding disorder in which a blood-clotting factor is missing (severe bleeding/hemorrhages occur due to this disorder)
histology
the microscopic study of the structure, composition, and functions of tissues
homeostasis
the processes through which the body maintains a constant internal environment
hyperplasia
an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ
hypertrophy
a general increase in the bulk of a body part or organ that is due to an increase in the size, but not number, of cells in the tissues
