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Medical Terminology > Chapter 4: Body Structure > Flashcards

Chapter 4: Body Structure Flashcards

1
Q

Chromatin

A

A structural component of the nucleus, composed of nucleic acids and proteins.

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2
Q

Chromosome

A

Thread-like structures within the nucleus composed of DNA that carries hereditary information encoded in genes.

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3
Q

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

A

Molecule that holds genetic information capable of replicating and producing an exact copy when the cell divides.

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4
Q

Metabolsim

A

Sum of all physical and chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism.

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5
Q

Organelle

A

Cell structure that provides a specialized function, such as the nucleus (reproduction), ribosomes (protein analysis), Golgi apparatus (removal of material from the cell), and lysosomes (digestion).

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6
Q

5 Levels of Organization

A 
Cells
Tissues
Organs
Organ Systems
Organisms
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7
Q

Cells

A

1) Smallest structural, and functional unit of life.
2) Perform all activities associated with life.
3 main structures: cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus

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8
Q

Cytology

A

Study of the body at the cellular level.

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9
Q

Cell Membrane

A

Acts as a barrier that supports and protects intracellular contents.

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10
Q

Cytoplasm

A

Jelly-like matrix of proteins, salts, water, and dissolved gases and nutrients. Cytoplasm contains the cell’s organelles.

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11
Q

Organelle

A

Perform specific functions of the cell, such as reproduction and digestion.

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12
Q

Nucleus

A

Responsible for cell metabolism, growth, and reproduction.

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13
Q

Chromatin

A

Thread-like structures formed by DNA, located in the nucleus.

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14
Q

Chromosomes

A

Formed by chromatin when the cell is ready to divide. Each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes that determine an organisms genetic make up (with the exception of female ovum and male spermatozoa).

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15
Q

Tissues

A

Composed of similar cells that perform specialized or common functions.

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16
Q

Histology

A

The study of tissues.

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17
Q

4 Types of Tissues:

A

Epithelial, muscle, connective, nervous.

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18
Q

Epithelial Tissue

A

Covers the surfaces of organs, lines body cavities and canals, forms tubes and ducts, provides the secreting portion of glands, and makes up the epidermis.

Composed of cells arranged in a continuous sheet, consisting of 1 or more layers.

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19
Q

Connective Tissue

A

Supports and connects other body tissues.

Types: cartilage, adipose (fat), bone, elastic fiber, and even blood.

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20
Q

Muscle Tissue

A

Provides the contractile tissue of the body, which is responsible for movement.

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21
Q

Nervous Tissue

A

Transmits electrical impulses as it relays information throughout the entire body.

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22
Q

Organs

A

Body structures that perform specialized functions, composed of 2 or more tissue types.

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23
Q

Organ Systems

A

Composed of a varying number of organs and accessory structures that have a similar or related function.

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24
Q

Organism

A

Highest level of organization; complete living entity capable of independent existence; made of several body systems that work together to sustain life.

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25
Q

Anatomical Position

A

Body posture used as a position of reference to ensure uniformity and consistency in locating parts of the body. Body is erect, facing forward, arms at the sides, palms forward, feet parallel.

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26
Q

Plane

A

Imaginary flat surface that divides the body into 2 sections. These serve as points of reference to identify the different sections of the body.

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27
Q

Coronal (Frontal) Plane

A

Divides the body into anterior/posterior sections.

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28
Q

Transverse (Horizonal) Plane

A

Divides the body into top and bottom sections.

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29
Q

Midsagittal Plane

A

Runs through the center of the body, dividing it into right and left halves.

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30
Q

Directional terms do what?

A

Help indicate the position of structures, surfaces, and regions of the body. Identify the locations of diseases, injuries, or surgical sites.

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31
Q

Anterior (ventral)

A

Front of the body.

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32
Q

Posterior (Dorsal)

A

Back of the body.

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33
Q

Superior (Cephalad)

A

Toward the head/upper portion of a structure.

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34
Q

Inferior (Caudal)

A

Away from the head or toward the tail/lower part of the structure.

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35
Q

Lateral

A

Pertaining to a side.

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36
Q

Medial

A

Pertaining to the midline of the body or structure.

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37
Q

Abduction

A

Movement away from the midsagittal plane.

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38
Q

Adduction

A

Movement toward the midsagittal plane.

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39
Q

Proximal

A

Nearer to the center (trunk) of the body, or from the point of attachment to the body.

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40
Q

Distal

A

Further from the center (trunk) of the body, or from the point of attachment to the body.

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41
Q

Parietal

A

Pertaining to the outer wall of the body cavity.

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42
Q

Visceral

A

Pertaining to the viscera, or internal organs (especially the abdominal organs).

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43
Q

Prone

A

Lying on the abdomen (face down).

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44
Q

Supine

A

Lying horizontally on the back, face up.

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45
Q

Inversion

A

Turning inward or inside out.

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46
Q

Eversion

A

Turning outward.

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47
Q

Palmar

A

Pertaining to the palm of the hand.

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48
Q

Plantar

A

Pertaining to the sole of the foot.

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49
Q

Superficial

A

Toward the surface of the body (external).

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50
Q

Deep

A

Away from the surface of the body (internal).

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51
Q

Body Cavities

A

Spaces in the body that hold, separate, protect, and support intestinal organs.

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52
Q

Dorsal Cavity

A

Located on the back of the body (posterior). Divided into cranial and spinal cavities. Continuous, no wall separates the cranial and spinal cavities.

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53
Q

Cranial Cavity

A

Formed by the skull, contains the brain.

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54
Q

Spinal Cavity

A

Formed by the spine, contains the spinal cord.

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55
Q

Meninges

A

Membranes that line the dorsal cavity and cover the brain/spinal cord.

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56
Q

Ventral

A

Located at the front of the body (anterior). Divided into thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

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57
Q

Diaphragm

A

Separates the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities.

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58
Q

Thoracic Cavity

A

Contains the heart and lungs.

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59
Q

Abdominopelvic Cavity

A

Divided into the abdominal and pelvic cavities.

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60
Q

Abdominal Cavity

A

Contains the liver, stomach, intestines, and kidneys.

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61
Q

Pelvic Cavity

A

Contains the urinary bladder and reproductive organs.

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62
Q

Abdominopelvic Quadrants and Regions

A

Divides the abdominopelvic cavity into sections to describe the location of organs.

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63
Q

Quadrants (4)

A

RUQ, RLQ, LUQ, and LLQ.

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64
Q

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

A

Contains the right lobe of the liver, gallbladder, part of the pancreas, and part of the small and large intestines.

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65
Q

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

A

Contains part of the large and small intestines, appendix, right ovary, right fallopian tube, and right ureter.

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66
Q

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

A

Contains the left lobe of the liver, stomach, spleen, part of the pancreas, and part of the large and small intestines.

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67
Q

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

A

Contains part of the large and small intestines, left ovary, left fallopian tube, and left ureter.

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68
Q

Regions (9)

A

Right hypochondriac, epigastric, left hypochondriac, right lumbar, umbilical, left lumbar, right inguinal (iliac), hypogastric, and left inguinal (iliac).

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69
Q

Right Hypochondriac

A

Upper, right, lateral region beneath the ribs.

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70
Q

Epigastric

A

Upper middle region.

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71
Q

Left Hypochondriac

A

Upper, left, lateral region beneath the ribs.

72
Q

Right Lumbar

A

Middle, right, lateral region.

73
Q

Umbilical

A

Region of the navel.

74
Q

Left Lumbar

A

Middle, left, lateral region.

75
Q

Right Inguinal (Iliac)

A

Right, lower, lateral region.

76
Q

Hypogastric

A

Lower middle region.

77
Q

Left Inguinal (Iliac)

A

Left, lower, lateral region.

78
Q

Spine

A

Also known as the vertebral column or backbone, composed of 26 vertebrae and connective tissue to form a flexible, curved structure.

79
Q

Divisions of the Spine

A 
Cervical (7) - neck
Thoracic (12) - chest
Lumbar (5) - loin
Sacrum - low back
Coccyx - tailbone
80
Q

cyt/o

A

Cell

cyt/o/logist: specialist in the study of cells

81
Q

hist/o

A

Tissue

hist/o/logy: Study of tissue

82
Q

kary/o

nucle/o

A

Nucleus

kary/o/lysis: results in the destruction of cells

nucle/ar: pertaining to the nucleus

83
Q

anter/o

A

Anterior, front

anter/ior: pertaining to the front.

84
Q

caud/o

A

Tail

caud/ad: Toward the tail

85
Q

cephal/o

A

Head

cephal/ad: Toward the head

86
Q

dist/o

A

Far, farthest

dist/al: pertaining to far

87
Q

dors/o

A

Back (of body)

dors/al: pertaining to the back of the body.

88
Q

infer/o

A

Lower, below

infer/ior: pertaining to below

89
Q

later/o

A

Side, to one side

later/al: pertaining to one side.

90
Q

Medi/o

A

Middle

medi/ad: toward the middle

91
Q

poster/o

A

Back (of body), behind, posterior

poster/ior: pertaining to the back of the body

92
Q

proxim/o

A

near, nearest

proximal: pertaining to near

93
Q

ventr/o

A

belly, belly side

ventr/al: pertaining to the belly

94
Q

albin/o

leuk/o

A

white

albin/ism: condition of white (skin/pigments)

leuk/o/cyte: white blood cell

95
Q

chrom/o

A

color

heter/o/chrom/ic: pertaining to different color.

96
Q

cirrh/o

jaund/o

xanth/o

A

yellow

cirrh/osis: abnormal condition of yellow

jaund/ice: pertaining to yellow.

xanth/oma: yellow tumor (nodule composed of lipid material)

97
Q

cyan/o

A

blue

cyan/o/tic: pertaining to blue

98
Q

erythr/o

A

red

erythr/o/cyte: red blood cell

99
Q

melan/o

A

black

melan/oma: black tumor

100
Q

poli/o

A

gray; gray matter

poli/o/myel/itis: inflammation of bone matter in the brain and spinal cord.

101
Q

radi/o

A

radiation, x-ray; radius (lower arm bone on the thumb side)

radi/o/logist: specialist in the study of radiation/x-rays.

102
Q

tom/o

A

to cut

tom/o/graphy: process of recording cuts

103
Q

viscer/o

A

internal organs

viscer/al: pertaining to internal organs

104
Q
  • ar

- ic

A

pertaining to

lumb/ar: pertaining to the low back.
gastr/ic: pertaining to the stomach.

105
Q

-graphy

A

process of recording

son/o/graphy: process of recording sound.

106
Q

infra-

A

below, under

infra/cost/al: pertaining to beneath the ribs

107
Q

peri-

A

around

peri/umbilic/al: pertaining to around the navel.

108
Q

super-

A

upper, above

super/ior: pertaining to above

109
Q

ultra-

A

excess, beyond

ultra/son/ic: pertaining to excess sound.

110
Q

Homeostasis

A

The body’s maintenance of a stable internal environment.

111
Q

Disease

A

A pathological or morbid condition that occurs when homeostasis is disrupted and cells, tissues, organs, or systems are unable to function effectively. Presents a group of signs, symptoms, or clinical findings.

112
Q

Signs

A

Objective indicators of disease that are observable.

113
Q

Symptoms (Sx)

A

Subjective indicator of disease; only the patient can experience them.

114
Q

Clinical Findings

A

Results of radiological, laboratory, and other medical procedures performed on the patient, or the patient’s specimens.

115
Q

Diagnosis (Dx)

A

The cause and nature of the disease.

116
Q

Treatment (Tx)

A

Plan to eradicate a disease.

117
Q

Prognosis

A

Prediction of the course of a disease and its probable outcome.

118
Q

Idiopathic Disease

A

One whose cause is unknown or exists without any connection to a known cause.

119
Q

5 Categories of Procedures

A

1) Clinical
2) Surgical
3) Endoscopic
4) Laboratory
5) Injury

120
Q

Adhesion

A

Abnormal fibrous band that holds or binds together tissues that are normally separated. May occur within the body cavities as a result of surgery

121
Q

Edema

A

Abnormal accumulation of fluid within tissue space as a result of systemic disease or failure of the lymphatic system to drain tissue fluid from the site. There’s edema and pitting edema.

122
Q

Febrile

A

Having or showing symptoms of fever.

123
Q

Gangrene

A

Death and decay of soft tissue, usually caused by circulatory obstruction or infection. High risk of getting this in the extremities is associated with DM and atherosclerosis as a result of poor circulation.

124
Q

Hernia

A

Protrusion of any organ through the structure that normally contains it.

125
Q

Inflammation

A

Body defense against injury, infection, or allergy marked by redness, swelling, heat, and pain, sometimes with loss of function. Protects against invasion from foreign organisms and repairs injured tissue.

126
Q

Mycosis

A

Any fungal infection in or on the body.

127
Q

Perforation

A

Hole that completely penetrates a structure.

128
Q

Peritonitis

A

Inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that surround the abdominal cavity and covers its organs, usually caused by bacteria or fungi.

129
Q

Rupture

A

Sudden breaking/bursting of a structure or organ.

130
Q

Septicemia

A

Severe bacterial infection of the tissues that spreads to the blood; also called sepsis or blood poisoning. In septicemia, bacteria and their endotoxins cause severe systemic symptoms.

131
Q

Suppuration

A

Process of forming pus. Occurs when the agent that provoked the inflammation is difficult to eliminate.

132
Q

Assessment Techniques

A

Sequence of procedures designed to evaluate the health status of the patient.

133
Q

Ausculation

A

Listening to the heart, bowels, and lungs with or without a stethoscope to assess the presence and quality of sounds.

134
Q

Inspection

A

General observation of the patient as a whole, progressing to specific body part areas.

135
Q

Palpation

A

Gentle application of the hands to a specific structure or body part to determine size, texture, consistency, symmetry, and tenderness of the underlying structures.

136
Q

Percussion

A

Tapping a body structure with the hand or fingers to assess consistency and the presence, or absence, of fluids within the underlying structure. Helpful in assessing the thorax or abdomen.

137
Q

Endoscopy

A

Visual examination of a body cavity or canal using a specialized lighted instrument called an endoscope. The endoscope is usually named for the organ/cavity it examines.

138
Q

Blood Chemistry Analysis

A

Laboratory test, usually performed on serum, to determine biochemical imbalances, abnormalities, and nutritional conditions.

139
Q

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

A

Broad screening test to evaluated RBCs, WBCs, and platelets to determine anemias, infections, and other diseases. Part of routine physical exams to determine general health status.

140
Q

Computed Tomography (CT)

A

Rotates an x-ray emitter around the area to be evaluated and measures the intensity of transmitted rays from different angles. Generates a cross-sectional image that appears as a slice. May be used with or without contrast, and can detect tumor masses, bone displacement, and fluid accumulation.

141
Q

Fluoroscopy

A

X-rays are directed through the body to a fluorescent screen that displays internal structures in a continuous motion. Helps view the motion of organs and the movement of contrast dye through a cardiac catheterization, angiography, or upper GI series (barium swallow), and to aid in the placement of catheters or other devices.

142
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A

Uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce highly-detailed, multi-planar, cross-sectional views of soft tissues. Provides superior soft tissue contrast compared to a CT scan, and usually doesn’t require a contrast medium.

143
Q

Nuclear Scan

A

Radioactive material (radiopharmaceutical) called a tracer is introduced to the body (inhaled, ingested, or injected), and a specialized camera (gamma camera) produces images of organs or structures. Reverse of a conventional radiograph.

144
Q

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A

CT records the positrons (positively charged particles) emitted from a radiopharmaceutical to produce a cross-sectional image of metabolic activity of body tissues to determine the presence of disease. Useful in scanning the brain/nervous system to diagnose disorders that involve abnormal tissue metabolism. (Schizophrenia, brain tumors, stroke, pulmonary disorders, etc.)

145
Q

Radiography (X-ray)

A

Technique in which x-rays are passed through the body and captured on film to generate an image. Radiography of soft tissues requires a contrast medium to enhance the image; i.e., barium and iodine.

146
Q

Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)

A

Integrates CT and radioactive material (tracer) injected into the bloodstream to visualize blood flow to tissues and organs. Different from a PET scan because the tracer stays in the bloodstream rather than getting absorbed by surrounding tissue.

147
Q

Ultrasonography (US)

A

High-frequency sound waves are directed at soft-tissue and are reflected as “echos” to produce and image on a monitor of an internal body structure. Creates real-time, moving images. Because it doesn’t use x-rays, this is often used to observe fetal growth and to study internal organs for possible pathologies and lesions.

148
Q

Biopsy (Bx)

Excisional

Incisional

A

Removal of a representative tissue sample from a body site for microscopic examination, usually to establish a diagnosis.

Excisional: entire lesion is removed.

Incisional: Only a small sample of the lesion is removed.

149
Q

Ablation

A

Removal of a body part, pathway, or function by surgery, chemical destruction, electrocautery, freezing, or radiofrequency (RF). Common in treating a-fib, varicose veins, and destroying abnormal tissues found in various organs.

150
Q

Anastomosis

A

Surgical joining of 2 ducts, vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to the other. There’s end-to-end, end-to-side, and side-to-side.

151
Q

Curettage

A

Scraping of a body cavity with a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette.

152
Q

Electrocauterizaion

A

Use of an electrically activated instrument to burn and destroy diseased tissue. Common for removing tumors warts, and for treating chronic nosebleeds.

153
Q

Incision & Drainage (I&D)

A

Incision made to allow the free flow of fluids and pus from a wound, abscess, or body cavity.

154
Q

Laser Surgery

A

Use of a high-intensity laser light beam to remove diseased tissues, to stop bleeding, or for cosmetic purposes. Used in a vide variety of noninvasive or minimally invasive procedures.

155
Q

Revision

A

Surgical procedure used to replace or compensate for a previously implanted device, or to correct and undesirable result or effect of a previous surgery.

156
Q

AP

A

anteroposterior

157
Q

Bx, bx

158
Q

CBC

A

complete blood count

159
Q

CT

A

computed tomography

160
Q

DNA

A

deoxyribonucleic acid

161
Q

Dx

162
Q

I&D

A

incision and drainage

163
Q

LAT, lat

164
Q

LLQ

A

left lower quadrant

165
Q

LUQ

A

left upper quadrant

166
Q

MRI

A

magnetic resonance imaging

167
Q

PET

A

photon emission tomography

168
Q

RF

A

rheumatoid factor; radiofrequency

169
Q

RLQ

A

right lower quadrant

170
Q

RUQ

A

right upper quadrant

171
Q

SPECT

A

single-photon emission computed tomography

172
Q

Sx

173
Q

Tx

174
Q

U&L, U/L

A

upper and lower

175
Q

US

A

ultrasound, ultrasonography

Medical Terminology (15 decks)

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