Chapter 5 Medical Terminology Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards
root
foundation of a word that is not a word that can stand on its own
compound
a word formed from two or more whole words
combining form
a word root with an added vowel that can be joined with other words, roots or suffixes to form a new word
prefix
word part added to the begining of a root or word to modify or qualify its meaning
suffix
word part added to the end of a root or word to complete its meaning
anatomy
the study of body structure
physiology
the study of body function
anatomical position
the standard reference position for the body in the study of anatomy. In this position, the body is standing erect, facing the observer, with arms down at the sides and the palms of hands foward.
plane
a flat surface formed when slicing through a solid object.
midline
an imaginary line drawn down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left halves.
medial
toward the midline of the body
lateral
to the side, away from the midline of the body
bilateral
on both sides
mid-axillary line
a line drown vertically from the middle of the armpit to the ankle.
anterior
the front of the body or body part
posterior
the back of the body or body part.
ventral
referring to the front of the body. A synonym for anterior.
dorsal
referring to the back of the body or the back of the hand or foot. A synonym for posterior.
superior
toward the head (e.g., the chest is superior to the abdomen)
inferior
away from the head; usually compared with another structure that is closer to the head (e.g., the lips are inferior to the nose)
proximal
closer to the torso
distal
farther away from the torso.
palmar
referring to the palm of the hand.
plantar
referring to the sole of the foot.
mid-clavicular line
the line through the center of each clavicle.
abdominal quadrants
four divisions of the abdomen used to pinpoint the location of a pain or injury: the right upper quadrant (RUQ), the left upper quadrant (LUP), the right lower quadrant (RLQ), and the left lower quadrant (LLQ).
supine
lying on the back
prone
lying face down.
recovery position
lying on the side. Also called the lateral recumbent position.
Fowler position
a sitting position.
Trendelenburg position
a position in which the patient’s feet and legs are higher than the head.
musculoskeletal
the system of bones and skeletal muscles that support and protect the body and permit movement.
skeleton
the bones of the body.
muscle
tissue that can contract to allow movement of a body part.
ligament
tissue that connects bone to bone
tendon
tissue that connects muscle to bone.
skull
the bony structure of the head.
cranium
the top, back, and sides of the skull.
mandible
the lower jaw bone.
maxillae
the two fused bones forming the upper jaw.
nasal bones
the nose bones.
orbits
the bony structures around the eyes.
zygomatic arches
bones that form the structure of the cheeks.
vertebrae
the 33 bones of the spinal column.
thorax
the chest.
sternum
the breastbone.
manubrium
the superior portion of the sternum.
xiphoid process
the inferior portion of the sternum.
pelvis
the basin-shaped bony structure that supports the spine and is the point of proximal attachment for the lower extremities.
ilium
the superior and widest portion of the pelvis.
ischium
the lower, posterior portions of the pelvis.
pubis
the medial anterior portion of the pelvis.
acetabulum
the pelvic socket into which the ball of the proximal end of the femur fits to form the hip joint.
femur
the large bone of the thigh.
patella
the kneecap.
tibia
the medial and larger bone of the lower leg.
fibula
the lateral and smaller bone of the lower leg.
malleolus
protrusion on the side of the ankle. The lateral malleolus, at the lower end of the fibula, is seen on the outer ankle; the medial malleolus, at the lower end of the tibia, is seen on the inner ankle.
tarsals
the ankle bones.
metatarsals
the foot bones.
calcaneus
the heel bone.
phalanges
the toe bones.
clavicle
the collar bone.
scapula
the shoulder blade.
acromion
the highest portion of the shoulder.
acromioclavicular joint
the joint where the acromion and the clavicle meet.
humerus
the bone of the upper arm, between the shoulder and the elbow.
radius
the lateral bone of the forearm.
ulna
the medial bone of the forearm.
carpals
the wrist bones.
metacarpals
the hand bones.
joint
the point where two bones come together.
voluntary muscle
muscle that can be consciously controlled.
involuntary muscle
muscle that responds automatically to brain signals but cannot be consciously controlled.
cardiac muscle
specialized involuntary muscle found only in the heart.
automaticity
the ability of the heart to generate and conduct electrical impulses on its own.
respiratory system
the system of the nose, mouth, throat, lungs, and muscles that brings oxygen into the body and expels carbon dioxide.
oropharynx
the area directly posterior to the mouth.
nasophrynx
the area directly posterior to the nose.
pharynx
the area directly posterior to the mouth and nose. It is made of of the oropharynx and the nasopharynx.
epiglottis
a leaf-shaped structure that prevents food and foreign matter from entering the trachea.
larynx
the voice box.
cricoid
the ring-shaped structure that forms the lower portion of the larynx.
trachea
the “windpipe”; the structure that connects the pharynx to the lungs.
lungs
the organs where exchange of atmospheric oxygen and waste carbon dioxide take place.
bronchi
the two large sets of branches that come off the trachea and enter the lungs. There are right and left bronchi. Singular bronchus.
alveoli
the microscopic sacs of the lungs where gas exchange with the bloodstream takes place.
diaphragm
the muscular structure that divides the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. A major muscle of respiration.
inhalation
an active process in which the intercostal (rib) muscles and the diaphragm contract, expanding the size of the chest cavity and causing air to flow into the lungs.
exhalation
a passive process in which the intercostal (rib) muscles and the diaphragm relax, causing the chest cavity to decrease in size and air to flow out of the lungs.
ventilation
the process of moving gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between inhaled air and the pulmonary circulation of blood.
respiration
the process of moving oxygen and carbon dioxide between circulating blood and the cells.
cardiovascular system
the system made up of the heart (cardio) and the blood vessels (vascular); the circulatory system
atria
the two upper chambers of the heart. There is a right atrium(which receives unoxygenated blood returning from the body) and the left atrium (which receives oxygenated blood returning from the lungs).
ventricles
the two lower chambers of the heart. There is a right ventricle (which sends oxygen-poor blood to the lungs) and a left ventricle (which sends oxygen-rich blood to the body).
venae cavae
the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. These two major veins return blood from the body to the right atrium. (Venae cavae is plural, vena cava singular).
valve
a structure that opens and closes to permit the flow of a fluid in only one direction.
cardiac conduction system
a system of specialized muscle tissues that conducts electrical impulses that stimulate the heart to beat.
artery
any blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart.
coronary arteries
blood vessels that supply the muscle of the heart (myocardium)
aorta
the largest artery in the body. It transports blood from the left ventricle to begin systemic circulation.
pulmonary arteries
the vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs.
carotid arteries
the large neck arteries, on on each side of the neck, that carry blood from the heart to the head.
femoral artery
the major artery supplying the leg.
brachial artery
artery of the upper arm; the site of the pulse checked during infant CPR.
radial artery
artery of the lower arm. it is felt when taking the pulse at the wrist.
posterior tibial artery
artery supplying the foot, lateral to the large tendon of the big toe.
arteriole
the smallest kind of artery.
capillary
a thin-walled, microscopic blood vessel where the oxygen/carbon dioxide and nutrient/waste exchange with the body’s cells takes place.
venule
the smallest kind of vein.
vein
any blood vessel returning blood to the heart.
pulmonary veins
the vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.
plasma
the fluid portion of the blood.
red blood cells
components of the blood. They carry oxygen to, and carbon dioxide away from, the cells.
white blood cells
components of the blood. They produce substances that help the body fight infection.
platelets
components of the blood; membrane-enclosed fragments of specialized cells.
pulse
the rhythmic beats caused as waves of blood move through and expand the arteries.
peripheral pulses
the radial, brachial, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis pulses, which can be felt at the peripheral (outlying) pints of the body
central pulses
the carotid and femoral pulses, which can be felt in the central part of the body.
blood pressure
the pressure caused by blood exerting force against the walls of blood vessels. Usually arterial blood pressure (the pressure in an artery) is measured. There are two parts: diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure.
systolic blood pressure
the pressure created in the arteries when the left ventricle contracts and forces blood out into circulation.
diastolic blood pressure
the pressure in the arteries when the left ventricle is refilling.
perfusion
the supply of oxygen to, and removal of wastes from, the cells and tissues of the body as a result of the flow of blood through the capillaries.
nervous system
the system of brain, spinal cord, and nerves that govern sensation, movement, and thought.
central nervous system (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord.
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
the nerves that enter and leave the spinal cord and travel between the brain and organs without passing through the spinal cord.
autonomic nervous system
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary motor functions.
digestive system
system by which food travels through the body and is digested, or broken down into absorbable forms.
stomach
muscular sac between the esophagus and the small intestine where digestion of food begins.
small intestine
the muscular tube between the stomach and the large intestine, divided into the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum, which receives partially digested food from the stomach and continues digestion. Nutrients are absorbed by the body through its walls.
large intestine
the muscular tube that removes water from waste products received from the small intestine and moves anything not absorbed by the body toward excretion from the body.
liver
the largest organ of the body, which produces bile to assist in breakdown of fats and assists in the metabolism of various substances in the body.
gallbladder
a sac on the underside of the liver that stores bile produced by the liver.
pancreas
a gland located behind the stomach that produces insulin and juices that assist in digestion of food in the duodenum of the small intestine.
spleen
an organ located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen that acts as a blood filtration system and a reservoir for reserves of blood.
appendix
a small tube located near the junction of the small and large intestines in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen, the function of which is not well understood. Its inflammation called appendicitis, is a common cause of abdominal pain.
skin
the layer of tissue between the body and the external environment
epidermis
the outer layer of skin
dermis
the inner (second) layer of skin, rich in blood vessels and nerves, found beneath the epidermis.
subcutaneous layers
the layers of fat and soft tissues found below the dermis.
endocrine system
system of glands that produce chemicals called hormones that help to regulate many body activities and functions.
insulin
a hormone produced by the pancreas or taken as a medication by many diabetics.
epiephrine
a hormone produced by the body. As a medication, it dilates respiratory passages and is used to relieve severe allergic reactions.
renal system
the body system that regulates fluid balance and the filtration of blood. Also called the urinary system.
kidneys
organs of the renal system used to filter blood and regulate fluid levels in the body.
bladder
the round sac-like organ of the renal system used as a reservoir for urine.
ureters
the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder.
urethra
tube connecting the bladder to the vagina or penis for excretion of urine.
reproductive system
the body system that is responsible for human reproduction.
testes
the male organ of reproduction used for the production of sperm.
penis
the organ of male reproduction responsible for sexual intercourse and the transfer of sperm.
ovaries
egg-producing organs within the female reproductive system.
uterus
female organ of reproduction used to house the developing fetus.
vagina
the female organ of reproduction used for both sexual intercourse and as an exit from the uterus for the fetus.
