Chapter 7: Medical Terminology Flashcards
Abduction
Movement of a limb away from the midline.
Adduction
Movement of a limb toward the midline.
Anatomic Position
The position of reference, in which the patient stands facing you, arms at the side, with the palms of the hands facing forward.
Anterior
The front surface of the body; the side facing you in the anatomic position.
Anteroposterior Axis
The axis that runs perpendicular to the coronal plane.
Antonyms
Pairs of word roots, prefixes, or suffixes that have opposite meanings.
Apex
The pointed extremity of a conical structure.
Bilateral
In anatomy, a body part or condition that appears on both sides of the midline.
Combining Form
A word root followed by a vowel.
Combining Vowel
The vowel used to combine two-word roots or a word root and a prefix or suffix.
Compound Word
A word containing more than one-word root.
Contralateral
On the opposite side of the body.
Coronal Plane
An imaginary plane in which the body is cut into front and back portions.
Cross Section
The product of slicing an object cross-wise, perpendicular to its long axis.
Deep
Farther inside the body and away from the skin.
Distal
Farther from the trunk and nearer to the free end of the extremity.
Dorsal
The posterior surface of the body, including the back of the hand.
Eponym
The name of a disease, device, procedure, or drug that is based on the person who invented, discovered, or first described it.
Extension
The straightening of a joint.
External Rotation
Rotating an extremity at its joint away from the midline.
Flexion
The bending of the joint.
Fowler Position
A sitting position, with the head elevated at a 90 degree angle (sitting straight upright).
Homonyms
Words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings.
Horizontal Axis
The axis that runs perpendicular to the sagittal plane; also called the mediolateral axis.
Hyperextension
Maximum extension or extension beyond the normal range of motion.
Hyperflexion
Maximum flexion or flexion beyond the normal range of motion.
Inferior
Below or closer to the feet.
Internal Rotation
Rotating the anterior surface of an extremity toward the midline.
Ipsilateral
On the same of the body.
Lateral
In anatomy, parts of the body that lie farther from the midline.
Longitudinal Axis
The axis that runs perpendicular to the transverse plane.
Longitudinal Section
The view of an object cut along its long axis.
Medial
Closer to the midline.
Midsagittal Plane (Midline)
An imaginary vertical line drawn from the middle of the forehead through the nose and umbilicus (navel) to the floor.
Palmar
The forward-facing part of the hand in the anatomic position.
Plantar
The sole or bottom surface of the foot.
Posterior
In anatomy, the back surface of the body; the side away from you in the standard anatomic position.
Prefix
Part of a term that appears before a word root, changing the meaning of the term.
Pronation
Turning the palms downward (toward the ground).
Prone
Lying flat, face down.
Proximal
Closer to the trunk.
Quadrants
The four sections of the abd cavity shown by two imaginary lines intersecting at the umbilicus, dividing the abd into four equal areas.
Range of Motion
The full distance that a joint can be moved.
Sagittal (Lateral) Plane
A plane of the body that passes vertically from front to back, dividing the body into left and right portions.
Suffix
The part of a term that comes after the word root, and the end of the term.
Superficial
Closer to or on the surface of the skin.
Superior
Above or closer to the head.
Supination
Turning the palms upward (toward the sky).
Synonyms
Pairs of word roots, prefixes, or suffixes that have the same or almost the same meaning.
Topographic Anatomy
Superficial landmarks of the body that serve as guides to the structures that lie beneath them.
Transverse (Axial) Plane
An imaginary plan passing horizontally through the body at the waist, dividing it into top and bottom halves.
Unilateral
Occurring or appearing on only one side of the body.
Ventral
The anterior surface of the body.
Word Roots
The foundation of a word; establishes the basic meaning of a word.
