Glossary Flashcards
abdomen (AB-doh-men)
body area between the diaphragm and pelvis
abdominal (ab-DOM-ih-nal)
relating to the abdomen
abdominal cavity (ab-DOM-ih-nal KAV-ih-tee)
the cavity containing the abdominal organs
abdominal muscles (ab-DOM-ih-nal MUS-els)
muscles support-ing the anterior aspect of the abdomen
abdominal quadrants (ab-DOM-ih-nal KWOD-rants)
four topographic subdivisions of the abdomen determined by two imagi-nary lines dividing the body through the navel—one vertical, one horizontal; health professionals use these designations to help locate specific internal organs
abdominal regions (ab-DOM-ih-nal REE-juns)
nine topographic subdivisions of the abdomen determined by four imaginary lines configured in a tic-tac-toe pattern; anatomists use these named regions to identify the location of internal organs
abdominal thrust (ab-DOM-ih-nal thrust)
emergency procedure in which sudden pressure on the abdomen of a person who is chok-ing may dislodge material from the airway; formerly called the Heimlich maneuver
abdominopelvic cavity (ab-DOM-ih-noh-PEL-vik KAV-ih-tee)
the single cavity containing the abdominal and pelvic organs
abdominopelvic quadrant (ab-DOM-ih-noh-PEL-vik KWOD-rant)
any of four regions formed by dividing the abdominopelvic cavity by an imaginary cross formed by a vertical and horizontal line
abdominopelvic region (ab-DOM-ih-noh-PEL-vik REE-jun)
surface area of the body related to the abdominopelvic cavity
abduct (ab-DUKT)
to move away from the midline of the body (or region)
abduction (ab-DUK-shun)
moving away from the midline of the body (or region); opposite motion of adduction
ablation (ab-LAY-shun)
destruction or cutting; for example, the intentional destruction of atrial muscle tissue to treat atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter
ABO system (ay bee oh SIS-tem)
human blood classification system based on RBC antigens (A, B, AB, and O) and their correspond-ing antibodies
abruptio placentae (ab-RUP-shee-oh plah-SEN-tay)
separation of a typically positioned placenta from the uterine wall; may result in hemorrhage and death of the fetus and/or birth mother
absorption (ab-SORP-shun)
passage of a substance through a membrane, such as skin or mucosa, into blood
accessory organ (ak-SES-oh-ree OR-gun)
an organ that assists other organs in accomplishing their functions
acetabulum (as-eh-TAB-yoo-lum)
** socket** in the hip bone (ox coxae or innominate bone) into which the head of the femur fits
acetyl CoA (ah-SEET-il koh ay)
a molecule important in the me-tabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins; converted into CO2 and H2O while forming ATP and releasing hydrogen ions and their electrons
acetylcholine (ACh) (as-ee-til-KOH-leen)
) chemical neurotransmitter acid (AS-id) any substance that, when dissolved in water, contributes to an excess of H1 ions (that is, a low pH)
acid-base balance (AS-id bays BAL-ans)
maintaining the concen-tration of hydrogen ions in body fluids
acidic (ah-SID-ik)
having the nature of an acid (a pH lower than 7.0)
acidosis (as-ih-DOH-sis)
condition in which there is an excessive amount of acid in the blood and thus an unusually low blood pH; opposite of alkalosis
acne (AK-nee)
a bacterial infection of the skin characterized by red pustules formed when hair follicles become infected
acne vulgaris (AK-nee vul-GAR-is)
inflammatory skin condition affecting sebaceous gland ducts; see comedones
acquired immunity (ah-KWYERD ih-MYOO-nih-tee)
) immunity that is obtained after birth through the use of injections or expo-sure to a harmful agent
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (ah-KWYERD IM-yoo-noh-deh-FISH-en-see SIN-drohm [aydz])
disease in which the human immunodeficiency virus attacks T cells, thereby compromising the body’s immune system
cromegaly (ak-roh-MEG-ah-lee)
condition caused by hypersecre-tion of growth hormone after puberty, resulting in enlargement of facial features (e.g., jaw, nose), fingers, and toes
acrosome (AK-roh-sohm)
specialized structure covering the sperm head containing enzymes that break down the covering of the ovum to allow entry
actin (AK-tin)
contractile protein found in the thin myofilaments of skeletal muscle
action potential (AK-shun poh-TEN-shal)
nerve impulse
active transport (AK-tiv TRANS-port)
movement of a substance into and out of a living cell requiring the use of cellular energy
acute (ah-KYOOT)
intense; rapid onset, short in duration—as in acute disease
acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) (ah-KYOOT LIM-foh-sit-ik loo-KEE-mee-ah)
type of acute (rapid onset and progression) blood cancer common in children 3 to 7 years of age; character-ized by cancerous transformation and increased numbers of B lymphocytes
acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (ah-KYOOT MY-eh-loyd loo-KEE-me-ah) type of acute (rapid onset and progression)
blood cancer most common in adults; characterized by cancerous transformation and increased numbers of myeloid precursor cells
adaptation (ad-ap-TAY-shun)
condition of many sensory receptors in which the magnitude of a receptor potential decreases over a period of time in response to a continuous stimulus
adaptive immunity (ah-DAP-tiv ih-MYOO-nih-tee)
a system of immunity with memory of a specific antigen and the ability to respond to that antigen, in contrast to the nonspecific nature of innate immunity; another name for specific immunity
Addison disease (AD) (AD-ih-son dih-ZEEZ)
disease of the adre-nal gland resulting in low blood glucose, weight loss, weakness, increase in blood sodium, and decrease in blood potassium
adduct (ad-DUKT)
to move toward the midline of the body (or region)
adduction (ad-DUK-shun)
moving toward the midline of the body (or region); opposite motion of abduction
adductor muscle (ad-DUK-tor MUS-el)
any of several muscles that adduct a joint, moving a body part in from the side (lateral) and thus toward the midline (median or midsagittal plane) of the body or of the body region; for example, the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles contract together to pull the arm toward the trunk, thus adducting the shoulder joint
adenine (ADD-eh-een)
one of several nitrogen-containing bases that make up nucleotides, which in turn make up nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA; in the cell, it can chemically bind to another nitrogenous base, thymine (T or t) or uracil (U or u), to form a more complex structure or in translating genetic codes; symbolized by the letter A or a; see also guanine, cytosine, thymine, uracil
adenocarcinoma (ad-eh-noh-kar-sih-NOH-mah)
cancer of glandular epithelium
adenofibromas (ad-eh-noh-fye-BROH-mahs)
benign neoplasms formed in epithelial and connective tissues
adenohypophysis (ad-eh-noh-hye-POF-ih-sis)
anterior pituitary gland, which has the structure of an endocrine gland
adenoid (AD-eh-noyd)
literally, glandlike; adenoids, or pharyngeal tonsils, are paired lymphoid structures in the nasopharynx; see also tonsil
adenoma (ad-eh-NOH-mah)
benign tumor of glandular epithelium
adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency (ah-DEN-oh-seen dee-AM-ih-nayse dee-FISH-en-see)
rare, inherited condition in which production of the enzyme adenosine deaminase is defi-cient, resulting in severe combined immune deficiency (SCID); first human condition treated by gene therapy
adenosine diphosphate (ADP) (ah-DEN-oh-seen dye-FAHS-fayt)
molecule similar to adenosine triphosphate but containing only two phosphate groups
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (ah-DEN-oh-seen try-FAHS-fayt)
chemical compound that provides energy for use by body cells
adipose (AD-ih-pohs)
fat tissue; specialized tissue that stores lipids
adiposity (ad-ih-PAHS-ih-tee)
alternate name for overweight and obesity, an excess amount of fat (adipose tissue) in the body
adiposity-based chronic disease (ABCD) (ad-ih-PAHS-ih-tee baysd KRON-ik dih-ZEEZ)
alternate diagnostic name for over-weight and obesity, meant to emphasize their complex nature as a chronic condition that burdens the homeostatic/allostatic mechanisms of the body
adolescence (ad-oh-LES-ens)
period of life between puberty and adulthood
adrenal cortex (ah-DREE-nal KOR-teks)
outer portion of adrenal gland that secretes hormones called corticoids
adrenal gland (ah-DREE-nal gland)
gland that rests on the top of the kidneys, made up of the cortex and medulla
adrenal medulla (ah-DREE-nal meh-DUL-ah)
inner portion of adrenal gland that secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine
adrenergic fiber (ad-ren-ER-jik FYE-ber)
any of the axons whose terminals release norepinephrine and epinephrine
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (ah-dree-noh-kor-teh-koh-TROH-pic HOR-mohn)
hormone that stimulates the adre-nal cortex to secrete larger amounts of hormones
adult polycystic kidney disease (ah-DULT pah-lee-sis-tic KID-nee dih-ZEEZ)
hereditary condition characterized by development of multiple cystic spaces in one or both kidneys that often fill with clear fluid or blood
adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (ah-DULT RES-pih-rah-tor-ee dis-TRES sin-drohm)
relative inability to inflate alveoli easily; caused by impairment or removal of surfactant fol-lowing accidental inhalation of destructive substances
adulthood (ah-DULT-hood)
period of life after adolescence
aerobic (air-OH-bik)
requiring oxygen
aerobic training (air-OH-bik TRAYN-ing)
continuous vigorous ex-ercise requiring the body to increase its consumption of oxygen and develop the muscles’ ability to sustain activity over a long period
ferent (AF-fer-ent)
carrying or conveying toward the center (e.g., an afferent neuron carries nerve impulses toward the central ner-vous system); opposite of efferent
ferent lymphatic vessel (AF-fer-ent lim-FAT-ik VES-el)
any small lymphatic vessel that carries lymphatic fluid toward a lymph node; compare to efferent lymphatic vessel
afferent neuron (AF-fer-ent NOO-ron)
neuron that conducts im-pulses toward the central nervous system; generally a sensory neuron
age (ayj)
how old an organism is, usually measured from time of birth, hatching, or formation as an independent organism
age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (ayj ree-LAY-ted MAK-yoo-lar dih-jen-uh-RAY-shun)
progressive deterioration of macula lutea of retina causing loss of central visual field
agglutinate (ah-GLOO-tin-ayt)
antibodies causing antigens to clump or stick together
aging process (AYJ-ing PRAH-ses)
the gradual degenerative changes that occur after young adulthood as a person ages
agranular leukocyte (ah-GRAN-yoo-lar LOO-koh-syte)
class of white blood cell (leukocyte) that does not exhibit granules when stained; includes monocytes and lymphocytes; also called non-granular leukocyte or agranulocyte
agricultural scientist (ag-rih-KUL-cher-al SYE-en-tist)
scientist who studies the growing of crops
AIDS-related complex (ARC) (AYDS ree-LAY-ted KOM-pleks)
early manifestation of AIDS that produces fever, weight loss, and swollen lymph nodes in those whose immune systems are less deficient than those with full-blown AIDS
albinism (AL-bih-niz-em)
recessive, inherited condition character-ized by a lack of the dark brown pigment melanin in the skin and eyes, resulting in vision problems and susceptibility to sunburn and skin cancer; ocular albinism is a lack of pigment in the layers of the eyeball
albumin (al-BYOO-min)
one of several types of proteins typically found in blood plasma; it helps thicken the blood; most abundant protein in blood; major contributor to blood osmotic pressure
aldosterone (AL-doh-steh-rohn or al-DAH-staiyr-ohn)
hormone that stimulates the kidney to retain sodium ions and water
alimentary canal (al-eh-MEN-tar-ee kah-NAL)
principal tubelike structure of the digestive system extending from mouth to anus—sometimes called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
lkaline (AL-kah-lin)
base; any substance that, when dissolved in water, contributes to an excess of OH2 ions (thus creating a high pH value)
alkaline phosphatase (AL-kah-lin FOS-fah-tays)
enzyme present in blood plasma in high concentration during certain liver and malignant bone marrow conditions
alkalosis (al-kah-LOH-sis)
condition in which there is an excessive proportion of alkali (base) in the blood; opposite of acidosis
allele (uh-LEEL)
a variation or “another form” of a gene
allergen (AL-er-jen)
harmless environmental antigen that stimu-lates an allergic reaction (hypersensitivity reaction) in a suscepti-ble, sensitized person
allergy (AL-er-jee)
hypersensitivity of the immune system to rela-tively harmless environmental antigens
all or none (all or nun)
principle that a process will occur at its maxi-mum or not at all, once it begins
allied health professions (AL-ayed helth proh-FESH-unz)
fields of health-care work such as therapists, medical assistants, techni-cians, and others, who are not physicians or nurses
alloimmunity (al-oh-ih-MYOO-nih-tee)
excessive reaction of the immune system to antigens from a different individual of the same species; sometimes called isoimmunity
alopecia (al-oh-PEE-sha)
clinical term referring to hair loss
alpha cell (AL-fah sel)
pancreatic cell that secretes glucagon
alveolar duct (al-VEE-oh-lar dukt)
airway that branches from the smallest bronchioles; alveolar sacs arise from alveolar ducts
alveolar sac (al-VEE-oh-lar sak)
sacs in the lungs that arise from the alveolar ducts and resemble a cluster of grapes
lveolus (al-VEE-oh-lus) (pl., alveoli [al-VEE-oh-lye])
literally, a small cavity; alveoli of lungs are microscopic saclike dilations of terminal bronchioles
Alzheimer disease (AD) (AHLZ-hye-mer dih-ZEEZ)
brain con-dition of the middle and late adult years characterized by loss of memory and dementia
ameba (ah-MEE-bah) (pl., amebas or amebae)
protozoan of chang-ing shape capable of causing infection
amenorrhea (ah-men-oh-REE-ah)
absence of healthy menstruation
amine (AH-meen)
category of signaling molecule that includes norepinephrine (NE), dopamine, and serotonin
amino acid (ah-MEE-no AS-id)
structural units from which pro-teins are built
amniocentesis (AM-nee-oh-sen-TEE-sis)
procedure in which a sample of amniotic fluid is removed with a syringe for use in genetic testing, perhaps to produce a karyotype of the fetus; com-pare with chorionic villus sampling
amniotic cavity (am-nee-OT-ik KAV-ih-tee)
cavity within the blastocyst that will become a fluid-filled sac in which the embryo will float during development
amphiarthrosis (am-fee-ar-THROH-sis)
slightly movable joint such as the one joining the two pubic bones
amylase (AM-eh-lays)
enzyme that
digests carbohydrates; see
salivary amylase
anabolic steroid (an-ah-BOL-ik STAIR-oyd)
a lipid molecule of the steroid variety that acts as a hormone to stimulate anabolism (specifically protein synthesis) in body tissues such as muscle (e.g., testosterone)
nabolism (ah-NAB-oh-liz-em)
process in which cells make com-plex molecules (e.g., hormones) from simpler compounds (e.g., amino acids); opposite of catabolism
anaerobic (an-air-OH-bik)
requiring no oxygen
anal canal (AY-nal kah-NAL)
terminal portion of the rectum
anaphase (AN-ah-fayz)
stage of mitosis; duplicate chromosomes move to poles of dividing cell
naphylactic shock (an-ah-fih-LAK-tik shok)
circulatory failure (shock) caused by a type of severe allergic reaction characterized by blood vessel dilation; may be fatal
anaplasia (an-ah-PLAY-zhee-ah)
growth of atypical (undifferentiated) cells, as in a tumor or neoplasm
anatomical position (an-ah-TOM-ih-kal poh-ZISH-un)
the standard neutral reference position for the body used to describe sites or motions of various body parts; gives meaning to directional terms
anatomist (ah-NAT-oh-mist)
professional engaged in the study of the structure of an organism and the relationships of its parts
anatomy (ah-NAT-oh-mee)
the study of the structure of an organ-ism and the relationships of its parts
androgen (AN-droh-jen)
term meaning “male sex hormone”; for example, testosterone
andropause (AN-droh-pawz)
cessation of fertility in older adult typical males; not well-defined in humans
anemia (ah-NEE-mee-ah)
deficient number of red blood cells or deficient hemoglobin
anesthesia (an-es-THEE-zhah)
loss of sensation
aneurysm (AN-yoo-riz-em)
atypical widening of the arterial wall; an-eurysms promote the formation of thrombi and also tend to burst
angina pectoris (an-JYE-nah PEK-tor-is)
severe chest pain result-ing when the myocardium is deprived of sufficient oxygen
angiogram (AN-jee-oh-gram)
medical image of vessels produced by angiography
ngiography (an-jee-AH-graf-ee)
radiography in which radiopaque contrast medium is injected into a vessel to make it more visible in a medical image (angiogram); in arteries, the image is called an arteriogram; in veins, a venogram or phlebogram; in lymphatic ves-sels, a lymphangiogram
angioplasty (AN-jee-oh-plas-tee)
medical procedure in which ves-sels occluded by arteriosclerosis are opened (i.e., the channel for blood flow is widened)
Angstrom (ANG-strum) 0.1 mm (1/10,000,000,000 of a meter or about 1/250,000,000 of an inch); abbreviated Å
anion (AN-aye-on)
negatively charged particle; a negative ion
anorexia (an-oh-REK-see-ah)
loss of appetite (a symptom, rather than a distinct condition)
anorexia nervosa (an-oh-REK-see-ah ner-VOH-sah)
behavioral eating condition characterized by chronic refusal to eat, often related to an unusual fear of becoming obese
antagonist (an-TAG-oh-nist)
any agent that has the opposite effect of the agent to which it is compared; for example, a hormone antagonist opposes the effect of the compared hormone
antagonist muscle (an-TAG-oh-nist MUS-el)
a muscle having op-posing actions to another muscle; for example, muscles that flex the arm are antagonists to muscles that extend it
antebrachial (an-tee-BRAY-kee-al)
relating to the forearm
antenatal medicine
(an-tee-NAY-tal MED-ih-sin)
medicine
anterior (an-TEER-ee-or)
front or ventral; opposite of posterior or dorsal
anthrax (AN-thraks)
bacterial infection caused by Bacillus anthracis, ordinarily affecting herbivores (sheep, cattle, goats, antelope) and often killing them; rarely it occurs in humans through accidental or intentional exposure to bacterial spores through inhalation or skin contact; inhalation anthrax is life-threatening but can be treated successfully with medication; cutaneous anthrax is less serious, characterized by a reddish-brown patch on the skin that ulcerates and then forms a dark, nearly black scab, followed by muscle pain, internal hemorrhage (bleeding), headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting
anthropology (an-throh-POL-oh-jee)
science of human origins, culture, characteristics, society, and beliefs
antibiotic (an-tih-by-OT-ik) compound usually produced by living organisms that destroys or inhibits microbes
antibody (AN-tih-bod-ee) substance produced by the body that destroys or inactivates a specific substance (antigen) that has en-tered the body
