Medical Terminology List #2 Flashcards
Cytologist
A scientist who specializes in the study of cells.
Histology
A branch of biology that focuses on the microscopic study of tissues and their structures.
Karyolysis
The process in which the nucleus of a cell undergoes dissolution or breakdown. This can occur during cell death or as a result of certain chemical processes.
Nuclear
Refers to anything related to the nucleus of a cell.
Anterior
Refers to the front or forward part of the body or a structure. It is the opposite of posterior.
Caudad
Refers to a direction toward the tail or lower part of the body. It is the opposite of cranial.
Cranial
Refers to a direction toward the head or upper part of the body. It is the opposite of caudad.
Distal
Refers to a location farther away from the point of attachment to the body. It is the opposite of proximal.
Dorsal
Refers to the back or posterior side of the body or a structure. It is the opposite of ventral.
Inferior
Refers to a position below or lower in the body. It is the opposite of superior.
Lateral
Refers to a position farther from the midline of the body or a structure. It is the opposite of medial.
Medial
Refers to a direction toward the midline or center of the body or a structure. It is the opposite of lateral.
Posterior
Refers to the back or rear part of the body or a structure. It is the opposite of anterior.
Proximal
Refers to a location closer to the point of attachment to the body. It is the opposite of distal.
Ventral
Refers to the front or belly side of the body or a structure. It is the opposite of dorsal.
Abdominal
Refers to the region of the body located between the chest (thoracic) and the pelvis. It includes the stomach, liver, intestines, and other abdominal organs.
Cervical
Pertains to the neck region or the neck of the uterus (cervix). It can also refer to the neck of other anatomical structures.
Hypogastric
Refers to the lower abdominal region, situated below the navel (umbilical). It is also known as the pubic region.
Inguinal
Inguinal relates to the groin area, which is the crease or depression between the abdomen and the thigh.
Lumbar
Refers to the lower back region, specifically the area between the thoracic (chest) and sacral (pelvic) regions. The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae.
Pelvimeter
A measuring instrument used to assess and measure the dimensions and shape of the pelvis.
Spinal
Relates to the spine or spinal cord.
Thoracic
Pertains to the chest or thorax region of the body, including the area between the neck and the abdomen. It houses the heart and lungs, among other structures.
Umbilical
Refers to the navel or belly button, which is the scar left after the umbilical cord is detached at birth. It is located in the abdominal area.
Albinism
A genetic condition characterized by a lack of pigmentation (melanin) in the skin, hair, and eyes.
Leukocyte
A white blood cell. Is a type of blood cell that plays a vital role in the immune system.
Chloropia
A rare medical condition characterized by seeing everything as green.
Heterochromic
Refers to a condition where an individual has eyes of different colors.
Cirrhosis
A late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by long-term liver damage and inflammation.
Jaundice
A medical condition characterized by yellowing of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes.
Xanthocyte
A type of blood cell characterized by an abnormal accumulation of lipids, which gives it a yellowish appearance.
Cyanosis
A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood.
Erythrocyte
A red blood cell.
Melanoma
A type of skin cancer that originates in the melanocytes.
Poliomyelitis
Inflammation of the spinal cord and gray matter of the brain, commonly known as Polio.
Acrocyanosis
A medical condition characterized by blueness or cyanosis of the extremities.
Etiology
Refers to the study of the causes or origins of diseases or medical conditions.
Morphology
Refers to the study of the form, structure, and appearance of cells, tissues, and organs.
Pathologist
A medical doctor who specializes in the study of diseases and the examination of tissues, cells, and bodily fluids to diagnose illnesses and determine their nature.
Radiologist
A medical doctor who specializes in the use of medical imaging techniques, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, to diagnose and treat various medical conditions.
Somatic
Refers to the parts of the body that are related to the outer body wall, including the skin, muscles, and bones. It is often used in contrast to “visceral,” which refers to internal organs.
Visceral
Visceral refers to the internal organs of the body, such as the heart, liver, and intestines. It is often used in contrast to “somatic,” which refers to the outer body wall.
Dermatologist
A medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders related to the skin, hair, nails, and mucous membranes.
Hematology
Branch of medicine that focuses on the study of blood and blood disorders.
cyt/o
cell
hist/o
tisue
kary/o
nucleus
nucle/o
nucleus
anter/o
anterior, front
caud/o
tail
crani/o
cranium / skull
dist/o
farthest (point of attachment)
dors/o
back (of body)
infer/o
lower, below
later/o
side, to one side
medi/o
middle
posteri/o
back (of body), behind
proxim/o
nearest (point of attachment)
ventr/o
belly, belly side
abdomin/o
abdomen
cervic/o
neck
gastr/o
stomach
inguin/o
groin
lumb/o
lower back
pelv/i, pelv/o
pelvis
spin/o
spine
thorac/o
chest
umbilic/o
navel
albin/o
white
leuk/o
white
chlor/o
green
chrom/o
color
cirrh/o
yellow
jaund/o
yellow
xanth/o
yellow
cyan/o
blue
erythr/o
red
melan/o
black
poli/o
gray, gray matter of brain
acr/o
extremity
eti/o
cause
morph/o
form, shape, structure
path/o
disease
radi/o
radiation; x-ray
somat/o
body
viscer/o
internal organs
-logist
specialist in the study of
-logy
study of
