Terms Pertaining to the body as a whole Flashcards
anabolism
process of building up large proteins from small protein pieces called amino acids. Ana- means up, bol means to cast, and -ism is a process
catabolism
process whereby complex nutrients are broken down to simpler substances and energy is released. Cata- means down, bol means to cast, and -ism is a process
cell membrane
structure surrounding and protecting the cell. It determines what enters and leaves the cell
chromosome
rod-shaped structures in the nucleus that contain regions of DNA called genes. There are 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in every cell except for the egg and sperm cells, which contain only 23 individual, unpaired chromosomes
cytoplasm
all the materials that is outside the nucleus and yet contained within the cell membrane.
DNA
chemical found within each chromosome. Arranged like a sequence of recipes in code, it directs the activities of the cell
endoplasmic reticulum
network of canals within the cytoplasm of the cell. Large proteins are made from smaller protein peices
genes
regions of DNA within each chromosomes
karyotype
picture of chromosomes in the nucleus of the cell. The chromosomes are arranged in the numerical order to determine their number and structure
metabolism
total of the chemical processes in a cell. It includes catabolism and anabolism. Meta- means change, bol means to cast, and -ism means a process
mitochondria
structures in the cytoplasm that provide the principle source of energy (miniature “power plants”) for the cell. Catabolism is the process that occurs in mitochondria
nucleus
control center of the cell. It contains chromosomes and directs the activities of the cell
adipose tissue
collection of fat cells
cartilage
flexible connective tissue attached to bones at joints. For ex: it surrounds the trachea and forms part of the external ear and nose
epithelial cells
skin cells that cover the outside of the body and line the internal surfaces of organs
histologist
specialist in the study of cells
larynx
“voice box”, located at the upper part of the trachea
pharynx
throat. The pharynx serves as the common passageway for food (from the mouth going to the esophagus) and air (from the nose to the trachea)
pituitary gland
endocrine gland at the base of the brain
thyroid gland
endocrine gland that surrounds the trachea in the neck
trachea
“wind pipe” (tube leading from the throat to the bronchial tubes)
ureter
one of the two tubes, each leading from a single kidney to the urinary bladder.
urethra
tube from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body
uterus
the womb. The organ that holds the embryo/fetus as it develops
viscera
internal organs
abdominal cavity
space below the chest containing organs such as the liver, stomach, gallbladder, and the intestines; also called the abdomen
cranial cavity
space in the head containing the brain and surrounded by the skull. Cranial means pertaining to the skull
diaphragm
muscle separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities. The diaphragm moves up and down and aids in breathing
dorsal (posterior)
back
mediastinum
centrally located space outside of and between the lungs
pelvic cavity
space below the abdomen containing portions of the intestines, rectum, urinary bladder and reproductive organs.Pelvic means pertaining to the pelvis, composed of the hip bones surrounding the pelvic cavity
peritoneum
double-folded membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity
pleura
double-folded membrane surrounding each lung
pleura cavity
space between the pleural layers
spinal cavity
space within the spinal column (backbones) containing the spinal cord. Also called the spinal cord
thoracic cavity
space in the chest containing the heart, lungs, bronchial tubes, trachea, esophagus, and other organs
ventral (anterior)
front
hypochondriac
right and left upper regions beneath the ribs
epigastric
middle upper region above the stomach
lumbar
right and left middle regions near the waist
umbilical
central region near the navel
inguinal
right and left lower regions near the groin. Also called the iliac regions
hypogastric
middle lower region below the umbilical region
RUQ
right upper quadrant
LUQ
left upper quadrant
RLQ
right lower quadrant
LLQ
left lower quadrant
cervical
neck region (C1 TO C7)
thoracic
chest region (T1 TO T12)
lumbar
loin (waist) region (L1 TO L5)
sacral
region of the sacrum (S1 TO S5)
coccygeal
region of the coccyx (tailbone)
vertebra
single backbone
vertebrae
backbones
spinal column
bone tissue surrounding the spinal cavity
spinal cord
nervous tissue within the spinal cavity
disk (disc)
pad of cartilage between vertebrae
anterior (ventral)
front surface of the body
deep
away from the surface
distal
far from the point of attachment to the trunk or far from the beginning of a structure
frontal (coronal) plane
vertical plane dividing the body or structure into anterior and posterior portions
inferior (caudal)
below another structure; pertaining to the tail or lower portion of the body
lateral
pertaining to the side
medial
pertaining to the middle or near the medial plane of the body
posterior (dorsal)
back surface of the body
prone
lying on the belly (facedown, palms down)
proximal
near the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a structure
sagittal (lateral) plane
lengthwise, vertical plane dividing the body or structure into right and left sides. From the Latin sagitta, meaning arrow. As an arrow is shot from a bow it enters the body in the sagittal plane, dividing right from left. The midsagittal plane divides the body into right and left halves
superficial
on the surface
superior (cephalic)
above another structure; pertaining to the head
supine
lying on the back (face up, palms down)
transverse (axial) plane
horizontal (cross-sectional) plane dividing the body into upper and lower portions
abdomin/o
abdomen
abdominal- the abdomen is the region below the chest containing internal organs (such as the liver, intestines, stomach, and gallbladder)
adi/o
fat
adipose: the suffix -ose means pertaining to or full of
anter/o
front
anterior: the suffix -ior means pertaining to
bol/o
to cast (throw) anabolism: the prefix ana- means up. The suffix -ism means process. In this cellular process, proteins are built up (protein synthesis)
cervic/o
neck ( of the body or the uterus)
cervical: the cervix is the neck of the uterus. The term cervical can mean pertaining to the neck of the body or to the neck (lower part) of the uterus
chondr/o
cartilage (type of connective tissue)
chondroma: benign tumor
chondrosarcoma: malignant tumor. The root sarc indicates that the malignant tumor arises from a type of flesh or connective tissue
chrom/o
color
chromosomes: these nuclear structures absorb the color of dyes used to stain the cell. The suffix -somes means bodies. Literally, this term means “bodies of color”, because this is how they appeared to researchers who first saw them under the microscope
coccyg/o
coccyx (tailbone): coccygeal
crani/o
skull: craniotomy
cyt/o
cell
cytoplasm: the suffix -plasm means formation
dist/o
far, distant: distal
dors/o
back portion of the body: dorsal
hist/o
tissue: histology
ili/o
ilium (part of the pelvic bone): iliac
inguin/o
groin: inguinal
kary/o
nucleus
karyotype: the suffix -type means classification or picture
later/o
side: later
lumb/o
lower back (side and back between the ribs and the pelvis): lumbosacral
medi/o
middle: medial
nucle/o
nucleus : nucleic
pelv/i
pelvis hip region
pelvic:the pelvis includes all the bones that surround the pelvic cavity
poster/o
back, behind: posterior
proxim/o
nearest : proximal
sacr/o
sacrum: sacral
sarc/o
flesh: sarcoma
spin/o
spine, backbone: spinal
thel/o, theli/o
nipple
epithelial cell: this cell, originally identified in the skin of the nipples, lies on body surfaces, externally (outside the body) and internally (lining cavities and organs)
thorac/o
chest: thoracic, thoracotomy
trache/o
trachea, windpipe: tracheal
umbilic/o
navel, umbilicus: umbilical
ventr/o
belly side of the body: ventral
vertebr/o
vertebra (e), backbone (s): vertebral
viscer/o
internal organs: visceral
ana-
up: anabolic
cata-
down
catabolism: complex nutrients are broken down into simpler substances and energy is released
epi-
above: epigastric
hypo-
below
hypochondriac region: the greeks thought that organs (liver and spleen) in the hypochondriac region of the abdomen were the origin of imaginary illnesses –hence the term hypochondriac, a person with unusual anxiety about his or her health and with symptoms not attribute to any disease process
inter-
between
intervertebral: a disk (disc) is an intervertebral structure
meta-
change
metabolism: literally, to cast (bol/o) a change (meta-), meaning the chemical changes (processes) that occur in a cel
-eal
pertaining to
-iac
pertaining to
-ior
pertaining to
-ism
process, condition
-ose
pertaining to, full of
-plasm
formation
-somes
bodies
-type
picture, classification
