Unit 2: Medical Terms Flashcards
Anterior:
toward the front or belly-side of the patient, forward, in front of
Posterior:
toward the back or spine side of the patient, behind, following
Distal:
away from, further from the origin
Proximal:
close to, near, closer to the origin
Dorsal:
toward the back or spine
Ventral:
toward the stomach or front of the body
Superior:
on top of or above another structure, over, move toward the head
Inferior:
below or under another structure, under, move toward the feet
Lateral:
toward the side away from the midline, refers to the side of the body
Medial:
toward the middle of midline of the body, refers to the middle of the body
Cephalic:
toward the head
Caudal:
toward the feet
Apex:
toward the tip or top of an organ
Base:
toward the bottom or lower part of an organ
Superficial:
toward the surface of the body, not deep
Deep:
further away from the skin
Bilateral:
both sides of the body
Unilateral:
one side of the body
Ipsilateral:
on the same side of the body
Contralateral:
on the opposite side of the body
Parietal:
relating to a body cavity wall
Visceral:
relating to internal organs or organs within body cavities
anter(o):
front
–ior:
pertaining to
poster(o):
back
dist(o):
away from
–al:
pertaining to
proxim(o):
near
dors(o):
back of the body
ventr(o):
belly
super(o):
above
infer(o):
below
later(o):
side
medi(o):
middle
cephal(o):
head
–ic:
pertaining to
caud(o):
tail
ipsi–:
same
contra–:
opposite
pariet(o):
wall
viscer(o):
internal organ
planes:
lines of division to divide the body
sagittal:
vertical plane that divides the body in right and left halves (medial lateral)
midsagittal:
vertical plane that divides the body in equal right and left halves (medial lateral)
frontal:
vertical plane that divides the body in front(anterior) and back(posterior) portions
coronal:
vertical plane that divides the body in front(anterior) and back(posterior) portions
midcoronal:
vertical plane that divides the body in equal front(anterior) and back(posterior) portions
transverse:
horizontal plane that divides the body into top(superior) and bottom(inferior) portions
cross-section:
horizontal plane (transverse plane) that divides the body into top(superior) and bottom(inferior) portions
longitudinal section:
structures viewed by an imaginary slice along the long axis of a plane (sagittal or coronal)
abdomen(o):
abdomen
pleur(o):
meaning pleura
thorac(o):
thorax or chest
pariet(o):
relating to a wall
viscer(o):
internal organ
peri–:
around
cardi(o):
heart
pelv(o):
pelvis
peritone(o):
peritoneum
crani(o):
meaning skull
spin(o):
meaning spine
hypo–:
under
chondr(o):
cartilage
epi–:
above
gastr(o):
stomach
lumb(o):
loin
umbilic(o):
navel
