Vocab for Intro to Med B & C Flashcards
Anabolism
Process of building up large proteins from small protein pieces called amino acids.
Ana-Up, Bol-To Cast, Ism-A Process
Catabolism
Process whereby complex nutrients are broken down to simpler substances and energy is released.
Process occurs in the mitochondria.
Cata-Down, Bol-To Cast, Ism-A Process
Cell Membrane
Structure surrounding and protecting the cell.
Determines what enters and leaves the cell.
Chromosomes
Rod-Shaped structures in the nucleus that contain regions of DNA called genes.
46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in every cell except for the sex cells.
Egg & Sperm only contain 23 individual, unpaired chromosomes.
Cytoplasm
All the material outside the nucleus and yet contained within the cell membrane.
DNA (DeoxyriboNucleic Acid)
Chemical found within each chromosome.
Arranged like a sequence of recipes in code.
Directs the activities of the cell.
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Network of canals with in the cytoplasm of the cell.
Large proteins are made from smaller protein pieces here.
Genes
Regions of DNA within each chromosome
Karyotype
Picture (Classification) of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell.
The chromosomes are arranged in numerical order to determine their number and structure.
Metabolism
Total of the chemical processes in a cell.
Includes Anabolism and Catabolism.
Meta-Change, Bol-To Cast, Ism-A Process
Mitochondria
Rod-shaped structures in the cytoplasm that provide the principal source of energy (miniature “power plants”) for the cell.
Nucleus
Control center of the cell.
Contains chromosomes and directs the activities of the cell.
Muscle Cell
Long, slender, contains fibers that aid in contracting and relaxing
Epithelial Cell
May be square and flat to provide protection
Skin cells that cover the outside of the body
Cells that line the internal surface of organ
Nerve Cell
May be long and have various fibrous extensions that aid in its job of carrying impulses.
Fat Cell
Contains large, empty spaces for fat storage
Differentiation
Change in cells as they mature and specialize
Histologist
Scientist who specializes in the study of tissue
Epithelial Tissue
Forms the lining of internal organs and the outer surface of the skin covering the body.
Lines the exocrine & endocrine glands and is responsible for the secretions that the glands produce.
Muscle Tissue
VOLUNTARY muscle is found in arms & legs and parts of the body where movement is under conscious control.
INVOLUNTARY muscle is found in the heart and digestive system, as well as other organs, allows movement that is not under conscious control.
CARDIAC muscle is a specialized type of muscle found in the heart. Contractions of this type of muscle can be seen as a beating heart in an ultrasound scan of a six-week-old fetus.
Connective Tissue
Adipose (fat) tissue
Cartilage (elastic, fibrous tissue attached to bones)
Bone
Blood
Nerve Tissue
Conducts impulses all over the body.
Viscera (singular: Viscus)
Internal Organs in the main cavities of the body, especially the abdomen
Digestive System
Mouth, Pharynx (throat), Esophagus (tube from throat to stomach), Stomach, Intestines (small & large), Liver, Gallbladder, Pancreas
Urinary System
Excretory System
Kidneys, Ureters (tube from kidney to urinary bladder), Urinary Bladder, Urethra (tube from bladder to outside of the body)
Respiratory System
Nose, Pharynx, Larynx (voice box), Trachea (windpipe), Bronchial Tubes, Lungs (where exchange of gases takes place)
Reproductive System
Female: Ovaries, Fallopian Tubes, Uterus (womb), Vagina, Mammary Glands
Male: Testes & Associated Tubes, Urethra, Penis, Prostate Gland
Endocrine System
Thyroid Gland (neck), Pituitary Gland (base of brain), Sex Glands (female: ovaries, male: testes), Adrenal Glands (top of kidneys), Pancreas (islet of Langerhans), Parathyroid Glands (“corners” of thyroid gland)
Nervous System
Brain, Spinal Cord, Nerves & Collections of Nerves
Circulatory System
Heart, Blood Vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries), Lymphatic Vessels & Nodes, Spleen, Thymus Gland
Musculoskeletal System
Muscles, Bones, & Joints
Skin Organs &
Sense Organs
Skin, Hair, Nails, Sweat Glands, Sebaceous (oil) Glands
Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue
Adipose Tissue
Collection of Fat Cells
Cartilage
Flexible connective Tissue often attached to bones at joints.
Forms part of external ear & nose.
Rings of cartilage surround the trachea.
Larynx
Voice Box; Located above the trachea
Pharynx
Throat; Serves as common passageway for food and air
Pituitary Gland
Endocrine gland at base of the braine
Thyroid Gland
Endocrine gland that surrounds trachea in the neck
Trachea
Windpipe; Tube leading from throat to larynx to bronchial tubes)
Ureter
One of 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
Womb; Organ that holds the embryo/fetus as it develops
Cranial Cavity
Space in the head containing the brain and pituitary gland and surrounded by the skull.
Cranial means pertaining to the skull
Thoracic Cavity
Space in the chest containing the heart, lungs, esophagus, trachea, bronchial tubes, thymus gland, and aorta
Divided into two cavities: Pleural and Mediastinum
Pleural Cavity
Space surrounding each lung; Space between the pleural layers
Mediastinum
Centrally located space outside of and between the lungs.
Contains heart, aorta, trachea, esophagus, thymus gland, bronchial tubes, and many lymph nodes.
Abdominal Cavity
Peritoneal Cavity
Abdomen
Space below the chest containing organs such as the liver, stomach, small & large intestines, spleen, pancreas, & gallbladder.
Kidneys are situated behind the abdominal cavity on either side of the backbone.
Pelvic Cavity
Space below the abdomen containing portions of the small & large intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, urethra, and ureter.
Also contains uterus and vagina in females.
There is no separation between the abdominal and pelvic cavity and they are referred to together as the abdominopelvic cavity.
Pelvic means pertaining to the pelvis, composed of the hip bones surrounding the pelvic cavity.
Spinal Cavity
Space within the spinal column and the spinal cord
Diaphragm
Muscle separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities.
Moves up and down and aids in breathing
Peritoneum
Double-folded membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity.
Attaches abdominal organs to abdominal muscles and surrounds each organ to hold it in place.
Pleural Effusion
Collection of fluid in the pleural cavity
Inflammation of the pleura (pleuritis or pleurisy)
Pleura
Double membrane that surrounds the lungs and protects them.
Ascites
Collection in the peritoneal cavity.
Right Hypochondriac Region
Right upper region below the cartilage of the ribs that extend over the abdomen
Epigastric Region
Region above the stomach
Left Hypochondriac Region
Left upper region below the cartilage of the ribs that extend over the abdomen
Right Lumbar Region
Right middle region near waist
Umbilical Region
Region of the navel or umbilicus
Left Lumbar Region
Left middle region near waist
Right Inguinal (Iliac) Region
Right lower region near the groin which is the area where the legs join the trunk of the body.
Hypogastric Region
Middle lower region below the umbilical region
Left Inguinal (Iliac) Region
Left lower region near the groin which is the area where the legs join the trunk of the body.
Ilium
Upper portion of the hip bone
Right Upper Quadrant
Contains the right lobe of the liver, gallbladder, part of the pancreas, parts of the small & large intestines
Left Upper Quadrant
Contains the left lobe of the liver, stomach, spleen, part of the pancreas, parts of the small and large intestines
Right Lower Quadrant
Contains part of the small and large intestines, appendix, right ureter
For females also the right ovary, right fallopian tube
Left Lower Quadrant
Contains part of the small and large intestines, appendix, left ureter
For females also the left ovary, left fallopian tube
Vertebra
Plural - Vertebrae
Individual bones of the spinal column
Disc
Herniated/”Slipped” Disc
Small pad of cartilage between each backbone
Composed of water and cartilage
A shock absorber
When a disc has moved out of place and puts pressure on a nerve
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Image
Divisions of the Back
Cervical (C)
Thoracic (T)
Lumbar (L
Sacral (S)
Coccygeal
Location
Neck region - seven cervical vertebrae (C1-C7)
Chest region - 12 thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12) Each joined to a rib.
Loin (waist) or Flank (between ribs & hip) - five lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5)
Five bones (S1-S5) are fused to form one bone, the sacrum
The coccyx (tailbone) is a small bone composed of four fused pieces
Spinal Column
Backbones
Bone Tissue
Spinal Cord
Nerves surrounded by the spinal column
Nervous Tissue
Anterior
Ventral
Front side of the body
Posterior
Dorsal
Back side of the body
Deep
Away from the surface
Superficial
On the surface
Proximal
Near the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a structure
Distal
Far from the point of attachment to the trunk or far from the beginning of a structure
Inferior
Below another structure
Superior
Above another structure
Medial
Pertaining to the middle, or near the medial plane of the body
Lateral
Pertaining to the side
Supine
Lying on the back
Prone
Lying on the belly
Frontal (Coronal) Plane
Vertical plane dividing the body or structure into anterior and posterior portions
Sagittal (Lateral) Plane
Midsagittal Plane
Lengthwise vertical plane dividing the body or structure into the right and left sides
Divides body into right and left halves
Transverse (Axial) Plane
Horizontal (cross-sectional) plane running across the body parallel to the ground dividing the body or structure into upper and lower portions
Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron is needed to make Hemoglobin
Sickle Cell Anemia
Erythrocytes assume an abnormal sickle shape and clog blood vessels
Aplastic Anemia
Erythrocytes, Leukocytes, & Thrombocytes are not formed in bone marrow
Hiatal Hernia
Stomach protrudes upward into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm
Inguinal Hernia
Part of the intestine protrudes downward into the groin region and commonly into the scrotal sac in a male
Cytocele
Part of the urinary bladder herniates through the vaginal wall as a result of weakness in the pelvic muscles
Retocele
Protrusion of a portion of the rectum toward the vagina
Omphalocele
herniation of the intestines through a weakness in the abdominal wall around the navel occurring in infants at birth
Streptococcus
Berry-shaped bacterium, grows in twisted chains.
One group causes conditions such as “strep throat”, tonsillitis, rheumatic fever, and certain kidney ailments
Another group causes infections in teeth, sinus cavities of the nose and face, and valves in the heart.
Staphylococci
Berry-shaped bacteria, grows in small clusters like grapes.
Lesions may be external: skin abscesses, boils, styes; or internal; abscesses in bone and kidney
Cause of MRSA
Abscess
A collection of pus, white blood cells & protein present at the site of infection
MRSA
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
Serious staphylococcal condition that is difficult to treat with antibiotics
Can become an antibiotic resistant infection when MRSA bacteria develop the ability to resist or defeat the drugs designed to kill them
Diplococci
Berry-shaped bacteria organized in pairs
Pneumococci
Invades the lungs causing bacterial pneumonia
Gonococci
Invades the reproductive organs causing gonorrhea (STI)
Clostridium Difficile Infection
C-Dif
Rod-shaped bacteria that causes inflammation of the colon and severe diarrheal disease.
In order to restore normal bacteria in the digestive tract, a fecal transplant may be necessary
Erythrocytes
Red Blood Cells
No Nucleus
Contain Hemoglobin which carries oxygen through the blood stream
Made in bone marrow
Leukocytes
White Blood Cells
Way to Remember the five kinds of leukocytes:
Never (Neutrophils)
Let (Lymphocytes)
Monkeys (Monocytes)
Eat (Eosinophil)
Bananas (Basophil)
Thrombocytes
Blood Platelets; Clotting Cells
Tiny fragments of cells formed in the bone marrow
Necessary for blood clotting
Granulocytes
Polymorphonuclear Cells
Contain dark-staining granules in their cytoplasm and have a multilobed nucleus.
Formed in the bone marrow
Eosinophils, Basophils, & Neutrophils
Eosinophil
Stains red with acidic stain
Increased in number in allergic conditions such as asthma
About 3% of leukocytes are eosinophils
Basophil
Stains blue with basic stain
Function is not clear, but the number of these cells increases in the healing phase of inflammation
Less than 1% of leukocytes are basophils
Neutrophil
Stains pale purple with neutral stain
Most important disease-fighting cells and the most numerous
50-60% of all leukocytes are neutrophils
They are phagocytes engulfing and digesting bacteria like circulating “Pac-Men”
Referred to as “polys” or polymorphonuclear leukocytes because of their multilobed nucleus
Mononuclear Cells
Have one large nucleus and only a few granules in their cytoplasm
Produced in bone marrow, lymph nodes, and spleen
Lymphocytes & Monocytes
Lymphocytes
Fight disease by producing antibodies and destroying foreign cells
May attach directly to foreign cells and destroy them
About 32% of leukocytes are lymphocytes
In AIDS, patients have serious depletion of T lymphocytes (T Cells)
Monocytes
Engulf and destroy cellular debris after neutrophils have attacked foreign cells
Leave the bloodstream and enter tissues to become macrophages
About 4% of all leukocytes are monocytes
Acromegaly
Endocrine Disorder where pituitary gland produces excessive amount of growth hormone after completion of puberty
Most often results from benign tumor of pituitary gland
Giantism
A result of overproduction of pituitary growth hormone beginning in childhood.
Sleep Apnea
Breathing suddenly stops during sleep and a CPAP is used to keep airways open.
CPAP
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Urinalysis
Laboratory examination of urine that aids in the diagnosis of many medical conditions.
Antigen
Substance that stimulates the production of an antibody
Bifurcation
Normal splitting into two branches
Bradycardia
Usually, a pulse of less than 60; a slow heart rate.
Tachycardia
A pulse of more than 100 beats per minute; a fast heart rate.
Connective Tissue
Supports and binds other body tissue and parts.
Bone, cartilage, and fibrous tissue are connective tissues.
Autoimmune Disease
The body makes antibodies against its own good cells and tissues, causing inflammation and injury.
Sign
An objective finding that is perceived by an examiner.
IE: Fever, Rash, Hyperglycemia
Symptom
A subjective change in condition as perceived by the patient
IE: Loss of Appetite, Abdominal Pain; Fatigue
Prodromal Signs & Symptoms
Appear before the actual illness and signal its onset
IE: fever and rash before chicken pox
Altered mood, fatigue, flashed of light, or stiff muscles may accompany the prodromal migraine aura that occurs before the actual headache
