Vocabulary Flashcards
Abdominal cavity
Contains primarily the organs of digestion, abdomen.
Adenectomy
The surgical removal of a gland.
Adenocarcinoma
A malignant tumor that originates in glandular tissues.
Adenoma
A benign tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue.
Adenomalacia
The abnormal softening of a gland.
Adenosclerosis
Any disease or condition of a gland.
Anaplasia
A change in the structure of cells and in their orientation to each other.
Anatomic position
Standard position; standing up straight so the body is erect and forward and holding the arms at the sides with the hands turned so that the palms face toward the front.
Anatomic Reference systems
Describes the locations of the structural units of the body.
Anantomy
The study of the structures of the body.
Anomaly
A deviation from what is regarded as normal.
Anterior
Situated in the front.
Aplasia
The defective development, or the congenital absence, of an organ or tissue.
Bloodbourne transmission
The spread of a disease through contact with blood or other body fluids that are contaminated with blood.
Caudal
Towards the lower part of the body.
Cephalic
Towards the head.
Chromosomes
The genetic structures located within the nucleus of each cell.
Communicable disease
Contagious disease; Any condition that is transmitted from one person to another either by direct or by indirect contact with contaminated objects.
Congenital disorder
An abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth.
Cytoplasm
The material within the cell membrane that is not part of nucleus.
Distal
Situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure.
Dorsal
The back of the organ or body.
Dysplasia
The abnormal development or growth of cells, tissues, or organs.
Endemic
The ongoing presence of a dies ease within a population, group, or area.
Endocrine glands
Produce hormones, do not have ducts
Epidemic
A sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease within a specific population group or area.
Epigastric region
Located above the stomach.
Etiology
The study of causes of diseases.
Exocrine glands
Secrete chemical substances into ducts that lead either to other organs or out of the body.
Functional disorder
Produces symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified.
Genetic disorder
Hereditary disorder; A pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene.
Geriatrician
Gerenologist; A physician who specializes in the care of older people.
Hemophilia
A group of hereditary bleeding disorders in which a blood-clotting factor is missing.
Histology
The study of the structure, composition, and function of tissues.
Homeostasis
The process through which the body maintains a constant internal environment.
Hyperplasia
The enlargement of an organ or tissue because of an abnormal increase in the number of cells in the tissues.
Hypertrophy
A general increase in the bulk of a body part or organ that is due to an increase in the size, but not in the number, of cells in the tissues.
Hypogastric region
Located below the stomach.
Hypoplasia
The incomplete development of an organ or tissue usually due to a deficiency in the number of cells.
Iatrogenic illness
An unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment.
Idiopathic disorder
An illness without known cause.
Infectious disease
An illness caused by living pathogen organisms such as bacteria and viruses.
Inguinal
Relating to the groin, lower area of the abdomen.
Medial
The direction toward, or nearer, the midline.
Mesentery
A fused double layer of the parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior abdomen wall.
Midsagittal plane
Midline; The sagittal plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves.
Nosocomial infection
A disease acquired in a hospital or clinical setting.
Pandemic
An outbreak of a disease occurring over a large geographic area, possibly worldwide.
Pelvic cavity
The space formed by the hip bones and contains primarily the organs of the reproductive and excretory systems.
Peritoneum
Multilayered membrane that protects and holds the organs in place within the abdominal cavity.
Peritonitis
Inflammation of the peritoneum.
Phenylketonuria
A genetic disorder in which the essential digestive enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase is missing.
Physiology
The study of the functions of the structures of the body.
Posterior
Situated in the back.
Proximal
Situated nearest the midline or beginning of body structure.
Retroperineal
Located behind the peritoneum.
Stem cells
Unspecialized cells that are able to renew themselves for long periods of time by cell division.
Thoracic cavity
Chest cavity; thorax; Surrounds and protects the hearts and lungs.
Transverse plane
A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.
Umbilicus
Belly button; navel
Vector-borne transmission
The spread of certain disease due to the bite of a vector.
Ventral
Refers to the front, or belly side, of the organ or body.
