Whole Body Terminology Flashcards
abdominal cavity
cavity beneath thoracic cavity that is separated by the diaphragm; contains the liver, gallbladder, spleen, stomach, pancreas, intestines, and kidneys.
abdominopelvic cavity
abdominal and pelvic cavity collectively; refers to space between the diaphragm and the groin
anaplasia
change in the structure and orientation of cells, characterized by a loss of differentiation and reversion to a more primitive form.
anatomical position
standard reference position for the body as a whole; the person is standing with arms at the sides and palms turned forward; head and feet also pointed forward.
anterior
pertaining to the front of the body or toward the belly of the body
aplasia
a developmental failure resulting in the absence of any organ or tissue
cardiac muscle
the muscle that makes up the muscular wall of the heart
caudal
pertaining to the tail
cell
smallest and most numerous structural unit of living matter
cell membrane
semipermeable barrier that is the outer covering of a cell
cervical vertebrae
the first seven segments of the spinal column; identified as C1 through C7
chromosomes
the threadlike structures within the nucleus that control the functions of growth, repair, and reproduction for the body.
coccyx
the tailbone. Located at the end of the vertebral column, the coccyx results from the fusion of four individual coccygeal bones in the child
connective tissue
Tissue that supports and binds other body tissue and parts
cranial
pertaining to the skull or cranium
cranial cavity
the cavity that contains the brain
cytology
the study of cells
cytoplasm
gel-like substance that surrounds the nucleus of a cell. Cytoplasm contains cell organs, called organelles, which carry out the essential functions of the cell.
deep
away from the surface and toward the inside of the body
distal
away from or farthest from the trunk of the body of farthest from the point of attachment of a body part
dorsal
pertaining to the back
dorsum
the back or posterior surface of a part; in the foot, the top of the foot
dysplasia
any abnormal development of tissues or organs
epigastric region
the region of the abdomen located between the right and left hypochondriac regions in the upper section of the abdomen, beneath the cartilage of the ribs
epithelial tissue
tissue that covers the internal and external organs of the body; it also lines the vessels, body cavities, glands and body organs
frontal plane
any of the vertical planes passing through the body from the head to the feet, perpendicular to the sagittal planes and dividing the bod into front and back portions
genes
segments of chromosomes that transmit hereditary characteristics
histologist
a medical scientist who specializes in the study of tissues
hyperplasia
an increase in the number of cells of a body part
hypochondriac region
the right and left regions of the upper abdomen, beneath the cartilage of the lower ribs; located on either side of the epigastric region.
hypogastric region
the middle section of the lower abdomen, beneath the umbilical region
hypoplasia
incomplete or undereveloped organ or tissue, usually the result of a decrease in the number of cells