The Human Body (Medical Terminology)

Caud/o

Lower part of body; tail

hist/o

tissue

hyster/o

uterus

abdominal cavity

which contains primarily the major organs of digestion, is frequently referred to as the abdomen

The dorsal cavity

which is divided into 2 parts; protects the structures of the nervous system

the ventral cavity

which is divided into 3 parts. contains many of body organs that maintain homeostasis

Lymphatic/ Immune system

works with the cardiovascular system; helps protect the body against disease -causing organism

Musculoskeletal system

composed of bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments; provides the framework for the body; supports organs and permits movement

Nervous system

composed of the brain, spinal cord and nerves, allows the body to act and respond

Coron/o

coronary, crown

path/o

disease; suffering, feeling, emotion

Integumentary system

include the hair, skin, the nails, sweat glands and oil glands and helps protect the body

Respiratory system

include the trachea, lungs and bronchi, provides for the exchange of gases; absorbs oxygen; expels carbon dioxide.

Digestive system

includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach and the small and large intestines. it starts at the mouth and end at the anus. it digests and absorbs food and excretes waste.

Reproductive system

includes the uterus, ovaries, testes and prostate. provides for reproduction

vertical plane

is an up and down line that is at a right angle to the horizon

the pelvic cavity

is the space formed by the pelvic (hip) bones. it contains primarily the organs of the reproductive and excretory systems

Cardiovascular system

it involves the heart and the blood vessels. it carries the blood throughout the body.

nephr/o

kidney

hepat/o

liver

the cranial cavity

located within the skull, protects the brain

the spinal cavity

located within the spinal column. protects the spinal cord

Endocrine system

made up of a variety of glands; it manufactures and distributes hormones.

Urinary system

manufactures and excretes urine; includes the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra

inferior

means lowermost, below, or toward the feet

homeostasis

means maintaining a constant internal environment (homeo means constant, stasis means control)

bilateral

means relating to, or having two sides

distal (dis-tal)

means situated farthest from the midline or beginning of body structure

posterior (pos-teer-ee-or)

means situated in the back. it also means on the back part of an organ. ( poster mean back or after and -ior means pertaining to)

anterior (an-teer-ee-or)

means situated in the front. it also means on the forward part of an organ. (anter means front of before and -ior means pertaining to)

promixmal (Prock-sih-mal)

means situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure

medial

means the direction toward or nearer the midline

lateral

means the direction toward or nearer the side and away form the midline

cephalic (sen-fal-ick)

means toward the head (cephal means head and -ic means pertaining to)

Caudal (Kaw-dal)

means toward the lower part of the body ( caud means tail or lower point, -al means pertaining to)

superior

means uppermost, above, or toward the head

dorsal (DOR-sal)

refers to the back of the body or organ. ( dors means back of body and -al means pertaining to)

ventral (VEN-tral)

refers to the front or belly side of the body or organ. (ventr means belly side of body and -al means pertaining to)

retr/o

behind, backward, back of

Cyt/o

cells

systems of the body

1. cardiovascular 2. respiratory 3. digestive or gastrointestinal 4. skeletal 5. muscular 6. endocrine 7. integumentary 8. lymphatic and immune 9. urinary 10. nervous 11. reproductive

9 regions

1. right hypochondriac region 2. right lumbar region 3. right iliac region 4. epigastric region 5. umbilical region 6. hypogastric region 7. left hypochondriac region 8. left lumbar region 9. left iliac region

division of the abdomen

1. right upper quadrant (RUQ) 2. left upper quadrant (LUQ) 3. right lower quadrant (RLQ) 4. left lower quadrant (LLQ)

body in general

cells---> tissues-->organs--->systems

col/o

colon; large intestine

Adip/o

Fat

Aden/o

Gland

Cephal/o

Head

oste/o

bone

lapar/o

abdomen, abdominal wall

the thoracic cavity

also known as the chest cavity. protects the heart and lungs. the diaphragm is a muscle the separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities

midsagital plane

also now as the MIDLINE, is the vertical plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves