Medical Terminology Study Sections
Terms
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- anabolism
- Process of building up complex materials (proteins) from simple materials.
- catabolism
- Process of breaking down complex materials (foods) to form simplex substances and release energy.
- cell membrane
- Structure surrounding and protecting the cell. It determines what enters and leaves the cell.
- chromosomes
- Rod-shaped structures in the nucleus that contain regions of DNA called genes. (There are 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in every cell except for the egg and sperm cells, which contatin only 23 individual, unpaired chromosomes.)
- cytoplasm
- All the material that is outside the nucleus and contained within the cell membrane.
- DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid)
- Chemical found within each chromosome that directs the activities of the cell.
- endoplasmic reticulum
- Structure (canals) within the cytoplasm. Site in which large proteins are made from smaller protein pieces.
- genes
- Regions of DNA within each chromosome.
- karyotype
- Picture of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell, arranged in numerical order.
- metabolism
- The total of the chemical processes in a cell.
- mitochondria
- Structures in the cytoplasm in which foods are burned to release energy.
- nucleus
- Control center of the cell.
- adipose tissue
- Collection of fat cells.
- cartilage
- Flexible connective tissue attached to bones at the joints.
- epithelial cell
- Skin cells that cover the external body surface and line the internal surfaces of organs.
- histologist
- Specialist in the study of tissues.
- larynx
- Voice box
- pharynx
- Throat
- pituitary gland
- Endocrine gland at the base of the brain.
- thyroid gland
- Endocrine gland that surrounds the trachea in the neck.
- trachea
- Windpipe
- 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
- The womb.
- viscera
- Internal organs.
- abdominal cavity
- Space below the chest containint organs such as the liver, stomach, gallbladder and intestines.
- cranial cavity
- Space in the head containing the brain and surrounded by the skull.
- diaphragm
- Muscle separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities.
- dorsal
- Pertaining to the back. (posterior)
- mediastinum
- Centrally located space between the lungs.
- pelvic cavity
- Space below the abdomen containing protions of the intestines, rectum, urinary bladder and reproductive organs.
- peritoneum
- Membrane surrounding the organs in the abdomen.
- pleura
- A double-layered membrane surrounding each lung.
- pleural cavity
- Space between the pleural membranes and surrounding each lung.
- spinal cavity
- Space withing the spinal column and containing the spinal cord.
- thoracic cavity
- Space in the chest containing the heart, lungs, bronchial tubes, trachea, esophagus and other organs.
- ventral
- Pertaining to the front. (anterior)
- hypochondriac
- Upper right and left regions beneath the ribs.
- epigatric
- Upper middle region above the stomach.
- lumbar
- Loin (waist) region (L1-L5)
- umbilical
- Central region near the navel.
- inguinal
- Lower right and left regions near the groin. (also iliac regions)
- hypogastric
- Lower middle region below the umbilical region.
- RUQ
- Right upper quadrant
- LUQ
- Left upper quadrant
- RLQ
- Right lower quadrant
- LLQ
- Left lower quadrant
- cervical
- Neck region (C1-C7)
- thoracic
- Chest region (T1-T12)
- sacral
- Region of the sacrum (S1-S5)
- coccygeal
- Region of the coccyx (tailbone)
- anterior
- Front side of the body. (ventral)
- deep
- Away from the surface.
- distal
- Far from the point of attachment to the trunk of far from the beginning of a structure.
- frontal plane
- Vertical plan dividing the body or structure into anterior and posterior portions. (coronal)
- inferior
- Below another structure. (caudal)
- lateral
- Pertaining to the side.
- medial
- Pertaining to the middle or near the medial plane of the body.
- posterior
- Back side of the body. (dorsal)
- prone
- Lying on the belly (face down, palm down).
- proximal
- Near the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a structure.
- sagittal plane
- Lengthwise, vertical plane dividing the body or structure into right and left sides. (lateral)
- superficial
- On the surface.
- superior
- Above another structure. (cephalic)
- supine
- Lying on the back (face up, palm up).
- transverse
- Horizontal plane dividing the body into upper and lower portions. (cross-sectional or axial)