Anatomy

The study of body structure

Physiology

Study of function

body erect

Palms, Arms, and Hands face forward

Transverse

Divides body into upper and lower parts

frontal plane

Divides the body into front and back portions.

Caudal

toward the tail

Cephalic

toward the head

dorsal cavity

includes the cranial and spinal cavities.

Ventral

belly side

Anterior

front

Posterior

back

ventral cavity

thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity

Nucleus

Control center of the cell

Nurse Practitioner

a nurse with graduate training who often works as a primary care provider

Physician Assistant

a licensed professional who works under the supervision of a physician

geriatrician

a physician who specializes in the care of older people

anaplasia

loss of differentiation of cells; reversion to a more primitive cell type

Dysplasia

abnormal development or growth of cells, tissues, or organs

Cytology

study of cells

cytologist

specialist in the study of cells

right hypochondriac region

right upper region below the cartilage of the ribs that extend over the abdomen

left hypochondriac region

left upper region below the rib cartilage

right lumbar region

right middle region near the waist

left lumbar region

left middle region near the waist

epigastric region

located above the stomach

umbilical region

region of the navel

hypogastric region

located below the stomach

Distal

Farther from the trunk of the body

Proximal

Nearer to the trunk of the body

Medial

toward the midline

Lateral

side

cell membrane

A cell structure that controls which substances can enter or leave the cell.

Cytoplasm

A jellylike fluid inside the cell in which the organelles are suspended

thoracic cavity

contains heart and lungs

abdomical cavity

The body cavity which contains most of the digestive organs

pelvic cavity

Contains urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and rectum

exocrine

secreting externally

Endocrine

secreting internally

peritoneum

membrane that lines the abdominal cavity

masentery

layer of the peritoneum the suspends parts of the intestine and the abdominal cavity

visceral

pertaining to the internal organs

Hyperplasia

increase in number of cells

hypertrophy

increase in cell size

telemetry unit

provides continuous cardiac monitoring for patients with heart problems not requiring intensive care

medical/surgical unit

a unit that provides nursing care for lower-acuity patients who are recovering from surgery or require continued drug therapy or monitoring

Genetics

The scientific study of heredity

Dominant

Describes a trait that covers over, or dominates, another form of that trait.

Recessive

An allele that is masked when a dominant allele is present

intensivist

physician specializing in the care of critically ill patients hospitalized in the ICU

Hospitalist

general medical care of hospitalized patients

intensive care

continuous care, often using special equipment, for people in hospital who are very seriously ill or injured; also the department of the hospital that provides this care

X and Y chromosomes

the human sex chromosomes

number of chromosomes

46 (23 pairs)

Gamete

sex cell

adenitis

inflammation of a gland

adenocarcinoma

cancerous tumor of glandular tissue

adenoma

tumor of a gland

adenectomy

surgical removal of a gland

adenosis

abnormal condition of a gland

Epithelium

layer of skin cells forming the outer and inner surfaces of the body

endothelium

the specialized epithelial tissue that lines the blood and lymph vessels, body cavities, glands, and organs

somatic cells

body cells

gametic cell mutation

a change within the genes in a gamete that can be transmitted by a parent to his or her children

medical assistant

helps physicians examine and treat patients and performs tasks to keep offices running smoothly

medical coder

a person who analyzes and codes patient diagnoses, procedures, and symptoms

medical receptionist

schedules and registers patients for appointments and may also work as a medical assistant

genetic engineering

Process of making changes in the DNA code of living organisms

bloodborne transmission

the spread of a disease through contact with blood or other body fluids that are contaminated with blood

indirect contact transmission

refers to situations in which a susceptible person is infected by contact with a contaminated surface

communicable disease

a disease that is spread from one host to another

airborne transmission

occurs through contact with contaminated respiratory droplets spread by a cough or sneeze

droplet transmission

transmission via airborne droplets less than 1 meter

food borne transmission

The contamination of food or water with an organism that can cause disease.

water-borne transmission

spread of pathogen via contaminated water

vector-borne transmission

the spread of certain disease due to the bite of a vector

endemic

confined to a particular country or area

Epidemiology

Branch of medical science concerned with the incidence, distribution, and control of diseases that affect large numbers of people.

idiopathic disorder

an illness without known cause

Pandemic

Disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects a very high proportion of the population.

epidemic

A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease.

latrogenic disease

disease produced by drugs

infectious disease

a disease caused by a pathogen

dense connective tissue

dense regular, dense irregular, elastic

adipose tissue

Tissue that stores fat.

loose connective tissue

surrounds various organs and supports both nerve cells and blood vessels

liquid connective tissue

blood and lymph

Etiology

cause of disease

pathologist

specialist in the study of disease

Pathogen

An organism that causes disease

Transmission

Transfer, such as of a disease, from one person to another

contamination

the process of becoming unclean