abdominal cavity

abdomen, contains the major organs of digestion

adenectomy

surgical removal of a gland

adenocarcinoma

carcinoma derived from glandular tissue

adenoma

benign tumor that arises from or resembles glandular tissue

adenomalacia

abnormal softening of a gland

adenosclerosis

abnormal hardening of a gland

anaplasia

change in the structure of cells and in their orientation to each other

anatomy

study of the structure of the body

anomaly

deviation form what is normal

anterior

situated in the front, on the front, or forward part of an organ

bloodborne pathogen

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

caudal

toward the lower part of the body

cephalic

toward the head

chromosome

genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell, made of DNA

communicable disease

any condition that is transmitted from one person to another by either direct or indirect contact with contaminated objects

congenital disorder

abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth

cytoplasm

material within the cell membrane that is part of the nucleus

distal

situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure

dorsal

back of the organ or body

dysplasia

abnormal development or growth of cells, tissues, or organs

endemic

ongoing presence of a disease within a population, group, or area

endocrine glands

produce hormones throughout the body

epidemic

sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease within a specific population group or area

epigastric region

located above the stomach

etiology

study of the causes of diseases

exocrine glands

secrete chemicals substances into ducts that lead to other organs or out of the body

functional disorder

condition that produces symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified

genetic disorder

pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene

geriatrician

physician who specializes in the care of older people

hemophilia

hereditary bleeding disorders in which a blood clotting factor is missing

histology

study of tissue

homeostasis

process through which the body maintains a constant internal environment

hyperplasia

enlargement of an organ or tissue because of an abnormal increase in the number of cells

hypertrophy

increase in the bulk of a body part or organ due to an increase in the size of cells in the tissues

hypogastric region

located below the stomach

hypoplasia

incomplete development of an organ or tissues

iatrogenic illness

unfavorable response due to treatment

idiopathic disorder

illness without known cause

infectious disease

illness caused by living pathogenic organisms

inguinal

relating to the groin

medial

direction toward, or nearer, the midline

mesentery

fused double layer of the parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior abdominal wall

midsagittal plane

midline, into left and right halves

nosocomial infection

disease acquired in a hospital setting

pandemic

outbreak of disease over a large geographic area, possibly worldwide

pelvic cavity

space formed by the hip bones and contains the organs of the reproductive ad excretory systems

peritoneum

multilayered membrane that protects and holds the organs in place within the abdominal cavity

peritonitis

inflammation of the peritoneum

phenylketonuria

genetic disorder in which an essential digestive enzyme is missing

physiology

study of the functions of the structure of the body

posterior

situated in the back or on the back part of an organ