Medical Terminology
Unit 2
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 Differentiate
between anatomy and
physiology
 Recognize and apply the anatomic reference
systems to identify anatomic position, body
planes, directions, regions and cavities
 Identify the major organ systems, organs and
functions of each.
 Recognize spell, define and pronounce terms
related to cells and genetics
 Recognize, spell, define and pronounce
terms related to tissues and glands
 Recognize, spell, define and pronounce the
terms used to describe disease and pathology
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 Anatomy
is the study of the structures of the body
or “the parts.”
 Physiology
is the study of the functions of the
structures of the body or “how it works.”
 Homeostasis:
maintaining a constant internal
Environment.
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This is our standard frame of
reference when describing the
body. This standard position can
be described as:

Standing up straight so the
body is erect and facing
forward

Holding the arms at the sides
with the hands turned with
the palms facing forward.
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…are used to describe the locations of the
stuctural units of the body. There are
several ways to describe the location of body
parts:



Body Planes
Body Directions
Body Cavities
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Imaginary lines used to divide the body into
sections for descriptive purposes. The planes
are in reference to anatomic position
Vertical planes (up and down)



Midsagittal (also known as midline) divides the
body into equal left and right halves
Sagittal plane is a vertical line that divides the
body into unequal left and right portions
Frontal plane (also known as coronal plane)
divides the body into front (anterior) and back
(posterior) portions.
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 Horizontal

Plane (side to side plane)
Transverse plane divides the body into upper
(superior) and lower (inferior) portions. It can
be at waist-level or any other level across the
body.
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Directional Term
Opposite Directional Term
Ventral: front or belly side
Dorsal: back of the body or
organ
Anterior: situated in front
Posterior: situated in the back
Superior: upper most, above,
toward the head
Inferior: lowermost, below or
toward the feet
Cephalic: toward to the head
Caudal: toward the lower part
of the body or tail
Proximal: situated nearest the
midline or beginning of a body
structure (usually compares
structures on upper or lower
limbs)
Distal: Situated farthest from
the midline or beginning of a
body structure (usually
compares structures on upper or
lower limbs)
Medial: The direction toward
or nearer the midline.
Lateral: Direction toward or
nearer the side and away from
the midline
Bilateral: relating to, or having,
both sides
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9
10
A body cavity is a space within the body that
contains and protects internal organs.
Review the diagram in the previous slide and
on p. 23 in your textbook. Can you name
one organ found in each cavity?
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Umbilical: region surrounding the navel or
belly button (umbilicus)
Lumbar: even with the low back or lumbar
spine
Hypochondriac: “below the cartilage (or
rib cartilage)
Iliac: in the area of the ilium (one of the
pelvic bones)
NOTICE THE RIGHT AND LEFT
SIDES OF THE FIGURE ON THIS
SLIDE. Right and left are always in
reference to the patient. When
determining which side of the body you
are on, remember to label the patient’s
right and left, not yours. On a diagram, the
patient will usually be supine, or face up
(in anatomical position). Be very careful
about correctly labeling right and left.
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Describing where an
organ or pain is located
can be easier if the area
is divided in to quadrants
(quad means 4). Take
note again of the right
and left sides of the
patient. The
abbreviations for these
quadrants are commonly
used.
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The peritoneum is the membrane that protects
and supports the organs located in the
abdominal cavity (suspends the organs in place)
 The parietal peritoneum is the outer layer of this
membrane
 The visceral peritoneum is the inner layer that
surrounds the organs
 The mesentery is a layer of the peritoneum that
suspends part of the intesine
 Retroperitoneal means located behind this
membrane (retro- is a prefix that means behind)
 What term means inflammation of the
peritoneum?


Peritonitis
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 Ascites:
an abnormal accumulation of clear
or milky fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
 Laparoscopy: the visual examination of the
interior of the abdomen with the use of a
laparoscope.
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






Cytology is the study of the formation, structure, and
function of cells (the basic units of the body)
Three major parts of the cell are the cell membrane,
nucleus and cytoplasm
Chromosomes: each cell nucleus has 46 (23 pairs) of these
genetic building blocks.
22 pairs are identical. The 23rd pair determines the sex of
the child XX (female) or XY(male)
Gametes or sex cells are the only cells that do not have 46
chromosomes. Each gamete has 23 chromosomes. When
the ovum and the sperm meet, half of the chromosomes
come from each parent.
DNA: two long, coiled molecules that make up
chromosomes. It is an acronym for deoxyribonucleic acid.
Genes: the functional units of heredity
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Genetics is the study of heredity
 Geneticist is a specialist in genetics
 Genetic disorders: hereditary diseases or
condition that can be transmitted from the
parents (the condition or disease can become
evident at any time during the person’s life.
 Congenital Disorders: an abnormal condition
that exists at the time of birth (not part of the
genetic material). Can be caused by:




Developmental disorder
Prenatal influences
Birth injuries
Please see pp. 26 and 27 in your textbook for further
information and examples.
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 Tissues
are groups of similar cells that join
together to perform a specific function. The
four main types of tissue are:




Epithelial tissue
Connective tissue
Muscle tissue
Nerve tissue
Please see p 27 in your textbook for clarification
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Histology is the study of the structure,
composition and function of tissues
 Histologist is a specialist in tissues
 Stem cells are precursor cells with the ability to
divide without limit and specialize.
 Tissue formation pathology

Aplasia: lack of development
Hypoplasia: incomplete development
Hyperplasia: abnormal increase in the number of
normal cells in normal arrangement
Dysplasia: abnormal development or growth
Anaplasia: change in the structure of cells and in their
orientation to one another (as in malignancy or
cancer)
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 Glands
are specialized group of epithelial
cells that form secretions


Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into
the blood stream
Exocrine glands secrete into ducts (or outside the
blood stream)
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
Etiology is the study of the causes of disease

Communicable disease is contagious

Contaminated means the possible presence of an infectious agent.

Bloodborne transmission is passing infectious agents via bodily fluids

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s or venereal diseases) are passes via sexual contact

Airborne Transmission occurs via infectious agents transmitted through the air.

Foodborne or waterborne transmission is caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Epidemiologist specializes in the study of the outbreak of disease

Endemic refers to an ongoing presence of disease within a population group (i.e. the common
cold)

Epidemic is a sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease within a population group

Pandemic refers to an outbreak of a disease over a large geographic area
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An infectious disease is caused by a pathogen
 An idiopathic disorder is an illness without a
known cause
 Organic disorders exhibit physical changes that
explain the symptoms being described by the
patient
 Functional disorders have no physical changes to
explain the symptoms
 Iatrogenic illnesses are due to a side effect or
unfavorable response to a medical treatment
 A nosocomial infection is acquired in the hospital
but was not present when the patient was
admitted to the hospital.

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