MDLT 121- Medical
Terminology
LECTURE 2: STRUCTURE OF THE BODY
Lecturer: Ms. Taja Alexander
At the end of this lecture you would be able to:
1. Define the main directional terms used in anatomy.
2. Understand and identify levels of organization and anatomical planes of
the body.
3. Identify the cavities, quadrants, and regions of the body.
4. Describe the main body positions used in medical practice.
5. Recognize and use prefixes pertaining to position and direction.
6. Understand the terms related to direction, position, and planes of the
body.
7. Recognize, pronounce, spell, and build words related to body structure
and identify common abbreviations.
8. Describe diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and other terms
associated with body structure.
BODY: Levels of Organization
The body is composed of several levels of structure and function. Each
of these levels incorporates the previous level, and contributes to the
structure and function of the entire organism.
I. Cell
II. Tissue
III. Organ
IV. System
V. organism
Adapted from: https://images.app.goo.gl/XYjRGZFYMNncfbQw7
CELLS
The study of the body at the cellular level is called cytology.
The cell is the structural and functional unit of life. Body cells perform
all activities associated with life.
Cells are composed of :
• cell membrane
• cytoplasm
• nucleus
TISSUES
The study of body tissues is called histology. Groups of cells that perform a
specialized activity are called tissues.
More than 200 cell types compose four major tissues of the body:
• Epithelial tissue covers surfaces of organs; lines cavities and canals; forms
tubes, ducts, and secreting portions of glands; and makes up the epidermis
of the skin.
• Connective tissue supports and connects other tissues and organs and is
made up of diverse cell types, including fibroblasts, fat cells, and blood.
• Muscle tissue provides the contractile tissue of the body, which is
responsible for movement.
• Nervous tissue transmit electrical impulses.
ORGANS
Organs are body structures composed of at least two or more tissue types
that perform specialized functions.
For example:
1. the stomach is composed of muscle tissue, epithelial tissue, and nervous
tissue. Muscle and connective tissue forms the wall of the stomach.
2. Epithelial and connective tissue covers the internal and external surfaces
of the stomach.
3. Nervous tissue penetrates both the muscular wall and its epithelial lining
to provide stimulation for the release of digestive juices and contraction
of muscles in the stomach wall for digestion.
SYSTEMS
A body system is composed of varying numbers of organs and
accessory structures that have similar or interrelated functions.
For example, some of the organs of the gastrointestinal system include
the oesophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Some of its accessory
structures include the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.
Other body systems include the reproductive, respiratory, urinary, and
cardiovascular systems etc.
ORGANISMS
The highest level of organization is the
organism. An organism is a complete living
entity capable of independent existence.
All complex organisms, including humans,
are composed of several body systems that
work together to sustain life.
Adapted from: https://images.app.goo.gl/P8iv2cBnxBFF4ksJ7
ANATOMICAL
TERMINOLOGY
Anatomical Terminology
• Medical anatomists describe the location and
direction of body structures with reference to
the anatomical position. This body posture is
used
as
reference
when
describing
anatomical parts in relation to each other.
• In this position; the body is erect and facing
forward, the arms are at the side with palms
facing forward. The legs are parallel with toes
pointed straight ahead.
• Note: When you look at a picture of a person in the anatomical
position, their left hand is on the right-hand side of the picture.
Planes of the Body
Body planes are hypothetical geometric planes used to divide
the body into sections to describe the location or direction of
bodily structures.
Planes of the Body
• Frontal Plane (Coronal Plane) A vertical plane running from side
to side; divides the body or any of
its parts into anterior and
posterior portions.
• Sagittal Plane (Lateral Plane) - A
vertical plane running from front
to back; divides the body or any of
its parts into right and left sides.
• Transverse Plane (Axial Plane) A horizontal plane; divides the
body or any of its parts into upper
and lower parts.
Body Cavities
The cavities, or spaces, of the body contain
the internal organs, or viscera.
• The two main cavities are called:
• the dorsal cavity (posterior) -cranial and
vertebral cavities.
• the ventral cavity (anterior) -thoracic and
abdominopelvic cavities.
Ventral Cavity
(Anterior)
Thoracic Cavity
The upper ventral,
thoracic, or chest cavity
contains:
 heart
 lungs
 trachea
 oesophagus
 large blood vessels
 nerves
Abdominopelvic
Cavity
The lower part of the
ventral (abdominopelvic)
cavity can be further
divided into two portions:
 abdominal portion –
gastrointestinal track,
kidneys, adrenal glands
 pelvic portion –
urogenital system and
rectum
Abdominopelvic Regions
The abdominopelvic area of the body is located beneath the
diaphragm. It contains the organs of digestion (abdominal area)
and the organs of reproduction and excretion (pelvic area).
Two anatomical methods used to divide this area of the body for
medical purposes are:
• Quadrants
• Regions
Body Quadrants
The quadrants are four divisions of the lower torso
demarcated for the purpose of topographical location. It
allows specific sites to be defined for descriptive and
diagnostic purposes
This table lists the quadrants of the body along with their corresponding abbreviations
and identifies their major structures.
BODY QUADRANTS
QUADRANT
ABBREVIATION
MAJOR STRUCTURES
Right Upper
RUQ
Right lobe of liver, gallbladder, part of pancreas,
part of the small and large intestines
Left Upper
LUQ
Left lobe of liver, stomach, spleen, part of
pancreas, part of small and large intestines
Right Lower
RLQ
Part of the small and large intestines, appendix,
right ovary, right fallopian tube, right ureter
Left Lower
LLQ
Part of the small and large intestines, left ovary,
left fallopian tube, left ureter
Body Regions
The abdominopelvic regions are used primarily to identify the
location of underlying body structures and visceral organs.
For example: The stomach is located in the left hypochondriac
and epigastric region and the appendix is located in the
hypogastric region.
REGION
LOCATION
Left hypochondriac
Upper left region beneath the ribs
Epigastric
Region above the stomach
Right hypochondriac
Upper right region beneath the ribs
Left lumbar
Left middle lateral region
Umbilical
Region of the navel
Right lumbar
Right middle lateral region
Left inguinal (iliac)
Left lower lateral region
Hypogastric
Lower middle region beneath the navel
Right inguinal (iliac)
Right lower lateral region
Directional
Terms
Directional terms describe the
positions of structures relative
to other structures or locations
in the body
Directional Terms
Superior or cranial - toward the head end of the body; upper (example,
the hand is part of the superior extremity).
Inferior or caudal - away from the head; lower (example, the foot is part
of the inferior extremity).
Anterior or ventral - front (example, the kneecap is located on the
anterior side of the leg).
Posterior or dorsal - back (example, the shoulder blades are located on
the posterior side of the body).
Medial - toward the midline of the body (example, the middle toe is
located at the medial side of the foot).
Lateral - away from the midline of the body (example, the little toe is
located at the lateral side of the foot).
Proximal - toward or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part
(example, the proximal end of the femur joins with the pelvic bone).
Distal - away from or farthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a
part (example, the hand is located at the distal end of the forearm
Taken from Cohen BJ, Wood DL.
Memmler’s The Human Body in Health
and Disease. 9th Ed. Philadelphia:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000.)
Directional Terminology
Medical Term
Definitions
Abduction
Movement away from the median plane of the body
Adduction
Medial
Lateral
Superior (cephalad)
Inferior (caudal)
Proximal
Distal
Anterior
Posterior
Parietal
Visceral
Inversion
Eversion
Palmer
Plantar
Superficial
Deep
Movement toward the median of the body
Pertaining to the midline of the body or structure
Pertaining to the side
Toward the head or upper portion of the structure
Away from the head, or toward the tail or lower part of a structure
Nearer to the center (trunk of the body) or to the point of attachment to the body
Further from the center (trunk of the body) or from the point of attachment to the body
Near the front of the body
Near the back of the body
Pertaining to the outer wall of the body cavity
Pertaining to the viscera, or internal organs, especially the abdominal organs
Turning inward or inside out
Turning outward
Pertaining to the palm of the hand
Pertaining to the sole of the foot
Toward the surface of the body
Away from the surface of the body
Learning Activity
Label the diagram using the below
medical terms:
 Anterior
 Coronal
 Inferior
 Lateral
 Medial
 Sagittal
 Posterior
 Superior
 transverse
Body Positions
Anatomical Position
• Body is erect/ upright
• Directly facing forward
• Arms are at the side of the body
• Palms are facing forward
• Thumbs pointed outward
• Legs are parallel
• Feet flat
• Toes pointed forward
Body Positions
• Supine Position- Lying on
the back with the face
upward, or indicating the
position of the hand or
foot with the palm or foot
facing upward
Body Positions
• Prone - Lying
horizontal with the
face downward.
Fowler’s Position
The patient is seated in a semi-sitting
position (45-60 degrees) and may
have knees either bent or straight.
Variations in the angle are denoted
by high Fowler, indicating an upright
position at approximately 90 degrees
and semi-Fowler, 30 to 45 degrees;
and low Fowler, where the head is
slightly elevated.
Word Parts Pertaining to Body Structure
ROOTS FOR REGION OF THE HEAD AND TRUNK
Root
Meaning
Example
Definition of Example
Cephal/o
head
microcephaly
Abnormal smallness of the head
Cervic/o
neck
cervicofacial
Pertaining to the neck & face
Thorac/o
chest, thorax
extrathoracic
Outside of the thorax
Abdomin/o
abdomen
intra-abdominal
Within the abdomen
Celi/o
abdomen
celiac
Pertaining to the abdomen
Lapar/o
Abdominal wall
laparoscope
Instrument for viewing the peritoneal
cavity through the abdominal cavity
Lumb/o
Lumbar region, lower back
thoracolumbar
Pertaining to the chest and lumbar
region
Periton, peritone/o
peritoneum
peritoneal
Pertaining to the peritoneum
Word Parts Pertaining to Body Structure
CELL STRUCTURE
ELEMENT
MEANING
EXAMPLE
DEFINITION OF EXAMPLE
Cyt/o
cell
cytologist
Specialist in the study of cells
Hist/o
tissue
histology
Study of microscopic structures of tissues
Kary/o
nucleus
karyolysis
Destruction of the nucleus
Nucle/o
nucleus
nuclear
Pertaining to the nucleus
Words Pertaining to Body Structure
Words Pertaining to Body Structure
Words Pertaining to Body Structure
Suffixes Pertaining to Body Structure
SUFFIX
MEANING
EXAMPLE
DEFINITION OF EXAMPLE
-logy
Study of
hemat/o/logy
study of blood and its components
-logist
Specialist in the study of
dermat/o/logist
physician specializing in disorders of the skin
-genesis
Forming, producing, origin
path/o/genesis
source or cause of an illness or abnormal
condition
-gnosis
Knowing
pro/gnosis
prediction of the course and end of a disease, and
the estimated chance of recovery
-gram
Record, writing
arteri/o/gram
record of an artery after injection of a radiopaque
contrast medium
-graph
Instrument for recording
radi/o/graph
film on which an image is produced through
exposure to x-rays
-graphy
Process of recording
arthr/o/graphy
process of obtaining an image of a joint after
injection of a radiopaque contrast medium
-pathy
disease
gastropathy
any disease of the stomach
Prefixes Pertaining to Body Structure
PREFIX
MEANING
EXAMPLE
DEFINITION OF EXAMPLE
Ab-
from, away from ab/duction
movement of a limb away from the body
Ad-
toward
ad/duction
movement of a limb toward the axis of the body
Infra-
below, under
infra/cost/al
pertaining to the area below the ribs
Hetero-
different
hetero/morph/ous
Deviating from a normal type or shape
Homeo-
same, alike
homeo/stasis
relative equilibrium in the internal environment of the
body
Peri-
around
peri/cardi/al
pertaining to the area around the heart
Super-
upper, above
super/ior
pertaining to the head or upper portion of a structure
Trans-
across, through
trans/abdomin/al
across the abdomen
Ultra-
excess, beyond
ultra/son/ic
pertaining to sound frequencies too high to be perceived
by the human ear
Word Parts Pertaining to Colour
ELEMENT
MEANING
EXAMPLE
DEFINITION OF EXAMPLE
albin/o
white
albin/ism
partial or total lack of pigment in skin, hair, and eyes
leuk/o
white
leuk/o/cyte
white blood cell
chlor/o
green
chlor/opia
disorder in which viewed objects appear green
chrom/o
color
hetero/chrom/ic
having different colours, especially of the iris or
sections of the iris of both eyes
cirrh/o
yellow
cirrh/osis
abnormal yellowing, especially of the skin and
mucous membranes
jaund/o
yellow
jaund/ice
yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membrane,
and sclera of the eye
xanth/o
yellow
xanth/o/cyte
cell containing yellow pigment
cyan/o
blue
cyan/o/tic
pertaining to blueness, especially of the skin and
mucous membranes
erythr/o
red
erythr/o/cyte
red blood cell
melan/o
black
melan/oma
malignant tumor of melanocytes
poli/o
grey
polio/myel/itis
inflammation of the grey matter of the spinal cord
Learning Activity
Complete the below table:
ELEMENT
MEANING
acr/o
EXAMPLE
DEFINITION OF EXAMPLE
acr/o/cyan/osis
morph/o
study of form, shape, and structure,
especially of cells
disease
fasci/o
path/o/logist
fasci/itis
eti/o
the study of the causes of disease
unknown, peculiar
idi/o/path/ic
somat/o
pertaining to the body
internal organs
viscer/al
DISEASE AND TREATMENT
List the major categories of diseases.
Compare the common types of infectious organisms, and
list some diseases caused by each.
Define and give examples of neoplasia.
Objectives
Identify and use word parts pertaining to diseases.
Define the major terms describing types of diseases.
List and define the major manifestations of diseases.
Pathology
All body cells require oxygen and nutrients for survival. They also need a
stable internal environment that provides a narrow range of temperature,
water, acidity, and salt concentration.
This stable internal environment is called homeostasis. When homeostasis is
significantly interrupted and cells, tissues, organs, or systems are unable to
meet the challenges of everyday life, the condition is referred to as a disease.
From a clinical point of view, disease is a pathological or morbid condition
that presents a group of signs, symptoms, and clinical findings.
Signs are objective indicators that are observable by others. For example: a
palpable mass and tissue redness
Symptoms are subjective and is experienced only by the patient. For
example: dizziness, pain, and malaise.
A disease is an abnormal condition that affects
from the normal structure or function of any
part of the body.
There are several different categories of
diseases of the body:
Disease
• Infectious
• Degenerative
• Neoplasia
• Immune disorders
• Metabolic disorders
• Genetic disorders
• Hormonal disorders
• Mental and emotional disorders
The cause of a disease is its
Etiology
Disease
An acute disease is sudden and
severe and of short duration.
A chronic disease is of long
duration and progresses slowly
A functional disorder produces symptoms for whichno
physiological or anatomical cause can be identified.
Other
Types of
Diseases
An iatrogenic illness is an unfavourable response due to
prescribed medical treatment e.g. severe burns resulting from
radiation therapy are iatrogenic.
An idiopathic disorder is an illness without known cause (idi/o
means peculiar to the individual, path means disease, and -ic
means pertaining to). Idiopathic means without known cause.
A nosocomial infection is a disease acquired in a hospital clinical
setting. Nosocomial means hospital-acquired.
An organic disorder produces symptoms caused by detectable
physical changes in the body. E.g. chickenpox, which has a
characteristic rash, is an organic disorder caused by a virus.
Infectious diseases are caused by viruses,
bacteria, fungi (yeasts and molds), protozoa
(single-celled animals), and parasites
(worms).
Infectious
Diseases
Microorganisms often produce disease by
means of the toxins (poisons) they release.
The presence of harmful microorganisms or
their toxins in the body is termed sepsis.
Common
Infectious
Organisms &
Disease
Caused
Responses to Disease
The immune response is how your body recognizes and defends itself against
bacteria, viruses, and substances that appear foreign and harmful.
There are several ways in which the body response:
 Innate and adaptive immunity
 Inflammation
 Blood Components (Phagocytosis)
Neoplasia
• A neoplasm is an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of tissue—a tumour or growth.
• A neoplasm that does not spread, that is, metastasize, to other tissues is described as
benign, although it may cause damage at the site where it grows.
• A neoplasm that metastasizes to other tissues is termed malignant, and is commonly
called cancer.
• A malignant tumour that involves epithelial tissue is a carcinoma. If the tumor arises in
glandular epithelium, it is an adenocarcinoma (the root aden/o means “gland”); a cancer
of pigmented epithelial cells (melanocytes) is a melanoma.
• A neoplasm that involves connective tissue, muscle, or bone is a sarcoma.
Word Part
Pertaining to
Diseases
Prefixes and Roots for Infectious Disease
Prefixes and Roots for Infectious Disease
Disease
Establishing the cause and nature of a disease is referred to as diagnosis.
Determining a diagnosis helps in the selection of a treatment.
A prognosis is the prediction of the course of a disease and its probable
outcome.
Any disease whose cause is unknown is said to be idiopathic.
A variety of diagnostic procedures are used to identify a specific disease.
Diagnostic tests can be uncomplicated, such as listening to chest sounds
with a stethoscope, or complex, such as a biopsy. Many of the diagnostic
tests can be categorized as surgical, clinical, endoscopic, laboratory, and
radiologic.
Diagnostic, Symptomatic and Related Terms
MEDICAL TERM
DEFINITION
Adhesion
Abnormal fibrous band that holds normally separated tissues
together, usually occurring within a body cavity
Analyte
Substance being analyzed or tested, generally by means of a chemical
Dehiscence
Bursting open of a wound, especially a surgical abdominal wound
Febrile
Feverish; pertaining to a fever
Inflammation
Body defense against injury, infection, or allergy marked by redness,
swelling, heat, pain and, sometimes, loss of function
Morbid
Diseased; pertaining to a disease
Sepsis
Pathological state, usually febrile, resulting from the presence of
microorganisms or their products in the bloodstream
Suppurative
Producing or associated with generation of pus
Learning Activity
Match each medical term on
the left with the correct
meaning on the right by place
the correct letter next to each
medical term.
Learning Activity
Learning Activity
Examine the following statements. State whether each statement is true or false.
1. Arthroscopy is endoscopic examination of a joint._____
2. Adenectomy is surgical removal of a gland. _____
3. A colostomy is the surgical creation of an opening between the colon and the body
surface. _____
4. Arteriomalacia is abnormal hardening of blood vessels of the walls of an artery or arteries.
_____
5. The suffix –centesis means to see or a visual exam._____
6. Gastralgia is pain in the stomach. ______
7. An otoscope is used to examine the ear._____
8. Prognosis is referred to as the nature of a disease. ______
References
1. Medical Terminology: An Illustrated Guide, 7e by Barbara Janson
Cohen
2. Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 6 e by Ann Ehrlich and
Carol L. Schroeder