Chapter 2 medical terms

Question 1

anatomy

Answer 1

the study of the structures of the body

Question 2

anatomical position

Answer 2

standing up straight so that the body is erect and facing forward
holding arms at the sides with the hands turned so that the palms face toward the front

Question 3

abdominal cavity

Answer 3

contains the MAJOR organs of digestion. The cavity is frequently referred to simply as the abdomen

Question 4

adenocarcinoma

Answer 4

(cancerous) (tumor) malignant tumor that originates in the glands and may spread to other parts of the body

Question 5

adenoma

Answer 5

benign tumor that starts in the epithelial tissue of a gland or gland like structure

Question 6

anaplasia

Answer 6

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

Question 7

anomaly

Answer 7

a deviation from what is regarded as normal

Question 8

anterior

Answer 8

situated in the front, front or forward part of organ

Question 9

aplasia

Answer 9

the defective development or congenital absence of an organ or tissue

Question 10

atresia

Answer 10

congenital absence or narrowing of a normal body opening or passage

Question 11

autopsy

Answer 11

postmortem examination. Determine cause of death, or evaluating the presence of disease and the effectiveness of treatment

Question 12

bloodborne transmission

Answer 12

the spread of pathogens through infected blood or other body fluids. Infected fluids must enter the bloodstream to cause infection

Question 13

caudal

Answer 13

toward the lower part of the body (tail)

Question 14

cephalic

Answer 14

toward the head

Question 15

chromosome

Answer 15

genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell

Question 16

communicable disease

Answer 16

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

Question 17

congenital disorder

Answer 17

abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth

Question 18

cytoplasm

Answer 18

the material within the cell membrane that is NOT part of the nucleus

Question 19

distal

Answer 19

situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure

Question 20

dorsal

Answer 20

back of the organ or body

Question 21

dysplasia

Answer 21

the abnormal development or growth of cells within a type of tissue

Question 22

endemic

Answer 22

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

Question 23

endocrine glands

Answer 23

produce hormones, do not have ducts

Question 24

epidemic

Answer 24

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

Question 25

epigastric region

Answer 25

located above the stomach

Question 26

hypogastric region

Answer 26

located below the stomach

Question 27

hypoplasia

Answer 27

underdevelopment of an organ or tissue, usually due to a deficiency in the number of cells

Question 28

iatrogenic illness

Answer 28

is an unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment

Question 29

idiopathic disease

Answer 29

any disease WITHOUT a known cause

Question 30

infectious disease

Answer 30

an illness caused by living pathogenic organism such as bacteria and virus

Question 31

inguinal

Answer 31

relating to the groin, refers to the entire lower area of the abdomen

Question 32

medial

Answer 32

direction toward, or nearer, the midline

Question 33

mesentery

Answer 33

(hold intestine in place) fused double layer of the parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior abdominal wall

Question 34

midsagittal plane (aka midline)

Answer 34

is the sagittal plane that divide the body into EQUAL left and right halves

Question 35

nosocomial infection (aka hospital acquired infection)

Answer 35

is a disease acquired in a hospital or clinical setting

Question 36

pandemic

Answer 36

refers to an outbreak of a disease occurring over a large geographic area, possibly worldwide

Question 37

pathology

Answer 37

the study of a disease: its nature and cause as well as the produced changes in structure and function

Question 38

pelvic cavity

Answer 38

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

Question 39

peritoneum

Answer 39

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

Question 40

peritonitis

Answer 40

inflammation of the peritoneum

Question 41

physiology

Answer 41

the study of the functions of the structures of the body

Question 42

posterior

Answer 42

situated in the back/back part of an organ

Question 43

proximal

Answer 43

situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure (near)

Question 44

retroperitoneal

Answer 44

located behind the peritoneum

Question 45

stem cells

Answer 45

unspecialized cells that are able to renew themselves for long periods of time by cell division

Question 46

syndrome

Answer 46

a set of signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process

Question 47

thoracic cavity (aka chest or thorax)

Answer 47

surrounds and protects the heart and lungs

Question 48

transverse plane

Answer 48

a horizontal plane that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions

Question 49

umbilicus (aka belly button/navel)

Answer 49

where the umbilical cord was attached before birth

Question 50

vector-borne transmission (aka insect bite)

Answer 50

is the spread of certain disease through blood-sucking vectors

Question 51

ventral

Answer 51

the front, belly side, of the organ or body

Question 52

etiology

Answer 52

the study of the causes of diseases or abnormal condition

Question 53

exocrine glands

Answer 53

secrete chemical substances into ducts that lead either to organs or out of the body (sweat)

Question 54

functional disorder (aka non organic disorder)

Answer 54

produces physical symptoms for which no disease or other organic cause can be identified (chronic fatigue syndrome)

Question 55

genetic disorder (aka hereditary disease)

Answer 55

is a pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene

Question 56

geriatrician (gerontologist)

Answer 56

is a physician who specializes in the care of older people

Question 57

hemophilia

Answer 57

hereditary bleeding disorder in which a blood-clotting factor is missing (severe bleeding/hemorrhages occur due to this disorder)

Question 58

histology

Answer 58

the microscopic study of the structure, composition, and functions of tissues

Question 59

homeostasis

Answer 59

the processes through which the body maintains a constant internal environment

Question 60

hyperplasia

Answer 60

an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ

Question 61

hypertrophy

Answer 61

a general increase in the bulk of a body part or organ that is due to an increase in the size, but not number, of cells in the tissues