Chapter 5 Medical Terminology Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards
(154 cards)
root
foundation of a word that is not a word that can stand on its own
compound
a word formed from two or more whole words
combining form
a word root with an added vowel that can be joined with other words, roots or suffixes to form a new word
prefix
word part added to the begining of a root or word to modify or qualify its meaning
suffix
word part added to the end of a root or word to complete its meaning
anatomy
the study of body structure
physiology
the study of body function
anatomical position
the standard reference position for the body in the study of anatomy. In this position, the body is standing erect, facing the observer, with arms down at the sides and the palms of hands foward.
plane
a flat surface formed when slicing through a solid object.
midline
an imaginary line drawn down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left halves.
medial
toward the midline of the body
lateral
to the side, away from the midline of the body
bilateral
on both sides
mid-axillary line
a line drown vertically from the middle of the armpit to the ankle.
anterior
the front of the body or body part
posterior
the back of the body or body part.
ventral
referring to the front of the body. A synonym for anterior.
dorsal
referring to the back of the body or the back of the hand or foot. A synonym for posterior.
superior
toward the head (e.g., the chest is superior to the abdomen)
inferior
away from the head; usually compared with another structure that is closer to the head (e.g., the lips are inferior to the nose)
proximal
closer to the torso
distal
farther away from the torso.
palmar
referring to the palm of the hand.
plantar
referring to the sole of the foot.