Medical Terminology

1
Medical Terminology

• Anatomy and Positions

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Definitions

• Anatomy physical structures of the body
• Physiology how the body structures work and the
  functions of the body structures.

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Human body structure

• Chemicals atoms and molecules
• 2. Cells are the building blocks of the body
• 3. Tissues
• 4. Organs
• 5. Body systems

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Types of cells

• Blood cells e.g. white blood cells called
  leucocyte
• Muscle cells
• Nerve cells
• Bone cells

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Medical terminology re cells

• Cyt/o combining form for cell
• cyte suffix for cell
• Path/o combining form meaning disease
• Path/o/logy means .

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Cytology

• Cyt / o /
  logy
• root word combining suffix
• cell form
  study of
• Cytology means study of cells
• Pg 9,10

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Tissues

• Connective tissue connects body structures to
  other tissues e.g. fat tissue, bone tissue
• Epithelial tissues forms the skin and lines
  body organs for protection e.g. stomach
• Muscle tissue responsible for movement
• Nerve tissue relays info from one body part to
  another
• Hist/o combining form of tissue
• pg10

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Organs

• Composed of two or more different types of
  tissues
• Organs perform special functions
• e.g. stomach - responsible for breaking
• down food
• lungs responsible for breathing
• heart responsible for circulating
  blood
• to body parts

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Systems

• Are groups of organs working together to perform
  a particular function
• Digestive system
• Skeletal system
• Muscular system
• Nervous system
• Cardiovascular system
• Respiratory system
• Urinary system
• Reproductive system
• Integumentary system (skin)

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Positional Terms pg13
Term Meaning Example
Anterior (ventral) more to the front than another structure describes the front part/surface sternum is anterior to the heart umbilicus is on anterior surface of body
Posterior (dorsal) more to the back describes the back surface of the body spinal column is posterior to the abdomen heel is in posterior section of foot
Central close to the middle heart is in the central part of thoracic cavity (chest)
Medial towards the middle of the body/away from the side umbilicus is medial to the hips
Lateral towards the side of the body / away from the middle hips are lateral to the umbilicus
peripheral away from the centre point limbs are peripheral to the body
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Positional Terms
Term Meaning Example
Superficial at, or close to the surface of the body Superficial blood vessels are close to the surface
Distal Further away form the point of attachment, midline) or nearer to an extremity Fingers are distal to the midline of the body
Proximal closer to the point of attachment /or midline of the body Shoulder is proximal to the body midline
Inferior Lower in the body than another structure or surface away from the head ankle is inferior to the knee
Superior Above another area of body or towards the head Head is superior to the trunk
Internal inside the body or an organ Cochlea is an internal part of the ear
External Outside the body or organ Ear lobe is an external part of ear
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Movement Terms
Term Meaning Term Meaning
Abduct move away from Adduct move towards
Afferent conducting away Efferent conducting towards
Extension increases the angle flexion decreases the angle
Hyperextension over extension lateral rotation to turn to the side
Pronation palm down supination palm up
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Movement Terms

• Flexion angle of joint is decreased
• Extension angle of joint is increased
• Hyperextension further increase in angle of
  joint
• Abduction moves away from midline of body
• Adduction moves towards midline of body

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Body Planes

• Midsaggital plane divides left and right
• Transverse plane divides upper (superior) and
  lower (inferior)
• Coronal plane divides front (anterior) and back
  (posterior)
• Pg 14

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Directional Terms
Root word Meaning Root word Meaning
anter,anteri before.front poster,posteri back,behind
cephal head up,upward caud (kawd) tail,down
dextr right sinitr left
proxim near dist away
superi above inferi below
medi middle later side
vetr belly dors back
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Body Cavities

• 1.Dorsal cavity back of body
• Consists of
• a) cranial cavity (holds brain)
• b) spinal cavity (holds spinal cord)
• 2. Ventral cavity front of body
• Consists of
• a) thoracic cavity heart, lungs
• b) abdominal cavity digestive organs, kidneys
• c) pelvic cavity reproductive and bladder
• Pg 16
  

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Abdominal Quadrants

• Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
• Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
• Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
• Left lower quadrant (LLQ)
• pg16