- Abdomen: cavity between thoracic and pelvic cavities
- Abducent: drawing away from the midline; also the VI cranial nerve
- Abduction: (also) drawing away from the midline
- Acapnia: a deficiency of carbon dioxide in the blood and tissues
- Acral: referring to extremities (hands, feet)
- Acromegaly: large extremities
- Actinic: relating to the chemical changes caused by radiant energy (sunlight)
- Actinodermatitis: skin inflammation caused by exposure to sunlight
- Adduction: drawing toward the midline
- Adipsia: not drinking
- Adrenal: next to the kidney
- AED: Automated External Defibrillator
- Aerophagia: swallowing air
- Agglutinate: to glue together
- Alimentary: concerned with nutrition
- Ambulance: vehicle to transport patients that cannot walk
- Ambulate: to walk
- Anaerobic: grows without air
- Anatomy: dissecting the body to study shape and structure (dissection for a positive reason)
- Angiogenesis: growing new blood vessels
- Angiogram: a radiograph after administering an contrast media in the vessel
- Anorexia: lack of appetite
- Anoxia: no oxygen
- Antebrachium: forearm to wrist (carpus)
- Antebrachium: forearm (from elbow to wrist)
- Antecubital: pertaining to in front of (distal to) the elbow
- Antemortem: before death
- Anterior: placed in front of
- Anterolateral: in front of and away from midline
- Anteroventral: lower aspect of front
- Antibiotic: against microbes
- Antisepsis: against infection
- Antitussive: cough suppressant
- Anuresis: urine retention
- Apicotomy: incision into a pointed structure
- Apnea: no breathing
- Apocrine: a (pinched off) portion of a cell is released with a secretory product
- Aponeurosis: a sheet of fibrous tissue binding muscles together or muscle to bone
- Archencephalon: primitive front and middle part of brain
- Arrhythmia: lack of heart rhythm
- Arterial: pertaining to carrying of oxygenated blood
- Artery: blood vessel that carries air (oxygenated blood)
- Arthritis: inflammation of a joint
- Arthrocentesis: puncture and aspiration of joint fluid
- Articulate: united by joints
- Asphyxia: (literally “lack of pulse”), contemporary meaning is “suffocation”
- Aspiration: breathing in of a foreign substance
- Asthma: constriction and obstruction of airways
- Astigmatism: unequal curvature of the cornea that prevents clear focus on one point on retina
- Ataxia: loss of the ability to coordinate muscular movement
- Atherosclerosis: yellow plaques in arteries
- Atrophy: wasting away, as if from no nutrition
- Auricle: ear or ear-like appendage
- Auricular: pertaining to the ear
- Axilla: armpit area
- Barium: heavy metal used for constrast studies with radiography (x-rays)
- Baroreceptor: monitor tissue for blood pressure
- Basioccipital: bone in the base of the skull in front of foramen magnum
- Basisphenoid: relating to the body of the sphenoid bone
- Bathypnea: deep breathing
- Bicuspid: having two points (e.g. bicuspid teeth, biscuspid valves)
- Blepharoptosis: droopy upper eyelid
- Blepharospasm: twitch in eyelid
- Borborygmus: Digestive Rumbling
- BPH: Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
- Brachiocephalic: pertaining to arm and head
- Brachygnathia: short jawed
- Bradycardia: slow heart beat
- Bronchi: airway branches off the trachea
- Bronchodilator: something that opens the small airways
- Buccal: pertaining to or directed toward the cheek
- BUN: Blood Urea Nitrogen
- Calcaneus: heel bone
- Callous: to become hardened
- Callus: hard thickening of skin or bone
- Canthus: corner of the eyelid (medial or lateral canthus)
- Capitulum: small head or rounded articular process of bone
- Capnophilic: bacteria that grow best in carbon dioxide
- Caput: head of a structure
- Cardiopulmonary: pertaining to the heart and lungs
- Cardiovascular: pertaining to heart and blood vessels
- Carpus: wrist
- Cathode: negatively charged electrode
- Caudad: toward the tail
- Caudal: Of, at, or near the tail
- Caudectomy: surgical removal of the tail
- Cecal: relating to saclike cavity with one opening; blind ended pouch
- Celiotomy: incision into the abdomen
- Centrifugal: fleeing the center
- Cerebellospinal: from the cerebellum (small globe on back of brain) to the spinal cord
- Cerebrospinal: pertaining to the brain and spinal cord
- Cerebrum: main portion (large globe) of the brain
- Cerumen: earwax
- Ceruminolytic: agent that dissolves earwax
- Cervicofacial: pertaining to neck and face
- Cervix: neck-like entrance to the uterus
- Cheilitis: chapped or inflammed lips
- Cheirology: signing for the deaf
- Chemotaxis: movement of a cell or organism toward or away from a chemical stimulus
- Chiropractor: person who attempts to heal by manipulation of the spine and other body parts
- Cholesterol: a solid alcohol first discovered in gallstones
- Chondrosarcoma: malignant tumor of cartilage
- Circumcision: circular incision to remove the prepuce (penile sheath)
- Circumferential: a line around a closed circle
- Cleidocranial: pertaining to clavicle and head
- Collodion: nitrocellulose solution in ether or alcohol (drug solvent or wound sealant)
- Colloid: jelly-like mixture of particles in a liquid medium
- Colon: lower intestine
- Corpse: a dead body
- Corpuscle: “little body”…a blood cell or globular structure such as nerve pressure receptors
- Cortex: outer layer of an organ
- Costochrondral: pertaining to a rib and its cartilage
- Coxalgia: pain in the hip
- Coxofemoral: pertaining to the hip and the thigh bone
- Cranial: relating to the skull
- Craniospinal: pertaining to the skull and bones of the spine
- Craniotomy: surgical incision into the skull
- Craniotomy: incision into the skull
- CRD, CRF: Chronic Renal (Disease or Failure)
- Crepitation: crackling sounds
- Crus: leg from knee to ankle
- Crystalluria: crystals in the urine
- Decompose: to break down into various compartments
- Decubital: relating to a bedsore
- Deflection: deviation from expectation
- Dehydrate: to deplete of body water
- Dentoalveolar: pertaining to the teeth and their sockets
- Dexterity: grace in physical movement
- Dextrose: structural form of glucose that rotates to the right
- Disinfection: treatment to destroy harmful organisms
- Dissect: to cut apart for the study of anatomy
- Distal: away from reference point
- Diuresis: excessive discharge of urine
- Dorsal: of or near the back
- Duodenum: upper small intestine about 12 finger widths long
- Dura mater: tough, fibrous outer coat of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord
- Dyschezia: difficulty in defecation
- Dyspeptic: discomfort following a meal
- Dyspnea: difficulty in breathing
- Eburnation: to make hard and dense like ivory
- Eccentric: deviating from a circle
- Ectoparasite: a parasite that lives on the outside of the body
- Ectopic: an abnormal location for an organ or body part
- Emesis: act of vomiting
- Emetic: causing vomiting
- Emollient: a soothing (feels soft) agent
- Empyema: pus in a body cavity, especially the chest
- Encephalitis: inflammation inside skull
- Endometrium: glandular mucous membrane that lines the inside of the uterus
- Enteritis: inflammation of the intestines
- Epidemiology: study of the cause, distribution, and control of diseases in groups of people (Note: if groups of animals – epizootiologyis the proper term)
- Epidermis: outermost part of skin
- Epidural: on or over the dura mater of the spinal cord
- Epiglottis: thin cartilage at base of tongue and above the larynx that flaps over the larynx during swallowing
- Esophagus: food tube from pharynx to stomach
- Esophoria: tendency for eyes to deviate inwardly
- Exocytosis: intracellular vesicles are secreted by fusion with the outer cell membrane
- Exophthalmos: an abnormal protrusion of the eyeball
- Expectorate: to spit
- External: outside
- Extracorporeal: located or occurring outside the body
- Extravasation: forcing blood or lymph out of vessels and into the surrounding tissue
- Facioplasty: plastic surgery on the face
- Femoral condyle: rounded projections on end of the thigh bone
- Femur: thigh bone
- Fibula: smaller outer bone of leg below kneecap
- Flexion: the act of bending a joint or limb
- Frontotemporal: pertaining to forehead and temples of the skull
- Fundus: portion of a hollow organ that is furthest from its opening (e.g. fundus of eye, fundus of the stomach)
- Genioplasty: reconstructive surgery on the chin
- Genucubital: pertaining to the knees and elbows
- GFR: Glomerular Filtration Rate
- Gingival: pertaining to the gums
- Glioma: brain tumor composed of neuroglia cells
- Glossopharyngeal: pertaining to the tongue and throat (9th cranial nerve)
- Glottis: opening of upper larynx
- Gluten: tough, viscous material left after wheat is washed to remove starch
- Halitosis: offensive odorous breath
- Hematochezia: (red) blood in the feces
- Hematuria: blood in the urine
- Hemostasis: the stoppage of bleeding
- Hepatoma: benign tumor of the liver
- Hepatotoxic: poisonous to the liver
- Hyalosis: a degenerative change in the vitreous humor
- Hypertrophy: excessive growth requiring excess nutrients
- Hypoglossal: under the tongue (12thcranial nerve)
- Hypostatic: the settling of blood in a lower aspect of an organ due to poor blood flow
- Hypoxia: decreased oxygen
- Hypsodont: teeth with high crowns and short roots
- Ileum: last part of small intestines before the colon
- Ilium: upper part of hip bone
- Indurated: made hard
- Infarct: necrosis of tissue from obstructed arterial supply
- Inferolateral: lower and away from middle
- Inferolateral: lower and to the side
- Infraorbital: located beneath the orbit of the eye
- Infraspinatus: muscle beneath the spine of the scapula (shoulder blade)
- Inguinal: referring to the groin
- Inspissated: to become thicker as if with dehydration
- Intercellular: between cells
- Intercostal: between the ribs
- Intracellular: within a cell
- Intracerebral: within the cerebrum (large globe of brain)
- Intravenous: inside a vein
- Irradiation: the use of ionizing radiation
- Ischium: lower part of hip bone
- IVP: Intravenous Pyelography
- Jejunum: Middle segment of small intestines
- Juxtaglomerulus: near the glomerulus (kidney filter)
- Juxtaposition: located or placed side-by-side
- Kinesiology: study of the body’s movement
- Labial: pertaining to lips
- Laparoscopy: examination of the interior of the abdomen with a scope (usually fiberoptic)
- Laparotomy: surgical incision through the flank
- Laryngoplegia: paralysis of the voice box
- Laryngoscope: instrument to view the voice box
- Lateral: situated at or on the side
- Lateroabdominal: on the side of the abdomen
- Latissimus dorsi: broadest muscle of back
- Leptomeningitis: inflammation of the pia mater or arachnoid membrane of the meninges surrounding the brain or spinal cord
- Leptospirosis: slender spiral bacteria that causes inflammation of the kidney
- Levorotation: counterclockwise rotation
- Levothyroxine: left directed isomer of thyroid hormone (active form)
- Lienopathy: disease of the spleen
- Lingual: referring to the tongue
- Locomotor: relating to movement from one place to another
- Locus: a place, a location
- Longissimus muscles: long muscles along spine
- Lumbar: pertaining to the loins
- Lumbosacral: pertaining to the lumbar and sacral vertebrae
- Macula densa: a spot of dense cells near the glomerulus that secretes the hormone renin
- Macula lutea: a yellow spot on the retina that mediates the clearest, most detailed vision
- Mandible: lower jawbone
- Manipulate: to handle
- Masseter: chewing muscle of the jaw
- Maxilla: upper jawbone
- Medial: relating to the middle
- Median: a midline that divides the body into equal right and left halves
- Mediolateral: from the middle toward the side
- Medulla: the inner core of an organ
- Meloplasty: reconstructive surgery of the cheek
- Melosalgia: pain in the lower limbs
- Mesentery: folds of peritoneum that connect organs to the dorsal, inner abdominal wall
- Mesojejunum: mesentery of the jejunum portion of the small intestines
- Molar: tooth than grinds like a millstone
- Myelin: a white fatty material that covers nerves with fast conduction of impulses
- Myelogenous: produced in the bone marrow
- Myelogram: radiograph of spinal cord after administering surrounding constrastmedia
- Nasolacrimal: pertaining to the tear duct and nose
- Nephropathy: disease of the kidney
- Neural: pertaining to nerves
- Neuroglia: cells that support and insulate nerve cells
- Neurohypophysis: posterior part of pituitary that consists of nerve cells from the base of the brain
- Nidus: a point of origination or accumulation
- Nocturnal enuresis: bed wetting
- Notochord: rod-like structure that forms the spinal column
- Occlude: to obstruct
- Odontectomy: tooth extraction
- Oleoresin: an oily plant sap that may cause contact allergy (capsaicin is an oleoresin from peppers used as a liniment)
- Omalgia: shoulder pain
- Omphalitis: inflammation of the umbilicus (navel)
- Onychectomy: declaw
- Onychophagia: nail chewing
- Opisthotonus: a spasm of the body with the head and heels bent backward
- Opsonin: enticing to phagocytosis
- Oropharynx: mouth and throat
- Ossification: forming bone
- Osteoarthritis: inflammation of the bones of a joint
- Osteomalacia: softening of bone
- Osteoporosis: demineralization of bone
- Pachyderm: “thick skin”
- Pachymeningitis: inflammation of the dura mater of the meninges
- Palmar: relating to the palm of the hand
- Palpebral: pertaining to eyelids
- Pancreatectomy: surgical removal of the pancreas
- Parathyroid: by the thyroid(glands that control calcium balance)
- Paresthesia: a skin sensation without any apparent cause
- Pectoral: pertaining to the breast
- Pellagra: rough skin from niacin (B vitamin) deficiency
- Pepsin: enzyme for digestive process
- Peracute: very rapid and violent
- Percutaneous: passed through the skin
- Peribronchial: surrounding a bronchus (lower airway in lungs)
- Perineum: area between the anus and genitals
- Periosteum: a dense fibrous covering of bone, except at the joints
- Peritoneum: lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs
- Pernasal: performed through the nose
- Peroneal: pertaining to the fibula
- Pertussis: whooping cough (bacterial disease)
- Petrosal: referring to the petroustemporal bone
- Petrous: pertaining to the hard part of the temporal bone
- Phalanx: finger or toe bones
- Pharyngeal: pertaining to the throat
- Pharyngitis: sore throat
- Phototaxis: movement of a cell or organism toward or away from a lightstimulus
- Phrenic: pertaining to the diaphragm
- Phrenospasm: hiccups
- Pinealoma: tumor of a pine cone-shaped gland of the brain
- Plantar: relating to the sole of the foot
- Plantigrade: walking on the sole of the foot
- Pleural: relating to the inner lining of the chest and outer lining of lungs
- Pleuritis: inflammation of the chest lining
- Pneumonia: inflammation of the lungs with congestion
- Podalgia: pain in the foot
- Podiatrist: specialist in foot problems
- Pollakiuria: abnormally frequent urination
- Polydactyly: excessive number of fingers or toes
- Polydipsia: excessive drinking
- Popliteal: hollow back part of knee area
- Posterior: relating to the caudal end of quadrapeds and the dorsal area of primates
- Posterolateral: caudal (or dorsal) and away from the midline
- Postoperative: after surgery
- Postpartum: after birth
- Postprandial: following a meal
- Postprandial: after eating
- Premaxillary: in front of the maxillary bones
- Proctologist: medical specialist in the anus and rectum
- Proctoscopy: examination of the anus and rectum with a scope
- Prognosis: a prediction of the probable course or outcome of disease
- Pronate: to turn the palmar surface down or back
- Prosodemic: disease that is transmitted from person to person
- Prosopoplegia: facial paralysis
- Proximal: nearer to a reference point
- Psychosomatic: mental or emotional problems that act as a physical problem
- Ptyalin: an enzyme in saliva
- Pulse: palpable expansion and contraction of an artery
- Purgative: causing the bowels to empty
- Pygostyle: spinal tail of birds
- Pyloromyotomy: cutting the muscle at the end of the stomach
- Pylorospasm: involuntary contraction of the end of the stomach
- Pylorus: gate from stomach to duodenum
- Pyuria: pus in the urine
- Rachiotome: instrument for cutting the spine
- Rales: fine crackles sounds in the lungs
- Reflex: an automatic response or reaction
- Regurgitation: act of flowing backward
- Relapse: to regress after a partial recovery
- Renal: pertaining to the kidney
- Respiration: act of breathing
- Retrograde: reverting to an earlier or inferior condition
- Rhabdomyolysis: breaking up of skeletal muscle
- Rhinitis: inflammation of the nose
- Rhinoplasty: reconstructive surgery of the nose
- Rhonchus: a continuous snoring sound in throat, trachea, or bronchi
- Rostral: referring to the nasal region
- Rotary: something that moves around an axis
- Rotator: a muscle that aids in rotating a part of the body
- Sacroiliac: junction of the end of the spine and the hip bone
- Sacrum: triangular bone below lumbar vertebrae
- Sagittal: a plane parallel to the median plane
- Saphenous vein: obvious vein above the heel or hock
- Sarcoma: malignant tumor of flesh tissue (not from lining cells of the body, those are carcinomas)
- Scapula: shovel-shaped bone (shoulder blade)
- Scatoscopy: examing the feces for diagnostic evidence
- Scelalgia: pain in the lower part of the leg
- Scirrhous: firm and fibrous
- Sclera: dense white outer covering of most of the eye
- Sensorium: sensory portion of the body
- Sinister: on the left side (also means treatening evil)
- Sinistromanual: left-handed
- Somatotropin: growth hormone
- Spasmolytic: stopping an involuntary contraction
- Spectrometer: instrument that measures index of light reflection
- Spirogram: graph of respiratory movements
- Splanchnic: pertaining to the viscera (soft internal organs)
- Splenomegaly: enlarged spleen
- Spondylopathy: disease of the spine
- Spongiosis: edema of the spongy layer of the skin
- Stereoscopic: pertaining to 3-dimensional vision
- Sternocostal: pertaining to the breastbone and ribs
- Sternomastoid: a structure that runs from the sternum to the base of the skull
- Sternum: breastbone
- Stertorous: snoring or similar to snoring
- Stethoscope: instrument for listening to heart sounds
- Subarachnoid: beneath the arachnoid membrane (web part) of the meninges of the spinal cord
- Subcutaneous: under the skin
- Superciliary: above the eyelashes…eyebrow
- Superior: in a higher location
- Superjacent: lying immediately above
- Supinate: to turn the palmar surface up or forward
- Synapse: junction in which a nerve impulse passes to another nerve, muscle, or gland
- Syndesmorrhaphy: suturing of a ligament
- Tachycardia: rapid heart beat
- Talotibial: pertaining to the ankle and large lower leg bone
- Talus: highest of the ankle bones
- Tarsalgia: pain in the ankle
- Tarsus: ankle, bones in angle between tibia and metatarsals of foot
- Telangiectasis: chronic dilation of a group of capillaries causing small dark red blotches on the skin
- Telecardiogram: an electrocardiogram obtained at a distance from the patient
- Telemetry: automatic measurement of data and transmission over distances by wire, radio, or other means
- Tendotome: an instrument used to cut a tendon
- Tentorium: a membranous covering or partition
- Thelorrhagia: bloody discharge from nipple
- Thoracolumbar: pertaining to the junction of the chest and loin
- Thoracotomy: surgical incision into the pleural cavity
- Thymoma: tumor of the thymus gland
- Tibia: inner, larger bone below knee
- Tibiotarsal: junction between large shin bone and ankle
- Tonometer: instrument for measuring eye tension (pressure)
- Topology: anatomic structure of a specific area or part of the body
- Trachelorrhapy: suture of torn or lacerated cervix
- Tracheobronchitis: inflammation of the windpipe and its branches
- Transection: to divide or cut transversely
- Transverse: lying across
- Treponema: a genus of spiral bacteria (one causes syphilis)
- Tricuspid: having three points
- Trismus: spasm of the chewing muscles
- Ulna: bone of forearm from elbow to little finger side of wrist
- Uranoschisis: cleft palate
- Ureter: urine tube from the kidney to the bladder
- Ureterolith: a calculus (stone) in the ureter
- Urethra: urine tube from the bladder to the outside
- Uvula: little grape-like flesh that hangs from the soft palate in humans
- Venipuncture: sticking a needle in a vein
- Venostasis: stopping the flow of unoxygenated blood
- Ventilate: to replace air in an enclosed space
- Ventral: relating to the abdominal area
- Ventrodorsal: extending from the abdominal surface to the dorsal surface
- Versicolor: having a variety of colors or changing in color
- Vesicorenal: pertaining to the kidney and urinary bladder
- Villi: surface protrusions that are like tufts of hair
- Visceroparietal: pertaining to soft internal organs and the abdominal wall
- Viscosity: measuring the resistance to flow
- Viscous: sticky, thick, and resistant to flow