- anatomical position: the position of the body to which health professionals refer when noting body planes, positions, or directions: the person is assumed to be standing upright (erect), facing forward, feet pointed forward and slightly apart, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward; the patient is visualized in this pose before applying any other term of reference
- ancurysm: a bulging of a wall of an artery
- ankyl/o: crooked or stiff
- anterior (A) (ventral): front of the body
- aortofram: x-ray of the largest artery
- appendicular skeleton: bones of shoulder, pelvis, and upper and lower extremities
- arthr/o: joint
- arthroplasty: surgical repair of a joint
- articul/o: joint
- articular cartilage: a gristlelike substance on bones where they articulate
- articulation: a joint; the point where two bones come together
- auscultation: use of stethoscope
- axial skeleton: bones of skull, vertebral column, chest, and hyoid bone (U-shaped bone at the base of the tongue)
- body planes: reference planes for indicating the location or direction of body parts
- bone: specialized connective tissue composed of osteocytes (bone cells) forming the skeleton
- bone marrow: soft connective tissue within the medullary cavity of bones
- brachi/o: arm
- bursa: a fibrous sac between certain tendons and bones, lined with a synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid
- cardiac muscle: muscle of the heart
- cardiomyopathy: general term for heart muscle disease
- cardioversion: termination of tachycardia by drugs
- cephalic: superior
- cervic/o: neck
- chondr/o: cartilage (gristle)
- clavicle: collarbone
- compact bone: tightly solid, strong bone tissue resistant to bending
- cor pulmonale: right ventricular failure
- coronal or frontal plane: vertical division of the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions
- cost/o: rib
- crani/o: skull
- dactyl/o: digit (finger or toe)
- diaphysis: shaft of a long bone
- disk: a flat, platelike structure composed of fibrocartilaginous tissue found between the vertebrae to reduce friction
- dorsal: posterior
- elecrocardiogram: recording of sound waves through the heart
- endosteum: membrane lining the medullary cavity of a bone
- epiphysis: wide ends of a long bone (physis=growth)
- extension: straightening of a joint
- fasci/o: fascia (a band)
- fascia: a band or sheet of fibrous connective tissue that covers, supports, and separates muscle
- femor/o: femur
- fibro/o: fiber
- flat bones: bones of ribs, shoulder blades, pelvis, and skull
- humerus: upper arm bone
- inferior: caudal
- insertion of a muscle: muscle end attached to the bone that moves when the muscle contracts
- irregular bones: bones of vertebrae and face
- kyph/o: humped-back
- kyphosis: humped back condition
- lei/o: smooth
- ligament: a flexible band of fibrous tissue that connects bone to bone
- long bones: bones of arms and legs
- lord/o: bent
- lumb/o: loin (lower back)
- medullary cavity: cavity within the shaft of the long bones filled with bone marrow
- metacarpals: hand bones
- metaphysis: growth zone between epiphysis and diaphysis during development of a long bone
- muscle: tissue composed of fibers that can contract, causing movement of an organ or part of the body
- muscul/o: muscle
- my/o: muscle
- myel/o: bone marrow or spinal cord
- myocardial infraction: heart attack
- myocarditis: inflammation of the heart muscle
- myos/o: muscle
- nucleus pulposus: soft, fibrocartilaginous, central portion of intervertebral disc
- origin of a muscle: muscle end attached to the bone that does not move when the muscle contracts
- oste/o: bone
- osteotome: instrument for cutting a bone
- patell/o: knee cap
- patella: knee cap
- patent ductus arteriosus= abnormal opening between: pulmonary artery and aorta
- pelesteum: membraneous outer bone cover
- pelv/i: hip bone or pelvic cavity
- pelv/o: hip bone or pelvic cavity
- periosteum: a fibrous, vascular membrane that covers the bone
- posterior (P) (dorsal): back of the body
- pronation: turning downward of palmar of plantar surface
- prone: dorsal recumbent
- radi/o: radius
- red bone marrow: functions to form red blood cells, some white blood cells, and platelets; found in cavities of most bones in infants and in the flat bones in adults
- rhabd/o: rod shaped or striated (skeletal)
- saggital plane: vertical division of the body into right and left positions
- sarc/o: flesh
- scoli/o: twisted
- sesamoid bones: round bones found near joints
- short bones: bones of wrist and ankles
- smooth muscle: involuntary muscle found in internal organs
- spondyl/o: vertebra
- spongy (cancellous) bone: mesh-like bone tissue containing marrow and fine branching canals through which blood vessels run
- stern/o: sternum (breastbone)
- striated (skeletal) muscle: voluntary muscle attached to the skeleton
- supine: ventral recumbent
- synovial fluid: joint-lubricating fluid secreted by the synovial membrane
- synovial membrane: membrane lining the capsule of a joint
- ten/o: tendon (to stretch)
- tend/o: tendon (to stretch)
- tendin/o: tendon (to stretch)
- tendon: a band of fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone
- thorac/o: chest
- ton/o: tone or tension
- transverse plane: horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions
- uln/o: ulna
- ventral: anterior
- ventricular septum defect: opening in lower chambers' partition
- vertebr/o: vertebra
- yellow bone marrow: gradually replaces red bone marrow in adult bones; functions as storage for fat tissue; and is inactive in formation of blood cells