 | Term | Definition |
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Abdomen |
Space below the chest containing organs such as the liver, stomach, gallbladder, and intestines; also called abdomen cavity. |
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Abdominal cavity |
Space below the chest containing organs such as the liver, stomach, gallbladder, and intestines; also called abdomen. |
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Adipose |
Pertaining to or full of fat. |
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Anabolism |
Process of building up complex materials (proteins) from simple materials. |
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Anterior |
Front surface of the body. |
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Cartilage |
Flexible connective tissue attached to bones at joints. |
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Catabolism |
Process of breaking down complex materials (foods) to form simpler substances and release energy. |
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Caudal |
Below another structure; pertaining to the tail or lower portion of the body (also called inferior). |
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Cell membrane |
Structure surrounding and protecting the cell. It determines what enters and leaves the cell. |
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Cephalic |
Above another structure 9also called superior); pertaining to the head |
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Cervical |
Pertaining to the neck of the body or the neck of the uterus. |
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Chondroma |
Benign tumor of cartilage. |
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Chondrosarcoma |
Malignant tumor of flesh or connective tissue. |
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Chromosome |
Rod-shaped structures in the nucleus that contain regions of DNA called genes. |
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Coccygeal |
Pertaining to the coccyx (tailbone). |
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Coccyx |
The tailbone, is a small bone composed of four fused pieces. |
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Cranial cavity |
Space in the head containing the brain and surrounded by the skull. Cranial means pertaining to the brain. |
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Craniotomy |
Incision of the skull. |
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Cytoplasm |
All the material that is outside the nucleus and yet contained within the cell membrane. |
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Deep |
Away from the surface. |
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Diaphragm |
Muscle separation the abdominal cavity from the thoracic cavity. |
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Disk (disc) |
Small pad composed of water and cartilage used as a shock absorber between each vertebrae. |
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Distal |
Far from the point of attachment to the trunk or far from the beginning of a structure. |
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Dorsal |
Pertaining to the back. |
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Endoplasmic reticulum |
Structure (canals) within the cytoplasm. Site in which large proteins are made from smaller protein pieces. |
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Epigastric region |
Region above the stomach. |
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Epithelial cells |
Skin cells that cover the external body surface and line the internal surfaces of organs. |
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Frontal plane |
Vertical plane dividing the body or structure into anterior and posterior portions. |
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Genes |
Regions of DNA within each chromosome. |
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Histology |
The study of tissues. |
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Hypochondriac region |
Upper right and left region below the cartilage of the ribs that extend over the abdomen. |
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Iliac |
Pertaining to the ilium. |
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Inguinal region |
Lower right and left region near the groin. Also known as the iliac region. |
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Intervertebral |
Pertaining to the space between any two vertebrae. |
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Karyotype |
Picture of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell. |
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Larynx |
"Voice box"; located at the upper part of the trachea. |
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Lateral |
Pertaining to the side. |
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Lumbar region |
Middle right and left region near the waist. |
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Lumbosacral |
Pertaining to the lumbar and sacral. |
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Medial |
Pertaining to the middle or near the medial plane of the body. |
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Mediastinum |
Centrally located space between the lungs. |
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Metabolism |
The total of the chemical processes in a cell. Process of change. |
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Mitochondria |
Structures in the cytoplasm in which foods are burned to release energy. |
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Nucleic |
Pertaining to the nucleus. |
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Nucleus |
Control center of the cell. It contains chromosomes and directs the activities of the cell. |
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Pelvic cavity |
Space below the abdomen containing portions of the intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, and reproductive organs. |
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Peritoneum |
Double layered membrane surrounding the abdominal organs. |
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Pharynx |
Throat. The pharynx serves as the common passageway for both food and air. |
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Pituitary gland |
Endocrine gland at the base of the brain. |
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Pleura |
Double layered membrane surrounding each lung. |
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Pleural cavity |
Space between the pleural membranes and surrounding each lung. |
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Posterior |
Back surface of the body. |
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Prone |
Lying on the belly (face down, palms down). |
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Proximal |
Near the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a structure. |
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Sacral |
Pertaining to the sacrum. |
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Sacrum |
Made up of five bones fused to form one bone. |
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Sagittal plane |
Lengthwise, vertical plane dividing the body or structure into right and left sides. |
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Sarcoma |
Tumor of the flesh |
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Spinal cavity |
Space within the spinal column (backbones) and containing the spinal cord (also called spinal canal). |
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Spinal column |
Bone tissue surrounding the spinal cavity. |
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Spinal cord |
Nervous tissue within the spinal cavity. |
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Superficial |
On the surface. |
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Supine |
Lying on the back (face up, palms up). |
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Thoracic cavity |
Space in chest containing the heart, lungs, bronchial tubes, trachea, esophagus, and other organs. |
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Thoracotomy |
Incision of the chest. |
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Thyroid gland |
Endocrine gland that surrounds the trachea in the neck. |
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Trachea |
"Windpipe" tube leading from the throat to the bronchial tubes. |
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Tracheal |
Pertaining to the trachea (windpipe). |
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Transverse plane |
Horizontal plane dividing the body into upper and lower portions. |
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Umbilical region |
Region of the navel or umbilicus. |
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Ureter |
One of two tubes, each leading from a single kidney to the urinary bladder. |
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Urethra |
Tube from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. |
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Uterus |
The womb. The organ that holds the embryo/fetus as it develops. |
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Ventral |
Pertaining to the anterior (belly side) of the body. |
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Vertebra |
Anyone of the 33 bones of the spinal column. |
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Vertebrae |
Plural of vertebra. |
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Vertebral |
Pertaining to one or more of the vertebra. |
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Viscera |
Internal organs. |
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Visceral |
Pertaining to the internal organs. |
