Glossary of Medical and Physiological Terms (part. i)

abdominal cavity

· abdomin/o = abdomen

· -al = pertaining to

o The cavity beneath the thoracic cavity that is separated from the thoracic cavity by the diaphragm; contains the liver, gallbladder, spleen, stomach, pancreas, intestines, and kidneys.

abdominopelvic cavity

· abdomin/o = abdomen

· pelv/i = pelvis

· -ic = pertaining to

o A term that describes the abdominal and pelvic cavity collectively; refers

to the space between the diaphragm and the groin.

anaplasia

· (an-ah-PLAY-zee-ah)

· ana- =  not, without

· -plasia = formation, growth

o A change in the structure and orientation of cells, characterized by a loss of differentiation and reversion to a more primitive form.

Hyperplasia

· hyper- = high

· -plasia = formation, growth

anterior

· Pertaining to the front of the body or toward the belly of the body.

aplasia

· (ah-PLAY-zee-ah)

·  a = without, not

· -plasia formation, growth

o A developmental failure resulting in the absence of any organ or tissue.

cardiac muscle

· cardi/o = heart

· -ac = pertaining to

o The muscle that makes up the muscular wall of the heart.

cervical vertebrae

· (SER-vic-al VER-teh-bray)

· cervic/o = neck

· -al = pertaining to

o The first seven segments of the spinal column; identified as C1 through C7.

chromosomes

· (KROH-moh-sohm)

· The threadlike structures within the nucleus that control the functions of growth, repair, and reproduction for the body.

coccyx

· (COCK-siks)

· The tailbone. Located at the end of the vertebral column, the coccyx results from the fusion of four individual coccygeal bones in the child.

connective tissue

· Tissue that supports and binds other body tissue and parts.

cranial

· (KRAY-nee-al)

· crani/o skull

· -al pertaining to

· Pertaining to the skull or cranium.

cytology

· (sigh-TALL-oh-jee)

· cyt/o cell

· -logy the study of

· The study of cells.

cytoplasm

· (SIGH-toh-plazm)

· cyt/o cell

· -plasm living substance

· A gel-like substance that surrounds the nucleus of a cell. The cytoplasm

· contains cell organs, called organelles, which carry out the essential

· functions of the cell.