Med. Term. Chp. 4

Structural component of the nucleus, composed of nucleic acids and proteins.

Chromatin condenses to form chromosomes during cell division.

Threadlike structures within the nucleus composed of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule that carries hereditary information encoded in genes.

Each sperm and each egg has 23 unpaired chromosomes. After fertilization, each cell of the embryo then has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs). In each pair of chromosomes, one chromosome is inherited from the father and the other from the mother.

Jellylike substance found within the cell membrane composed of proteins, salts, water, dissolved gases, and nutrients.

All cellular structures, including the nucleus and organelles, are embedded in cytoplasm.

Molecule that holds genetic information capable of replicating and producing an exact copy whenever the cell divides.

Muscular wall that divides the thoracic cavity from the abdonimopelvic cavity.

Alternating contraction and relaxation of the diaphragm is essential to the breathing process.

Sum of all physical and chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism.

Metabolism includes the building up (anabolism) and breaking down (catabolism) of body constituents.

Cellular structure that provides a specialized function, such as the nucleus (reproduction), ribosomes (protein synthesis), Golgi apparatus (removal of material from the cell), and lysosomes (digestion).

The membranes of many organelles act as sites of chemical reactions.

Study of the nature of diseases, their causes, development, and consequences.

Pathology as a branch of medicine includes the use of laboratory methods rather than clinical examination of signs and symptoms to study the causes, nature, and development of diseases.

Rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the walls of a tubular organ to propel its contents onward.

Brain

Spinal cord

Heart, lungs, and associated structures

Digestive, excretory, and reproductive organs and structures

Right lobe of liver, gallbladder, part of pancreas, part of small and large intestines

Left lobe of liver, stomach, spleen, part of pancreas, part of small and large intestines

Part of small and large intestines, appendix, right ovary, right fallopian tube, right ureter

Part of small and large intestines, left ovary, left fallopian tube, left ureter

Upper left region beneath the ribs

Region above stomach

Upper right region beneath the ribs

Left middle lateral region

Region of the navel

Right middle lateral region

Left lower lateral region

Lower middle region beneath the navel

Right lower lateral region

Pertaining to the midline of teh body or structure

Pertaining to a side

Toward the head or upper portion of a structure

Away from the head, or toward the tail or lower part of a structure

Nearer to the center (trunk of the body) or to the point of attachment to the body

Further from the center (trunk of the body) or from the point of attachment to the body

Front of the body

Back of the body

Pertaining to the outer wall of the body cavity

Pertaining to the viscera, or internal organs, especially the abdominal organs

Lying on the abdomen, face down

Lying horizontally on the back, face up

Turning inward or inside out

Turning outward

Pertaining to the palm of the hand

Pertaining to the sole of the foot

Toward the surface of the body (external)

Away from the surface of the body (internal)

Cell

Specialist in study of cells

Cytologists study the formation, structure, and function of cells.

Tissue

Study of tissues

Histology is the branch of science that investigates the microscopic structures and functions of tissues.

Nucleus

Destruction of the nucleus

Karyolysis results in death of the cell.

Nucleus

Pertaining to the nucleus

Anterior, front

Pertaining to the front

Tail

Toward the tail

Caudad is opposite of craniad.

Cranium (skull)

Pertaining to the cranium

Far, farthest

Pertaining to the farthest (point of attachment)

Distal refers to the point furthest from the center (trunk) of the body or from the point of attachment to the body. Thus, the fingers are distal to the wrist.

Back (of the body)

Pertaining to the back (of the body).

Lower, below

Pertaining to a lower (structure or surface)

The inferior surface is the undersurface of a structure or organ, or a place below a structure or organ.

Side, to one side

Pertaining to a side

Middle

Toward the middle

Back (of body), behind, posterior

Pertaining to the back (of the body)

Near, nearest

Pertaining to the nearest (point of attachment)

Proximal refers to the point closes to the center (trunk) of the body or to the point of attachment to the body. Thus, the elbow is proximal to the wrist.

Belly, belly side

Pertaining to the belly side (front of the body)

Abdomen

Pertaining to the abdomen

Neck; cervix uteri (neck of uterus)

Pertaining to the neck

Cranium (skull)

Pertaining to the cranium

Stomach

Pertaining to (the area) below the stomach

Ilium (lateral, flaring portion of hip bone)

Pertaining to the ilium

Groin

Pertaining to the groin

The groin is the depression located between the thigh and trunk.

Loins (lower back)

Pertaining to the loins (lower back)

Pelvis

Instrument for measuring the pelvis

Pelvis

Pertaining to the pelvis

Spine

Pertaining to the spine

Chest

Pertaining to the chest

Umbilicus, navel

Pertaining to the navel

White

Condition of whiteness

Ablinism is characterized by a partial or total lack of pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes.

White

White cell

A leukocyte is a white blood cell.

Green

Green vision

Chloropia is a disorder in which viewed objects appear green. It is associated with a toxic reaction to digitalis.

Color

Pertaining to different colors

Heterochromia is associated with the iris or sections of the iris of the eyes. Thus, the individual with heterochromia may have one brown iris and one blue iris.

Yellow

Abnormal yellowing

In cirrhosis, the skin, sclera of the eyes, and mucous membranes take on a yellow color. Cirrhosis of the liver is usually associated with alcoholism or chronic hepatitis.

Yellow

Yellowing

Jaundice is caused by an abnormal increase of bilirubin (a yellow compound) formed when red blood cells are destroyed) in the blood.

Yellow

Yellow cell

Blue

Pertaining to blueness

Cyanosis is associated with lack of oxygen in the blood.

Red

Red cell

An erythrocyte is a red blood cell.

Black

Black tumor

Melanoma is malignancy that arises from melanocytes.

Gray; gray matter (of brain or spinal cord)

Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord

Bone marrow; spinal cord

Extremity

Abnormal condition in which the extremities are blue

Cause

Study of the cause of disease

Unknown, peculiar

Pertaining to an unknown (cause of) disease

Form, shape, structure

Study of form, shape, or structure

Disease

Specialist in teh study of disease

Pathologists examine tissues, cells, and body fluids for evidene of disease.

Radiation, x-ray; radius (lower arm bone on thumb side)

Specialist in the study of radiation

Radiologists are physicians who employ imaging techniques for diagnosing and treating disease.

Body

Pertaining to the body

Sound

Process of recording sound; also called ultrasonography.

Sonography employs ultrasound (inaudible sound) to produce images. It is a painless, noninvasive imaging technique that does not use x-rays.

Internal organs

Pertaining to internal organs

Dry

Abnormal condition of dryness

Xerosis refers to abnormal dryness of the skin, mucous membranes, or conjuctiva.

Forming, producing, origin

Origin of disease

Pathogenesis refers to the origin or cause of an illness or abnormal condition.

Knowing

Knowing before

Prognosis is the prediction of the course and end of a disease and the estimated chance of recovery.

Record, writing

Record of and artery

An arteriogram is an x-ray film of an artery taken after injection of a radiopaque contrast medium.

Instrument for recording

Instrument for recording x-rays

Process of recording

Process of recording a joint

Arthrography is an x-ray examination of a joint, such as the knee, shoulder, or elbow, usually with the use of a contract medium.

Specialist in the study of

Specialist in the study of the skin

Study of

Study of blood

Instrument for measuring

Instrument for measuring heat

Act of measuring

Act of measuring the ventricles

Disease

Disease of the stomach

From, away from

Act of bringing away from (midline of the body)

Abduction is the movement of a limb or body part away from the midline of the body.

Toward

Act of brining toward (midline of the body)

• Adduction is the movement of a limb toward the midline of the body.

Different

Different form or shape

Heteromorphous refers to any deviation from a normal type or shape.

Same, alike

Formation of same (tissue)

Homeoplasia is the formation of new tissue similar to that already existing in a part.

Below, under

Pertaining to (the area) below the ribs

Around

Pertaining to (the area) around the heart

Upper, above

Pertaining to the upper (area)

Across, through

Pertaining to (a direction) across or through the abdomen

Excess, beyond

• Pertaining to beyond (audible) sound
• Ultrasound includes sound frequencies too high to be perceived by the human ear.

Abnormal fibrous band that holds our binds together tissues that are normally separated.

Adhesions may occur within body cavities as a result of surgery.

Substance analyzed or tested, gernerally by means of laboratory methods.

In a glucose tolerance test, glucose is the analyte.

Substance injected into the body, introduced via catheter, or swallowed to facilitate radiographic images of internal structures that otehrwise are difficult to visualize on x-ray films.

Bursting open of a wound, especially a surgical abdominal wound.

Feverish; pertaining to a fever.

Relative constancy or balance in the internal environment of the body, maintained by processes of feedback and adjustment in response to external or internal changes.

In homeostasis, such properties as temperature, acidity, and the concentrations of nutrients and wastes remain relatively constant.

Body defense against injury, infection, or allergy that is marked by redness, swelling, heat, pain, and sometimes, loss of function.

Inflammation is one mechanism used by the body to protect against invasion by foreign organisms and to repair injured tissue.

Disease; pertaining to a disease

Branch of medicine concerned with the use of radioactive substances for diagnosis, treatment, and research.

Medical specialty concerned with the use of electromagnetci radiation, ultrasound, and imaging techniques for diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury.

Radiological practice that employs fluoroscopy, CT, and ultrasound in nonsurgical treatment of various disorders

Examples of interventional radiology include balloon angioplasty and cardiac catheterization.

Use of ionizing radiation in the treatment of cancer; alsoc called radiation oncology.

Substances that emit radiation spontaneously; also called tracers.

The quantity and duration of radioactive material used in these tests are safe for humans and should not have harmful effects.

Radionuclide attached to a protein, sugar, or toehr substance used to visualize an organ or area of the body that will be scanned.

Term used to describe a computerzied image by modality (such as CT, MRI, and nuclear imaging) or by structure (such as thyroid or bone).

Pathological state, usually febrile, resulting from the presence of microorganisms or their products in the bloodstream.

Producing or associated with generation of pus.

Visual examination of a body cavity or canal using a specialized lighted insturment called an endoscope.

Endoscopy is used for biopsy, surgery, aspirating fluids, and coagulating bleeding areas. The endoscope is usually named for the organ, cavity, or canal being examined, such as gastroscope sigmoidoscope. A camera and video recorder are commonly used during the procedure to provide a permanent record.

Visual examination of the organs of the pelvis and abdomen through very smal incisions in the abdominal wall.

Examination of the lungs, pleura, and pleural space with a scope inserted through a small incision between the ribs.

Thoracoscopy is an endoscopic procedure usually performed for lung biopsy, repairing perforations in the lungs, and diagnosing pleural disease.

Common blood test that enumerates red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets; measures hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying molecule in red blood cells); estimates red cell volume; and sorts white blood cells into five subtypes with their percentages.

CBC can be performed using a manual or automated method.

Common urine screening test that evaluates the physical, chemical, and microscopic properties of urine.

Immediate UA can be performed with a dipstick test or the urine specimen can be sent to the laboratory for a full analysis.

Imaging technique achieved by rotating an x-ray emitter around the area to be scanned and measuring the intensity of transmitted rays from different angles; formerly called computerized axial tomography.

In a CT scan, the computer generates a detailed cross-sectional image that appears as a slice. Tumor masses, bone displacement, and accumulations of fluid may be detected. This technique may be used with or without a contrast medium.

Ultrasound technique used to detect and measure blood-flow velocity and direction through the cardiac chambers, valves, and peripheral vessels by reflecting sound waves off moving blood cells.

Doppler ultrasound is used to identify irregularities in blood flow cause by blood clots, venous insufficiancy, and arterial blockage.

Radiographic technique in which x-rays are directed through the body to a fluorescent screen that displays continuous motion images of internal structures.

Fluoroscopy is used to view the motion of organs, such as the digestive tract, heart, and joints, or to aid in the placement of catheters or other devices.

Noninvasive imaging technique that uses radiowaves and a strong magnetic field rather than an x-ray beam to produce multiplanar cross-sectional images.

MRI is used to diagnose a growing number of diseases because it provides superior soft tissue contrast, allows multiple plane views, and avoids the hazards of ionizing radiation. MRI commonly proves superior to CT scan for most central nervous system images, particularly those of the brainstem and spinal cord as well as the musculoskeletal and pevic areas. The procedure usually does not require a contrast medium.

Scanning technique using computed tomography to record the positrons (positive charged particles) emitted from a radiopharmaceutical, that produces a cross-sectional image of metabolic activity in body tissues to determine the presence of disease.

PET is particularly useful in scanning the brain and nervous system to diagnose disorders that involve abnormal tissue metabolism, such as schizophrenia, brain tumors, epilepsy, stroke, and Alzheimer disease as well as cardiac and pulmonary disorders.

Imaging technique that uses x-rays passed thoruhg the body or area and captured on a film; also called x-ray.

On the radiograph, dense material, such as bone, appears white, and softer meaterial, such as the stomach and liver, appears in shades of gray.

Radiological technique that integrates computed tomography (CT) and a radioactive material (tracer) injected into the bloodstream to visualize blood flow to tissues and organs.

SPECT differs from a PET scan in that the tracer remains in teh blood stream rather than being absorbed by surrounding tissue. It is especially useful to visualize blood flow through arteries and veins in the brain.

Radiographic technique that produces an image representing a detailed cross-section, or slice, of an area, tissue, or organ at a predetermined depth.

Types of tomography include computed tomography (CT), poitron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).

Imaging procedure using high-frequency sound waves (ultrasound) that display the reflected "echoes" on a monitor; aloc called ultrasound, sonography, echo, and echography.

US, unlike most other imaging methods, creates real-time moving images to view organs and function of organs in motion. A computer analyzes the reflected echoes and converts them into an image on a video monitor. Because this procedure does not use ionizing radiation (x-ray), it is used for visualizing fetuses as well as the neck, abdomen, pelvis, brain, and heart.

Representative tissue sample removed from a body site for microscopic examination, usually to establish a diagnosis.

Ultra-thin slice of tissue cut from a frozen specimen for immediate pathological examination

• FS is used primarily in oncological cases while the patient is still in the operating room. The evaluation by the pathologst helps determine if and how aggressively the surgeon will treat the patient.

Removal of a small tissue sample for examination using a hollow needle, usually attached to a syringe.

Removal of a small core of tissue using a hollow instrument (punch).

An anesthetic and suturing are usually required for a punch bx, and minimal scarring is expected.

Removal of tissue using a surgical blade to shave elevated lesions.

Removal of a part, pathway, or function by surgery, chemical destruction, electrocautery, freezing, or raido frequenc (RF).

Surgical joining of two ducts, vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to another.

Destroy tissue by electricity, freezing, heat, or corrosive chemicals.

Scraping of a body cavity with a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette (curet).

Incision made to allow the free flow or withdrawal of fluids from a wound or cavity.

Surgical technique empling a devise that emits intense heat and power at close range to cut, burn, vaporize, or destroy tissues.

Surgical removal of tissue in an extensive area surrounding the surgical site in an attempt to excise all tissue that may be malignant and decrease the chance of recurrence.

• An example of a radical dissection procedure is radical mastectomy, in which the entire breast, surrounding lymph nodes, and sometimes adjacent muscles are removed.

Partial excision of a bone, organ, or other structure.

anterior

anteroposterior

biopsy

complete blood count

computed tomography

deoxyribonucleic acid

digital subtraction angiography

diagnosis

Frozen section

incision and drainage

lateral

left lower quadrant

left upper quadrant

magnetic resonance imaging

positron emission tomography

posterior

rheumatoid factor, radio frequency

right lower quadrant

right upper quadrant

sonogram

single photon emission computed tomography

symptom

treatment

urinalysis

upper and lower

ultrasound ultrasonography