Chapter 2: The Human Body in Health and Disease

Medical Terminology and Definitions

• apid/o refers to fat, important in understanding conditions related to lipid metabolism.
• anter/o indicates the front of the body, essential in anatomical directions.
• aden/o denotes gland, vital for studying endocrine and exocrine systems.
• The suffix -ologist signifies a specialist in a field, relevant in various medical disciplines.
• The suffix -ology means the study of, foundational for medical and biological sciences.
• cyt/o translates to cell, fundamental in cell biology and histology.
• cephal/o refers to the head, used in describing cranial structures.
• caud/o signifies the tail, utilized in anatomical positioning.
• The prefix exo- indicates 'out of,' often related to external structures or functions.
• The prefix endo- means 'within,' commonly used in terms related to internal processes.

Health Concepts

• poster/o translates as back, useful in anatomical orientation.
• The suffix -stasis means control, pertinent in discussions of physiological regulation.
• path/o indicates disease, a central term in pathology.
• The suffix -plasia refers to formation, relevant in developmental biology.
• hist/o means tissue, crucial for understanding various tissue types and their functions.

Disease and Cavity Information

• A nosocomial infection is acquired in a hospital setting, significant for infection control.
• A dominant gene leads to a characteristic if inherited from one parent, important in genetics.
• The abdominal cavity houses major digestive organs, central to digestive health.
• Medial indicates a position closer to the midline, vital for anatomical descriptions.
• The function of adult stem cells is tissue maintenance and repair, key to regenerative medicine.

Genetics and Disorders

• Phenylketonuria is a genetic disorder lacking a specific digestive enzyme.
• Adenitis is the inflammation of a gland, relevant in diagnosing glandular conditions.
• The parietal peritoneum is the outer layer lining the abdominal wall, essential in abdominal anatomy.

Scientific Studies and Disease Outbreaks

• Cytology is the study of cells, encompassing chromosomes and genetics.
• Epigastric refers to the area above the stomach, useful in clinical diagnostics.
• Umbilical pertains to the bellybutton region, important in anatomy.
• Conditions below the ribs are described as hypochondriac, used in anatomical terms.
• The inguinal area refers to the entire lower abdomen, significant in hernia assessments.
• Genetics studies gene transmission and its impact on health and disease.

Epidemiological Context

• An epidemiologist studies disease outbreaks, key in public health.
• Exocrine glands secrete substances into ducts, contrasted with endocrine glands that release hormones directly.
• The stomach is located inferior to the diaphragm, a critical anatomical relationship.

Genetic and Disease Terminology

• Huntington's Disease (HD) is a genetic disorder affecting movement and cognition.
• Communicable diseases (CD) spread from person to person, important for public health measures.
• A general practitioner (GP) provides primary healthcare, often the first contact for patients.
• Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ) is a region used for localizing abdominal symptoms.

Anatomical Orientations and Planes

• Proximal means nearest to the midline, important in limb anatomy.
• Posterior indicates the back, foundational in physical examinations.
• The frontal plane divides the body into anterior and posterior sections.
• The midsagittal plane splits the body into left and right halves, fundamental in anatomical studies.

Medical Conditions and Treatments

• A distal end of a structure is farthest from the point of attachment, relevant in injury assessments.
• Down Syndrome encompasses genetic variations leading to specific phenotypic traits, highlighting genetics in health.
• Physiology is the study of body structure functions, essential in medical fields.
• The thoracic cavity surrounds vital organs like the heart and lungs, crucial for cardiopulmonary health.

Transmission and Infection Types

• An iatrogenic illness results from medical treatment, relevant in assessing medical risks.
• Chromosomes house genetic information in the nucleus, fundamental to genetics.
• An epidemic describes widespread disease occurrences, significant in global health monitoring.
• Functional disorders exhibit symptoms without visible physical changes, essential for diagnosis methods.

Disease Transmission Methods

• Bloodborne transmission spreads infections through blood, significant for disease control.
• Vector-borne transmission involves intermediary organisms like mosquitoes, important in disease prevention.
• Waterborne transmission occurs via contaminated water, crucial for public health initiatives.

Cavity and Inflammation Terms

• Pelvic cavity houses organs of the urinary system, critical in urological studies.
• Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum, important in surgical contexts.

Professional Roles in Genetics

• A geneticist specializes in genetics, focusing on hereditary conditions and research.
• Iliac region refers to the area of the hip bone, relevant in anatomical evaluations.
• A genome represents an organism's complete genetic information, pivotal in genetics research.

Cancer Terminology

• Adenocarcinoma is a malignant tumor from glandular tissue, relevant in oncology discussions.
• Fetal alcohol syndrome results from prenatal alcohol exposure, emphasizing teratogenic effects.

Surgical Terms

• Myoplasty is the surgical repair of muscle, significant in reconstructive procedures.
• Myalgia indicates muscle pain, important in clinical assessments.
• Laryngitis is the inflammation of the larynx, relevant in respiratory health.

Additional Surgical and Medical Terms

• Nephrosis denotes an abnormal kidney condition, important for renal health assessments.
• Neuroplasty is nerve repair surgery, relevant in neurosurgery.
• Nephritis means kidney inflammation, significant for nephrology studies.

Test your knowledge of medical terminology with flashcards focusing on the human body in health and disease. Each card features a word commonly used in medical contexts, accompanied by its definition. This resource is ideal for students preparing for healthcare-related exams.