Medical Terminology Chapter 5 Review

Medical Terminology Key Terms

• Thoracentesis: Surgical procedure to puncture the chest for fluid removal or examination.
• Acrodermatitis: Inflammation of the skin, typically in the extremities (hands and feet).
• Laparoscopy: Diagnostic examination of the abdominal cavity through small incisions in the abdominal wall.
• Dextropedal: Relating specifically to the right foot.
• Caudal: Anatomical term indicating a position towards the tail or lower body.
• Macropodia: Condition characterized by unusually large feet.
• Subdermal: Referring to the layer beneath the skin.
• Macrocephaly: Medical condition involving an abnormally large head size.
• Celiotomy: Surgical incision made in the abdominal wall to access the abdominal cavity.
• Circumcision: Surgical procedure involving a circular cut, often performed on the foreskin of the penis.
• Fundus: The base of a hollow organ; important in anatomy for organs like the stomach and uterus.
• Meatus: Term for a passage or opening, particularly in biological systems.
• Lumen: The central cavity or channel within a tube-like structure (e.g., blood vessels).
• Sphincter: Circular muscle that controls the opening and closing of bodily passages.
• Septum: A dividing wall or membrane, often found in cavities such as the heart or nasal passages.

Anatomical Positioning and Directions

• The cranial and spinal cavities are classified as dorsal body cavities.
• A midsagittal plane divides the body into equal right and left halves.
• The wrist is distally located compared to the elbow, acting as a reference point for anatomical directions.
• The abdominal cavity is superior to the pelvic cavity, indicating its position above the pelvis.
• The hypogastric region is located inferior to the umbilical region in abdominal anatomy.
• In a supine position, an individual lies face up on their back.
• The right hypochondriac region is positioned in the right upper quadrant (RUQ) of the abdomen.

Body Regions and Terminology

• Celiac: Pertains to the abdominal area.
• Phalangeal: Relates to the bones of the fingers or toes.
• Popliteal: Refers to the area located at the back of the knee.
• Occipital: Pertaining to the base of the skull.
• Carpal: Relates to the wrist area.
• Cervical: Refers to the neck region.
• Lumbar: Pertaining to the lower back (small of the back).
• Brachial: Refers to the arm region.

Anatomical References and Comparisons

• Suprapubic: Means situated above the pubis.
• Infraumbilical: Refers to the area below the navel or umbilicus.
• Cerviofacial: Pertaining to both the neck and face.
• Sublingual: Describes the area under the tongue.
• Retroperitoneal: Indicates a location behind the peritoneum, which is a membrane lining the abdominal cavity.
• Bipedal: Describes an organism that walks on two feet.
• Dorsal: Same as posterior; refers to the back side of the body.
• Periocular: Same as circumocular; related to the area surrounding the eyes.
• Inframammary: Another term for submammary; refers to the area beneath the breast.

Opposites and Related Terminology

• Megacephaly / Macrocephaly: Terms indicating an enlarged head, opposite of microcephaly.
• Superficial: Opposite of deep; describes structures closer to the surface of the body.
• Distal: Opposite of proximal; indicates a structure further from the body's center.
• Suprascapular: Opposite of subscapular; above the shoulder blade.
• Intracellular: Opposite of extracellular; within a cell.
• Inferior: Opposite of superior; below another structure in anatomical terms.

Medical Conditions

• Dactylospasm: Cramping of a finger or toe.
• Polydactyly: Condition characterized by the presence of extra fingers or toes.
• Syndactyly: Fusion of fingers or toes, resulting in a webbed appearance.
• Adactyly: Absence of a finger or toe.
• Acephaly: A condition where a head is absent.
• Mesocephalic: Describes an individual with an average-sized head (normocephalic).

Etymology and Word Parts

• Acro: Prefix denoting extremities or limbs.
• Cyan/o: Combining form meaning blue, used in conditions like acrocyanosis (bluish discoloration of extremities).
• Ante-: Prefix meaning before; used in terms like antebrachial (forearm).
• Epi-: Prefix meaning on or over; used in epigastric (upper abdominal region).