Body Parts

Cell

Basic unit of all living things.  The human body is composed of trillions of cells, which vary in size and shape according to function.

Cell membrane

Forms the boundary of the cell.

Cytoplasm

Gel-like fluid inside the cell.

Nucleus

Largest structure within the cell, usually spherical and centrally located.  It contains chromosomes for cellular reproduction and is the control center of the cell.

Chromosomes

Located in the nucleus of the cell.  There are 46 chromosomes in all normal human cells, with the exception of mature sex cells, which have 23.

Genes

Regions within the chromosome.  Each chromosome has several thousand genes that determine hereditary characteristics.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Comprises each gene; is a chemical that regulates the activity of the cell.

Tissue

Group of similar cells that performs a specific task.

Muscle tissue

Composed of cells that have a special ability to contract, usually producing movement.

Nervous tissue

Found in the nerves, spinal cord, and brain.  It is responsible for coordinating and controlling body activities.

Connective tissue

Connects, supports, penetrates, and encases various body structures.  Adipose (fat) and osseous (bone) tissues and blood are types of connective tissue.

Epithelial tissue

The major covering of the external surface of the body; forms membranes that line body cavities and organs and is the major tissue in glands.

Organ

Two or more kinds of tissues that together perform special body functions.  For example, the skin is an organ composed of epithelial, connective, muscle, and nerve tissue.

System

Group of organs that work together to perform complex body functions.  For example, the cardiovascular system consists of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.  Its function is to transport nutrients and oxygen to the cells and remove carbon dioxide and other waste products.

Cranial cavity

Space inside the skull (cranium) containing the brain.

Spinal cavity

Space inside the spinal column containing the spinal cord.

Thoracic cavity

Space containing the heart, aorta, lungs, esophagus, trachea, and bronchi.

Abdominal cavity

Space containing the stomach, intestines, kidneys, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, and ureters.

Pelvic cavity

Space containing the urinary bladder, certain reproductive organs, parts of the large intestine, and the rectum.

Prefixes

dia-

through, complete

dys-

painful, abnormal, difficult, laboured

hyper-

above, excessive

hypo-

below, incomplete, deficient

meta-

after, beyond, change

neo-

new

pro-

before

Combining Forms

aden/o

gland

cancer/o

cancer

carcin/o

cancer

chlor/o

green

chrom/o

colour

cyan/o

blue

cyt/o

cell

epitheli/o

epithelium

erythr/o

red

eti/o

cause (of disease)

fibr/o

fiber

gno/o

knowledge

hist/o

tissue

iatr/o

physician, medicine, treatment

kary/o

nucleus

lei/o

smooth

leuk/o

white

lip/o

fat

melan/o

black

my/o

muscle

neur/o

nerve

onc/o

tumor, mass

organ/o

organ

path/o

disease

rhabd/o

rod-shaped, striated

sarc/o

flesh, connective tissue

somat/o

body

system/o

system

viscer/o

internal organs

xanth/o

yellow

Suffixes

-al

pertaining to

-ic

pertaining to

-ous

pertaining to

-cyte

cell

-gen

substance or agent that produces or causes

-genesis

origin, cause

-genic

producing, originating, causing

-logist

one who studies and treats

-logy

study of

-oid

resembling

-oma

turmor, swelling

-osis

abnormal condition

-pathy

disease

-plasia

condition of formation, development, growth

-plasm

growth, substance, formation

-sarcoma

malignant tumor

-sis

state of

-stasis

control, stop, standing

Medical Terms – not from word parts

Benign

Not malignant, non-recurrent, favourable for recovery

Carcinoma in situ

Cancer in the early stages before invading surrounding tissue

Chemotherapy

Treatment of cancer with drugs

Encapsulated

Enclosed in a capsule, as with benign tumors

Exacerbation

Increase in the severity of a disease or its symptoms

Idiopathic

Pertaining to disease of unknown origin

Inflammation

Response to injury or destruction of tissue characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain

In vitro

Within a glass, observable within a test tube

In vivo

Within the living body

Malignant

Tending to become progressively worse and to cause death, as in cancer

Radiation therapy

Treatment of cancer with a radioactive substance, x-ray, or radiation

Remission

Improvement or absence of signs of disease.

Abbreviations

Ca

carcinoma

chemo

chemotherapy

Dx

diagnosis

mets

metastasis

Px

prognosis

RBC

red blood cell

RXT

radiation therapy

WBC

white blood cell

XRT

radiation therapy