2. BODY TERMS

Cell: The smallest living unit. The cell is the fundamental unit of all living things.

Cell membrane: It not only surrounds and protects the cell but also regulates what

passes into and out of the cell.

Nucleus: It controls the operations of the cell. It directs cell division and determines

the structure and function of the cell.

Chromosomes: They are rod-like structures within the nucleus. All human body

cells-except for the sex cells (i.e: the egg and the sperm)contain 23 pairs of

chromosomes.

Genes: Chromosomes contain regions called genes. There are several thousand

genes, in an orderly sequence, on every chromosome.

Deoxyribonucleic acid: Each gene is composed of a chemical called DNA. DNA

regulates the activities of the cell by its sequence on each chromosome.

Cytoplasm: The cytoplasm includes all the material outside the nucleus and

enclosed by the cell membrane.

Mitochondria: They are small, sausage-shaped bodies that, like miniature power

plants, produce energy by burning food in the presence of oxygen.

Catabolism: Complex foods are broken down into simpler substances.

Endoplasmic reticulum: It is a network of canals within the cell. These canals are a

cellular tunnel system in which proteins are manufactured for use in the cell.

Anabolism: The process of building up complex materials such as proteins from

simpler parts.

Karyotype: Picture of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell. The chromosomes are

arranged in numeric order to determine their number and structure.

Muscle cell: It is long and slender and contains fibers that aid in contracting and

relaxing.

Epithelial cells: It may be square/flat in shape to provide protection.

Nerve cell: It may be long and have various fibrous extensions that aid in its job of

carrying impulses.

Fat cell: It contains large, empty spaces for fat storage.

Tissues: A tissue is a group of similar cells working together to do a specific job.

Histologist: A histologist is a scientist who specialized in the study of tissues.

Epithelial tissue: It is located all over the body, forms the linings of internal

organs, and the outer surface of the skin covering the body.

Muscle tissue: Voluntary muscle found in arms and legs and parts of the body

where movement is under conscious control. Involuntary muscle, found in the heart

and digestive system, as well as other organs, allows movement that it not under

conscious control. Cardiac muscle is a specialized type of muscle found only in the

heart.

Connective tissue: Examples are adipose tissue, cartilage, bone and blood.

Nerve tissue: Nerve tissue conducts impulses all over the body.

Organs: Organs are structures composed of several types of tissue.

Adipose tissue: Collection of fat cells.

Cartilage: Flexible connective tissue attached to bones at joints.

Viscera: Internal organs.

Cranial cavity: Space in the head, Containing Brain & pituitary gland.

Thoracic cavity: Space in the chest containing Lungs, heart, esophagus, trachea,

bronchial tubes, thymus gland and aorta.

Pleural cavity: Space surrounding each lung. A double fold membrane or pleura

lines the pleural cavity.

Mediastinum: Centrally located area outside of and between the lungs. It contains

the heart, aorta, trachea, esophagus, thymus gland, bronchial tubes, and many

lymph nodes.

Abdominal cavity: Space below the chest Contains Stomach, small and large

intestines, spleen, pancreas, liver and gallbladder.

Diaphragm: It separates the abdominal and thoracic cavities.

Pelvic cavity: Space below the abdomen containing portions of the small and large

intestines, rectum, urinary bladder, urethra, and ureters; uterus and vagina in the

female.

Peritoneum: It is the double-folded membrane surrounding abdominal cavity.

Spinal cavity: Space within the spinal column containing spinal cord and the spinal

nerves.

Hypochondriac region: upper right ad left region below the cartilage of the ribs

that extend over the abdomen.

Epigastric region: It is the region above the stomach.

Lumbar region: middle right and left region near the waist.

Umbilical region: region of the navel or umbilicus.

Inguinal region: lower right and left region near the groin, which is the area where

the legs join the trunk of the body.

Hypogastric region: lower middle region below the umbilical region.

Right upper quadrant: Contains the liver (right lobe), gallbladder, part of the

pancreas, parts of the small and large intestines.

Left upper quadrant: Contains the liver (left lobe), stomach, spleen, part of the

pancreas, parts of the small and large intestines.

Right lower quadrant: Contains parts of the small and large intestines, right ovary,

right fallopian tube, appendix, right ureter.

Left lower quadrant: Contains parts of the small and large intestines, left ovary,

left fallopian tube, left ureters.

Vertebra: The spinal column is composed of a series of bones that extend from the

neck to the tailbone.

Cervical: Neck region. There are seven cervical vertebrae.

Thoracic: Chest region. There are 12 thoracic vertebrae. Each bone is joined to a

rib.

Lumbar: Loin or flank region. There are five lumbar vertebrae.

Sacral: Five bones are fused to form one bone.

Coccygeal: The coccyx is a small bone composed of four fused pieces.

Anterior: Front surface of the body.

Posterior: The back side of the body.

Deep: Away from the surface.

Superficial: On the surface.

Proximal: Near the point of attachment to the trunk or near the beginning of a

structure.

Distal: Far from the point of attachment to the trunk or far from the beginning of a

structure.

Inferior: Below another structure.

Superior: Above another structure.

Medial: Pertaining to the middle or nearer the medial plane of the body.

Lateral: Pertaining to the side.

Supine: Lying on the back.

Prone: Lying on the belly.

Frontal plane: Vertical plane dividing the body or structure into anterior and

posterior portions.

Sagittal plane: Lengthwise vertical plane dividing the body or structure into right

and left sides.

Transverse plane: Horizontal plane running across the body parallel to the ground.