Medical Terminology
In anatomical position, this term means “toward the head.”
What is superior?
This plane divides the body into top and bottom halves.
What is the transverse plane?
Homeostasis is the body’s ability to maintain a stable ______ despite changes in the environment.
What is internal environment?
This part of the cell acts as the “control center,” containing DNA and directing cell activities.
What is the nucleus?
This system’s main job is to pump blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells.
What is the circulatory system?
The opposite of “medial,” meaning away from the midline of the body.
What is lateral?
This plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.
What is the frontal (coronal) plane?
When your body temperature drops, tiny muscles cause you to shiver. What does this movement produce to help restore normal temperature?
What is heat?
Known as the “powerhouse of the cell,” this organelle produces ATP through cellular respiration.
What is the mitochondrion?
This system includes the trachea, bronchi, and alveoli, and is responsible for exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.
What is the respiratory system?
This directional term means “closer to the point of attachment” when describing limbs.
What is proximal?
This cavity houses the brain and is protected by the skull.
What is the cranial cavity?
Most homeostatic processes in the human body use this type of feedback loop, which works to reduce something that has become too high.
What is a negative feedback loop?
These specialized cells in the nervous system transmit messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
What are neurons?
This system produces hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and reproduction.
What is the endocrine system?
A surgeon notes that an incision was made on the “posterior distal” portion of the femur. Explain what these two terms tell you about the incision’s location.
Posterior means toward the back, and distal means farther from the point of attachment — so the incision is on the back side of the femur, closer to the knee.
The heart and lungs are found within this subdivision of the ventral cavity.
What is the thoracic cavity?
Your pancreas releases insulin when blood sugar is high. Which two body systems are primarily involved in this process?
What are the endocrine system and the digestive system?
This rigid structure surrounds plant cells, providing support and protection. It is made mostly of cellulose.
What is the cell wall?
This system works closely with the skeletal system to allow movement, maintain posture, and produce heat.
What is the muscular system?
A patient reports pain in the lower left quadrant of the abdomen. Using directional terms, describe the location of the pain in relation to the umbilical region and name one possible organ found there.
It is inferior and lateral to the umbilical region; possible organs include part of the large intestine or the left ovary (in females).
A patient has a tumor in the lower right portion of their trunk. Identify the body cavity, and describe which body plane would best be used to view the tumor in a CT scan.
What is the pelvic cavity, and the transverse plane would be best to view cross-sectional images of the tumor.
A runner finishes a 5K race on a hot day. Their face is flushed, they are sweating heavily, and their breathing is rapid. Explain three homeostatic responses their body is using and which systems are involved.
Increased sweating (integumentary system) to cool the body, increased breathing rate (respiratory system) to release heat and bring in oxygen, and increased heart rate (circulatory system) to transport oxygen and nutrients faster.
A patient suffers from a muscle disease that prevents their cells from producing enough energy. Which organelle is likely malfunctioning, and how would this affect the specialized cells involved?
What is the mitochondrion, and it would cause muscle cells (which need large amounts of energy) to weaken and lose function.
A patient arrives with a broken tibia, excessive bleeding, and an infection in the wound. Identify three body systems involved in this situation and explain their roles in recovery.
What are the skeletal system (bone structure & repair), circulatory system (blood loss & clotting), and immune system (fighting infection)? (Nervous system for pain response and muscular system for movement could also be included.)