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chest and the pelvis. The abdomen is separated anatomically from the chest by the
diaphragm, the powerful muscle spanning the body cavity below the lungs.
Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of
the structures between the chest and the pelvis. The abdomen is separated anatomically
from the chest by the diaphragm, the powerful muscle spanning the body cavity below
the lungs.
Abdominal aorta: The abdominal aorta is the final section of the aorta, the largest artery
in the body. It is a continuation of the thoracic aorta. It begins at the diaphragm, and runs
down to the point where it ends (by splitting in two to form the common iliac arteries).
Abdominal cavity: The cavity within the abdomen, the space between the abdominal
wall and the spine.
Absorb: 1. To take something in, as through the skin or the intestine.
2. To react with radiation and reduce it in intensity, as with a dose of radiation or
transmitted light.
Acquired: Anything that is not present at birth but develops some time later. In medicine,
the word "acquired" implies "new" or "added." An acquired condition is "new" in the
sense that it is not genetic (inherited) and "added" in the sense that was not present at
birth.
Analysis: A psychology term for processes used to gain understanding of complex
emotional or behavioral issues.
Anatomy: The study of form. Gross anatomy involves structures that can be seen with
the naked eye. It is as opposed to microscopic anatomy (or histology) which involves
structures seen under the microscope. Traditionally, both gross and microscopic anatomy
have been studied in the first year of medical school in the U.S. The most celebrated
textbook of anatomy in the English-speaking world is Gray's Anatomy, still a useful
reference book. The word "anatomy" comes from the Greek ana- meaning up or through
+ tome meaning a cutting. Anatomy was once a "cutting up" because the structure of the
body was originally learned through dissecting it, cutting it up. The abbreviation for
anatomy is anat.
Anterior: The front, as opposed to the posterior. The anterior surface of the heart is
toward the breast bone (the sternum).
Aorta: The largest artery in the body, the aorta arises from the left ventricle of the heart,
goes up (ascends) a little ways, bends over (arches), then goes down (descends) through
the chest and through the abdomen to where ends by dividing into two arteries called the
common iliac arteries that go to the legs.
Bile: Bile is a yellow-green fluid that is made by the liver, stored in the gallbladder and
passes through the common bile duct into the duodenum where it helps digest fat. The
principal components of bile are cholesterol, bile salts, and the pigment bilirubin.
Bladder: Any pouch or other flexible enclosure that can hold liquids or gases but usually
refers to the hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine -- the urinary bladder.
The kidneys filter waste from the blood and produce urine, which enters the bladder
through two tubes called ureters. Urine leaves the bladder through another tube, the
urethra. In women, the urethra is a short tube that opens just in front of the vagina. In
men, it is longer, passing through the prostate gland and then the penis. Infection of the
bladder is called cystitis.
Brain: That part of the central nervous system that is located within the cranium (skull).
The brain functions as the primary receiver, organizer and distributor of information for
the body. It has two (right and left) halves called "hemispheres."
Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest
contains the lungs, the heart and part of the aorta. The walls of the chest are supported by
the dorsal vertebrae, the ribs, and the sternum.
See the entire definition of Chest
Cranial: 1. Pertaining to the cranium or skull. 2. Toward the head. As opposed to caudad.
The eye is cranial to the jaw. For a more complete listing of terms used in medicine for
spatial orientation, please see the entry to "Anatomic Orientation Terms".
Dissect: To cut apart or separate tissue as, for example, for anatomical study or in
surgery. Also, an artery is said to dissect when its wall is torn, as in a dissecting
aneurysm.
Dissection: The process of cutting apart or separating tissue as, for example, in the study
of anatomy or in the course of a surgical procedure.
Duct: A passage or a tube with well-defined walls suitable for the conveyance of air or
liquids, as the bile duct and the pancreatic duct.
See the entire definition of Duct
Ear: The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy
textbooks. They are the outer ear (the part we see along the sides of our head behind the
temples), the middle ear, and the inner ear. But in terms of function, the ear has four
parts: those three and the brain. Hearing thus involves all parts of the ear as well as the
auditory cortex of the brain. The external ear helps concentrate the vibrations of air on the
ear drum and make it vibrate. These vibrations are transmitted by a chain of little bones in
the middle ear to the inner ear. There they stimulate the fibers of the auditory nerve to
transmit impulses to the brain.
See the entire definition of Ear
Esophagus: The tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach. The esophagus
lies between the trachea (windpipe) and the spine. It passes down the neck, pierces the
diaphragm just to the left of the midline, and joins the cardiac (upper) end of the stomach.
In an adult, the esophagus is about 25 centimeters (10 inches) long. When a person
swallows, the muscular walls of the esophagus contract to push food down into the
stomach. Glands in the lining of the esophagus produce mucus, which keeps the
passageway moist and facilitates swallowing. Also known as the gullet or swallowing
tube. From the Greek oisophagos, from oisein meaning to bear or carry + phagein, to eat.
Forensic: Dealing with the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems and
legal proceedings as, for example, in forensic anthropology, forensic dentistry, forensic
experts, forensic medicine (legal medicine), forensic pathology, forensic science, etc.
See the entire definition of Forensic
Formalin: A 37% aqueous (water) solution of formaldehyde, a pungent gas, with the
chemical formula HCHO, used as an antiseptic, disinfectant, and especially today as a
fixative for histology (the study of tissues under the microscope).
Galen: Greek physician and philosopher (born about 129 AD, died about 210 AD) known
among other things for his discovery of blood in human arteries and for his dissection of
the human cranial nerves, the nerves that supply key areas of the head, face, and upper
chest.
See the entire definition of Galen
Gallbladder: A pear-shaped organ just below the liver that stores the bile secreted by the
liver. During a fatty meal, the gallbladder contracts, delivering the bile through the bile
ducts into the intestines to help with digestion. Abnormal composition of bile leads to
formation of gallstones, a process termed cholelithiasis. The gallstones cause
cholecystitis, inflammation of the gallbladder.
Gland: 1. A group of cells that secrete a substance for use in the body. For example, the
thyroid gland. 2. A group of cells that removes materials from the circulation. For
example, a lymph gland.
Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the
body. It is positioned in the chest behind the sternum (breastbone; in front of the trachea,
esophagus, and aorta; and above the diaphragm muscle that separates the chest and
abdominal cavities. The normal heart is about the size of a closed fist, and weighs about
10.5 ounces. It is cone-shaped, with the point of the cone pointing down to the left. Two-
thirds of the heart lies in the left side of the chest with the balance in the right chest.
See the entire definition of Heart
Homicide: 1. The killing of a person. 2. Strictly speaking, the killing of a man. femicide.
From the Latin meaning murderer, from homo, man + caedere, to kill.
Joint: A joint is the area where two bones are attached for the purpose of motion of body
parts. A joint is usually formed of fibrous connective tissue and cartilage. An articulation
or an arthrosis is the same as a joint.
See the entire definition of Joint
Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures and preparing chemicals,
etc. Although "laboratory" looks very like the Latin "laboratorium" (a place to labor, a
work place), the word "laboratory" came from the Latin "elaborare" (to work out, as a
problem, and with great pains), as evidenced by the Old English spelling "elaboratory"
designating "a place where learned effort was applied to the solution of scientific
problems."
Liver: An organ in the upper abdomen that aids in digestion and removes waste products
and worn-out cells from the blood. The liver is the largest solid organ in the body. The
liver weighs about three and a half pounds (1.6 kilograms). It measures about 8 inches
(20 cm) horizontally (across) and 6.5 inches (17 cm) vertically (down) and is 4.5 inches
(12 cm) thick.
Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove
carbon dioxide from and bring oxygen to the blood. There is a right and left lung.
Managed care: Any system that manages healthcare delivery with the aim of controlling
costs. Managed care systems typically rely on a primary care physician who acts as a
gatekeeper through whom the patient has to go to obtain other health services such as
specialty medical care, surgery, or physical therapy.
Mortality: A fatal outcome or, in one word, death. The word "mortality" is derived from
"mortal" which came from the Latin "mors" (death). The opposite of mortality is, of
course, immortality. Mortality is also quite distinct from morbidity (illness).
Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or
constricted part of a bone or organ that joins its parts as, for example, the neck of the
femur bone.
Nursing home: A residential facility for persons with chronic illness or disability,
particularly older people who have mobility and eating problems. Also called a
convalescent home, long-term care facility.
Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special
functions. The organs of the human body include the eye, ear, heart, lungs, and liver.
Pancreas: A fish-shaped spongy grayish-pink organ about 6 inches (15 cm) long that
stretches across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach. The head of the pancreas is
on the right side of the abdomen and is connected to the duodenum (the first section of
the small intestine). The narrow end of the pancreas, called the tail, extends to the left
side of the body.
Pathologist: A doctor who identifies diseases by studying cells and tissues under a
microscope.
Pathology: The study of disease. Pathology has been defined as "that branch of medicine
which treats of the essential nature of disease." The word "pathology" comes from the
Greek words "pathos" meaning "disease" and "logos" meaning "a treatise" = a treatise of
disease. The word "pathology" is sometimes misused to mean disease as, for example,
"he didn't find any pathology" (meaning he found no evidence of disease). A medical
doctor that specializes in pathology is called a pathologist. Pathologists are experts at
interpreting microscopic views of body tissues.
Radiology: The branch of medicine that uses ionizing and nonionizing radiation for the
diagnosis and treatment of disease.
See the entire definition of Radiology
Rib: One of the 12 paired arches of bone which form the skeletal structure of the chest
wall (the rib cage). The ribs attach to the building blocks of the spine (vertebrae) in the
back. The 12 pairs of ribs consist of:
True ribs: The first seven ribs attach to the sternum (the breast bone) in the front
and are known as true ribs (or sternal ribs).
False ribs: The lower five ribs do not directly connect to the sternum and are
known as false ribs.
Rib cage: The structure formed by the thoracic vertebrae and ribs, the sternum
(breastbone), and the costal cartilages (that attach the ribs to the sternum).
See the entire definition of Rib cage
Skull: The skull is a collection of bones which encase the brain and give form to the head
and face. The bones of the skull include the following: the frontal, parietal, occipital,
temporal, sphenoid, ethmoid, zygomatic, maxilla, nasal, vomer, palatine, inferior concha,
and mandible.
See the entire definition of Skull
Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies
within the vertebral canal and from which the spinal nerves emerge. Thirty-one pairs of
spinal nerves originate in the spinal cord: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1
coccygeal. The spinal cord and the brain constitute the central nervous system (CNS).
The spinal cord consists of nerve fibers that transmit impulses to and from the brain. Like
the brain, the spinal cord is covered by three connective-tissue envelopes called the
meninges. The space between the outer and middle envelopes is filled with cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF), a clear colorless fluid that cushions the spinal cord against jarring shock.
Also known simply as the cord.
See the entire definition of Spinal cord
Spleen: An organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen near the stomach. The
spleen produces lymphocytes; it is the largest lymphatic organ in the body. The spleen
also filters the blood, serves as a major reservoir for blood and destroys blood cells that
are aged.
Sternum: Anatomic name for the breast bone, the long flat bone in the upper middle of
the front of the chest.
Therapeutic: Relating to therapeutics, that part of medicine concerned specifically with
the treatment of disease. The therapeutic dose of a drug is the amount needed to treat a
disease.
Thoracic: Pertaining to the chest.
Thoracic aorta: The thoracic aorta is a section of the aorta, the largest artery in the body,
within the chest. Specifically, the thoracic aorta is that part of the aorta that starts after the
arch of the aorta and runs down to the diaphragm, the great muscle that separates the
chest from the abdomen.
Thyroid: 1. The thyroid gland. Also, pertaining to the thyroid gland. 2. A preparation of
the thyroid gland used to treat hypothyroidism. 3. Shaped like a shield. (The thyroid
gland was so-named by Thomas Wharton in 1656 because it was shaped like an ancient
Greek shield.)
Thyroid gland: A gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate,
blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy.
Thyroid hormones are essential for the function of every cell in the body. They help
regulate growth and the rate of chemical reactions (metabolism) in the body. Thyroid
hormones also help children grow and develop.
Trachea: A tube-like portion of the breathing or "respiratory" tract that connects the
"voice box" (larynx) with the bronchial parts of the lungs.
Windpipe: The trachea, a tube-like portion of the respiratory (breathing) tract that
connects the larynx (the voicebox) with the bronchial parts of the lungs