Ventral
refers to the belly or underside of a body or body part.
Dorsal
refers to the back.
Cranial
toward the head.
Caudal
toward the tail.
Anterior
front of the body.
Posterior
rear of the body.
Rostral
nose end of the head.
Cephalic
pertaining to the head.
Medial
toward the midline.
Lateral
away from the midline.
Superior
uppermost, above, or toward the head.
Inferior
lowermost, below, or toward the tail.
Proximal
nearest the midline or nearest the beginning of a structure.
Distal
farthest from the midline or farthest from the beginning of a structure.
Superficial
near the surface; also called external.
Deep
away from the surface; also called internal.
Palmar
the caudal surface of the manus (front paw) including the carpus.
Plantar
the caudal surface of the pes (rear paw) including the tarsus.
Midsagittal (Median) Plane
is the plane that divides the body into equal right and left halves.
Sagittal Plane
divides the body into unequal right and left parts.
Dorsal Plane
divides the body into dorsal (back) and ventral (belly) parts.
Transverse Plane
divides the body into cranial and caudal parts.
-logy
the study of.
Anatomy
the study of body structure.
Physiology
the study of body function(s).
Pathology
the study of the nature, causes, and development of abnormal conditions.
Pathophysiology
the study of changes in function caused by disease.
Etiology
the study of disease causes.
Membranes
thin layers of tissue that cover a surface, line a cavity, or divide a space or an organ.
Peritoneum
the membrane lining the walls of the abdominal and pelvic cavities.
Parietal Peritoneum
outer layer of the peritoneum that lines the abdominal and pelvic cavities.
Visceral Peritoneum
inner layer of the peritoneum that surrounds the abdominal organs.
Anaplasia
a change in the structure of cells and their orientations to each other.
Aplasia
lack of development of an organ or a tissue or a cell.
Dysplasia
abnormal growth or development of an organ or a tissue or a cell.
Hyperplasia
abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in a normal arrangement in an organ or a tissue or a cell.
Hypoplasia
incomplete or less than normal development of an organ or a tissue or a cell.
Neoplasia
any abnormal new growth of tissue in which multiplication of cells is uncontrolled, more rapid than normal, and progressive.
Benign
not recurring.
Malignant
tending to spread and be life threatening.
-oma
tumor or neoplasm
Atrophy
decrease in size or complete wasting of an organ tissue or cell.
Dystrophy
defective growth in the size of an organ tissue or cell.
Hypertrophy
increase in the size of an organ tissue or cell.
-plasia
suffix used to describe formation, development, and growth of tissue and cell numbers.
-trophy
suffix that means formation of development, and increase in the size of the tissue and cells.
Glands
groups of specialized cells that secrete materials used elsewhere in the body.
Aden/o
gland
Exocrine Glands
groups of cells that secrete their chemical substances into ducts that lead out of the body or to another organ.
Endocrine Glands
groups of cells that secrete their chemical substances directly into the bloodstream, which transports them throughout the body.
Organ
part of the body that performs a special function or functions.