MEDTERM Chapter 4 ORGANIZATION OF THE BODY

state of equilibrium that is maintained within the body’s internal environment

tasteless, clear, odorless liquid that makes up 65% of a male’s body weight and 55% of a female’s body weight

the smallest chemical unit of matter

center of atom

• chemical compound of two or more atoms that form a specific chemical compound
• H20

– the basic building blocks for the various structures that together make up the human being

outer covering of the cell, which has the capacity of allowing some substances to pass into and out of the cell while denying passage to other substancess. This selectivity allows cells to receive nutrition and dispose of waste.

the cell substance between the cell membrane and nuclear membrane. It is a jellylike material that is mostly water. The cytoplasm provides storage and work areas for the cells.

is responsible for the cell’s metabolism, growth, and reproduction

Chromosomes, Gene, and Genome

microscopic bodies that carry the genes that determine hereditary characteristics.  There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human body

makes up each segment of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and is located in a specific site on the chromosome. There are 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human body. Genes determine an individual’s physical traits and control hereditary disorders.

a complete set of genes and chromosomes tucked inside each of the body’s trillions of cells.

• cells of the body that are different from other kinds of cells in the body. They have three general properties:
• a. They are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods.
• b. They are unspecialized.
• c. They give rise to specialized cell types

Embryos – an unspecialized cell that may turn itself into any type of tissue; derived primarily from frozen in vitro (in glass, as in a test tube) fertilization embryos.

Adult Tissue – more specialized cells found in many kinds of tissue, such as bone marrow, skin, and the liver.

Umbilical Cord Blood – rich source of precursors of mature blood cells obtained from cord blood at the time of birth.

an unspecialized cell that may turn itself into any type of tissue; derived primarily from frozen in vitro (in glass, as in a test tube) fertilization embryos

more specialized cells found in many kinds of tissue, such as bone marrow, skin, and the liver.

rich source of precursors of mature blood cells obtained from cord blood at the time of birth.

grouping of similar cells that perform specialized functions.

• Epithelial Tissue
• Connective Tissue
• Muscle Tissue
• Nerve Tissue

this tissue forms the outer layer of skin, covers organs, lines cavities, and form tubes, ducts, and portions of certain glands; responsible for protection, absorption, secretion, and excretion.

is most abundant of tissue and is responsible for supporting organs of the body, providing sheaths for muscles, and connects muscle to bone and bones to joints.

• Voluntary or striated
• Cardiac
• Involuntary or smooth

under control of a person’s will.

specialized form of striated tissue under the control of the autonomic nervous system

onsist of nerve cells (neurons) and supporting cells called neuroglia. Nervous tissue has the properties of excitability and conductivity, and functions to control and coordinate the activities of the body

under control of the autonomic nervous system.

groups of tissues that serve a common purpose or function

a group of organs that function together for a common purpose

above, in an upward direction, toward the head

in front of or before, the front side of the body.

toward the back, back side of the body.

pertaining to the head

nearest the midline or middle

to the side, away from the middle.

– nearest the point of attachment or near the beginning of a structure

away from the point of attachment or far from the beginning of a structure

• imaginary surfaces that pass through the body and divide it into various sections
• Midsagittal Plane
• Transverse or Horizontal Plane
• Coronal or Frontal Plane

• vertically divides the body as it
• passes through the midline to form a right and left half.

• – any plane that divides
• the body into superior and inferior portions.

• any plane that divides the
• body at right angles to the midsagittal plane into anterior
• (ventral) and posterior (dorsal) portions

a hollow space containing body organs

• a hollow portion of the human torso
• extending from the neck to the pelvis that contains the
• organs of respiration, digestion, reproduction, and
• elimination

• Thoracic Cavity
• Abdominal Cavity
• Pelvic Cavity

• chest area containing the
• heart (pericardial cavity), space around the lungs,
• (pleural cavity), esophagus, trachea, thymus, major
• blood and lymph vessels

• space below the diaphragm,
• commonly referred to as the belly, that contains the
• kidneys, stomach, intestines, and other organs of
• digestion.

• the space formed by the bones of
• the pelvis and contains the organs of elimination
• and reproduction.

• contains the structures of the nervous
• system

• Cranial Cavity
• Spinal Cavity

space containing the brain.

• space within the bony spinal
• column that contains spinal cord and spinal fluid

• a combination of the abdominal
• and pelvic cavity that is divided into nine regions.

• Right Hypochondriac – upper right region at the level of
• the ninth rib cartilage.
• Left Hypochondriac – upper left region at the level of the
• ninth rib cartilage.
• Epigastric – region over the stomach.d. Right Lumbar – right middle lateral region.
• Left Lumbar – left middle lateral region.
• Umbilical – in the center, between the right and left lumbar
• region; at the navel.
• Right Iliac (Inguinal) – right lower lateral region.
• Left Iliac (Inguinal) – left lower lateral region.
• Hypogastric – lower middle region below the navel.

upper right region at the level of the ninth rib cartilage.

upper left region at the level of the ninth rib cartilage.

 region over the stomach

 right middle lateral region.

 left middle lateral region.

in the center, between the right and left lumbar region; at the navel.

 right lower lateral region.

left lower lateral region.

lower middle region below the navel.

contains the right lobe of  the liver, gallbladder, part of the pancreas, and part of the  small and large intestines.

contains the left lobe of the liver, stomach, spleen, part of the pancreas, and part of the small and large intestines.

• contains part of the small and large intestines, appendix, right ovary, right fallopian tube, and right ureter.
• Left Lower (LLQ) 
• contains part of the small and large intestines, left ovary, left fallopian tube, and left ureter.
• Some organs are located half in the right quadrant and half in the left quadrant.  These organs are referred to as being in the midline of the body. 

abdomin/o

tars/o

 brach/i

poster

 oste/o

mast; mamm/o

bucc/o

 thorac/o

 ot/o

cubital; olecran/o

ophthalm/o; ocul/o; opt/o

dactyl/o

pod/o

gingiv

manus; chir/o

cephal/o

cardi/o

coxa

crur

hepat/o

pulm/o; pulmon/o; pneum/o;    pneumon/o

or/o

muscul/o

 umbilic; omphal/o

 cervic/o

neur/o

 nas/o; rhin/o

cost/o

later

derm/a; dermat/o; derm/o; cutane/o

crani/o

gastr/o

dent

tempor

femor/o

pharyng/o

pollex

lingu/o; gloss/o

carp/o

abdomen  

ankle (tarsus)  

 arm  

back   

bones  

breast   

cheek   

chest  

ear  

elbow   

eye   

finger   

foot   

gums   

hand   

head   

heart   

hip   

leg   

liver   

lungs   

mouth   

muscle s  

navel  

neck  

nerves   

nose  

ribs   

side   

skin   

skull   

stomach  

teeth   

temple   

thigh bone  

throat (pharynx) 

thumb   

tongue   

wrist (carpus)  

• Therapeutic Use 
• Diagnostic Use
• Curative Use 

certain drugs are used to replace substances normally found in the body. 

certain drugs are used to ward off or lessen the severity of a disease.

drugs used in the treatment of a disease or condition to relieve the symptoms or to sustain the patient until other measures are instituted. 

certain drugs are used in conjunction with radiology to allow physicians to pinpoint the location of a disease process. 

certain drugs that kill or remove the causative agent of a disease. 

certain drugs are used to replace substances normally found in the body. 

certain drugs are used to ward off or lessen the severity of a disease.

usually the formula that denotes the composition of the drug.  It is made up of numbers and letters that represent the drug’s molecular structure. 

the drug’s official name and is descriptive of its chemical structure.  The generic name is written in lowercase and can be manufactured by more than one pharmaceutical company. 

registered by the U.S. Patent Office as well as approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  A trade or brand name is capitalized.

is an unfavorable or harmful unintended  action of a drug. 

may occur when one drug potentiates substance.     

• is a set of rules passed in 1996 that must be followed by doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers to ensure that all medical records, medical billing, and patient accounts meet certain consistent standards with regard to documentation, handling, and privacy.  In addition, HIPAA requires that all patients be able to assess their own records, correct errors or omissions, and be informed about how personal information is shared or used, as well as be notified about privacy procedures.  HIPAA also: 
•  1. Includes provisions designed to encourage electronic transactions. 
• 2. Requires safeguards to protect the security and confidentiality of health information, covering health plans, health care clearinghouses, and those health care providers who conduct certain financial and administrative transactions 

 a document that is filled out by the patient on the first visit to the physician’s office and then updated as necessary, providing data that relates directly to the patient including last name, first name, sex, date of birth (DOB), marital status, street address, city, state, zip code, telephone number, social security number, employment status, address and phone number of employer, the name and contact information for the person who is responsible for the patient’s bill, and vital information concerning who should be contacted in the case of an emergency. 

Medical History a document describing past and current history of all medical conditions experienced by the patient. 

 Physical Examination– a record that includes a current head-to toe assessment of the patient’s physical condition. 

 a signed document by the patient or legal guardian giving permission for treatment. 

a signed document by the patient or legal guardian that explains the purpose, risks, and benefits of a procedure and serves as proof that the patient was properly informed before undergoing a procedure. 

a record of the prescribed care, medication, tests, and treatments for a given patient. 

a record of a patient’s care that includes vital signs, particularly temperature, pulse and respiration (TPR) and blood pressure (BP), and treatments, procedures, and patient’s response to such care. 

a documentation given by the physician regarding the patient’s condition, results of the physicians examination, summary of test results, plan of treatment, and updating data as appropriate (assessment and diagnosis [Dx]).

documentation given by specialist whom the physician has asked to evaluate the patient. 

• documentation of procedures or therapies provided during a patient’s care, such as physical therapy, 
• respiratory therapy, or chemotherapy. 

 documents providing the results of all diagnostic and laboratory tests performed on the patient. 

a documentation from the surgeon detailing the operation, including the preoperative and postoperative diagnosis, specific details of the surgical procedure, how well the patient tolerated the procedure, and if there were any complications. 

a documentation from the attending anesthesiologist or anesthetist that includes a detailed account of anesthesia during surgery, which drugs were used, dose, and time given, patient response, monitoring of vital signs, how well the patient tolerated the anesthesia, and if there were any complications. 

•  a documentation from the pathologist regarding the findings or results of samples taken from the patient such as bone marrow, blood, or tissue. 
• Discharge Summary (Clinical Resumé, Clinical Summary, or Discharge Abstract) 
• an outline summary of the patient’s hospital care, including date of admission, diagnosis, course of treatment and patient’s response, tests results, final diagnosis, follow-up plans, and date of discharge. 
• SOAP: Chart Note 
• SOAP  (subjective, objective, assessment, plan) chart notes are written to improve communication among all those caring for the patient.  It is a method of displaying patient’s data in a concise, organized format. 

symptoms the patient feels and describes to the health care observer.  These symptoms arise within the individual and are not perceptible to an observer; includes any allergies as reported by the patient and the patient’s chief complaint (CC). 

• symptoms that can be observed including vital signs, data relating to the physical examination (PE), such as height (Ht), weight (Wt), general appearance, condition of the lungs, heart, abdomen, musculoskeletal and nervous systems, and the skin.  The results of laboratory and diagnostic tests may be included. 
• Assessment 
• includes diagnosis of the patient’s condition. 

includes the management and treatment regimen for the patient; may include laboratory tests, physical therapy, diet therapy, medication, medical and surgical interventions, patient referrals, patient teaching, and follow-up directions.