2. Academic Knowledge: Medical Terminology and Body Organization
Chapter 5
Academic Knowledge: Medical Terminology and Body Organization

3. Warm-Up What medical terms or word parts do you know?
Do you know of any songs or other fun memory tricks for learning this type of information?
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4. Study Skills: Memory Techniques
Mnemonic devices can be used to remember information
Connect information to different senses
Basic memory techniques
Acronyms
Spelling sequence
Vivid/unusual images
Rhythm and rhyming
Drama and humor
An image of playing cards could help you remember that cardi = heart.
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5. Most medical terms come from Greek and Latin.
Medical Terminology
Healthcare workers must know how to read, write, and understand medical terminology
Abbreviations
Shortened way to write or say medical words and phrases
Different facilities have different abbreviations
Never invent your own abbreviations
Most medical terms come from Greek and Latin.
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6. Understanding Word Parts

7. Think Further
Why is it important for healthcare professionals to study medical terminology? What makes medical terms different from other English words?
Examples:
One letter can change the entire meaning of a body part or drug name.
Misspelling a medical term can create confusion and may result in an incorrect diagnosis or procedure.
You cannot rely on a computer to find your errors because spell-checkers may not recognize medical terminology.
Plural words in medical terminology are not created with the same rules as Standard English.

8. Body Organization and Related Terms
Anatomy describes the physical structures of the body
Physiology describes the functions and inner workings of the body
Each level of organization in the body builds on the next to form a larger structure
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9. Cells and Organelles
Cells are the smallest living things, which join to form tissues and contain organelles
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10. Body Tissues
Groups of cells of the same type working together for the same purpose
Four main types
Connective tissue: provides supports, absorbs shock
Nervous tissue: conducts impulses to and from organs
Muscular tissue: important for movement
Epithelial tissue: forms the skin and membranes
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11. Body Organs and Systems
Organs—groups of tissues working together for the same purpose
Body systems—groups of organs working together to perform a vital function
Body systems work together to help the human body control, move, support, protect, and reproduce
SLIC MEN R RED acronym spells out the body systems

12. Think Further
Explain how the parts of a cell can be compared to a factory.
The cell membrane is like the walls of a factory, and the vacuoles are like doors of the loading dock. Cytoplasm is like the air contained in a factory. The nucleus is the factory’s main office and the nucleolus is the factory manager. Ribosomes are assembly teams that follow DNA (building plans). Endoplasmic reticulum is the conveyer belt, the Golgi apparatus is the mailing room, mitochondria are power stations, and lysosomes are the janitors.
How can the parts of a body be compared to the parts of a house?
The structure of a house is like the skeletal system. The plumbing system is like the circulatory system. The air conditioning is like the respiratory system. The electrical systems are like the nervous system. Both a house and a human body need all of their systems to function comfortably.
Can you think of any other useful comparisons?

13. Body Directions
Standard anatomical position (SAP): standing erect, facing forward, with palms facing forward
Directional terms:
Anterior and posterior
Medial and lateral
Superior and inferior
Superficial and deep
Proximal and distal
Ventral and dorsal
Left and right (from patient’s perspective)
Specific terms (e.g., cranial, caudal)
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14. Body Regions Areas of the body that have specific names
Used as points of reference for anatomy
Four abdominal quadrants
Nine abdominal regions
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15. Body Cavities
Hollow spaces that contain organs and are separated by membranes
Ventral (front) cavity contains:
Thoracic (chest) cavity
Abdominopelvic cavity
Dorsal (back) cavity contains:
Cranial cavity (brain)
Middle ear, orbital, nasal, oral
Spinal cavity (spinal cord)
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16. Body Planes Provide views of the body as if cut into sections
Frontal plane (divided into front and back)
Sagittal plane (divided into right and left)
Midsagittal plane (divided exactly down the middle)
Transverse plane (divided into top and bottom)
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17. Critical Thinking
Distinguish between body regions, body directions, and body planes. Why are these terms useful in anatomy?
Body regions: areas of the body with a specific name
Body directions: describe body parts or their position in reference to standard anatomical position
Body planes: flat or level surfaces seen by cutting away part of the body through surgery or medical imaging
All of these terms serve as reference points so that healthcare workers can discuss anatomy in common, understandable terms