1. Component 3-Terminology in Health Care and Public Health Settings.
Component 3-Terminology in Health Care and Public Health Settings
Unit 1 -Understanding Medical Words
Lecture 1c-Body Organization
In this third part of “Understanding Medical Words,” we will discuss ways to describe the body in relation to cell or tissue types, body systems, and body cavities as well as reviewing directional terms.
This material was developed by The University of Alabama Birmingham, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology under Award Number IU24OC 1

2. Describing the Body – Tissue Types
Connective tissue – bones, ligaments, tendons
Epithelial tissue – covers body surfaces, inside and outside
Muscle tissue – moves the body
Nervous tissue – carries messages from brain and spinal column
(SEER Training Modules, Anatomy & Physiology. U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. 6/27/ )
The body is composed of different types of cells. The cells come together to form tissues. A tissue is formed when like cells are grouped together and function together to perform a specific activity. The body has four types of cells. Each cell type groups together to form a type of tissue.
Connective tissue supports and protects the body structure. Bones, ligaments, and tendons are forms of connective tissue.
Epithelial (pronounced epp-ih-the (like theory)-lee—ul (u like under)) tissue covers surfaces, inside and outside the body. The skin, the lining of the stomach, and the lining of the intestines are examples of epithelial tissue.
Muscle tissue helps the body move. Skeletal muscles are one example of muscle tissue.
Nervous tissue carries messages from the brain and spinal column and allows information to be sent between the brain and the rest of the body through a network of nerves.
Component 3/Unit1-1c
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011

3. Describing the Body – Systems
Integumentary system = skin, hair, nails, sweat and oil glands
Musculoskeletal system = muscles, bones, cartilage
Cardiovascular system = heart and blood vessels
Describing the Body – Systems
Cells form into tissues, tissues form into organs and organs form into systems. A system is composed of several organs functioning together in a coordinated manner. The body is divided into various systems. These include:
The integumentary (pronounced in-tegg-you-men-tery ) system includes the skin, hair, nails, sweat and oil glands. It receives sensory information for the sensations of pain, touch, and temperature. It protects the internal organs from infection and trauma and regulates body temperature by sweating.
The musculoskeletal system includes muscles, bones, and cartilage. It supports the body and produces body movement.
And the cardiovascular system includes the heart and blood vessels. It pumps blood throughout the body to transport nutrients, oxygen and wastes.
Component 3/Unit1-1c
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011

4. Describing the Body – Systems (continued)
Respiratory system = lungs and airways
Nervous system = brain, spinal cord, nerves
Urinary system = kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra
Describing the Body – Systems
The respiratory ( pronounced RES-per-torry)-system includes the lungs and airways. It obtains oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from the body.
The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It receives information from the body relating to the senses, including pain, touch, temperature, and body position. It coordinates body movement and stores and interprets memory and emotion.
The urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters (pronounced YOUR-itters), bladder, and urethra (pronounced you-REETH-ruh). Its function relates to excreting urine and waste products.
Component 3/Unit1-1c
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011

5. Describing the Body – Systems (continued)
Female reproductive system =
ovaries, vagina, fallopian tubes, uterus, mammary glands
Male reproductive system =
testes, penis, prostate gland, vas deferens, seminal vesicles
Describing the Body – Systems
The female reproductive system includes the ovaries, vagina, fallopian (pronounced fuh-LOPE-ee--en) tubes, uterus, and mammary glands. This system secretes hormones, produces ova (you may remember from a previous lecture that the plural of the Latin word for egg, ovum, is ova), and regulates menstruation, pregnancy, and milk production from the breasts.
The male reproductive system includes the testes, penis, prostate (pronounced pros-tate) gland, vas deferens( pronounced vass-DEF(like deaf)-er-ens), and seminal vesicles. This system secretes hormones and produces sperm.
Sometimes, these two systems are combined and referred to generally as the Reproductive System.
Component 3/Unit1-1c
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011

6. Describing the Body – Systems (continued)
Blood system = blood and all components
Lymphatic & immune system = lymph, lymph glands, lymphatic vessels
Digestive system = all organs of digestion and excretion
Endocrine system = hormone glands
Describing the Body – Systems
Other systems include the blood system, the lymphatic (pronounced lim-fattic) system, the digestive system and the endocrine (pronounced endo-crin) system.
The blood system includes the blood and all components. The function of this system is to transport oxygen, protect against pathogens, and control bleeding.
The lymphatic and immune system includes the lymph (pronounced limf), lymph glands, and lymphatic vessels. This system is key in recognizing and destroying disease-causing organisms and abnormal cells.
The digestive system includes all organs of digestion and excretion, such as the esophagus, stomach, intestines, etc.. It digests food, absorbs nutrients into the blood, and excretes undigested wastes. It receives sensory information for the sense of taste.
The endocrine system includes all of the various hormone glands, such as the pituitary, adrenal, and thyroid glands. These glands produce and secrete hormones into the blood that, in turn, direct other body organs.
Component 3/Unit1-1c
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011

7. Describing the Body – Systems (continued)
Sensory system = eyes, ears, all body parts related to the five senses
Seeing
Smelling
Hearing
Tasting
Feeling
Describing the Body – Systems
And finally, the last system is the sensory system. This system includes the eyes, ears, and all body parts related to the five senses of seeing, smelling, hearing, tasting, and feeling.
Some parts of this system may be included within other body systems, but the primary components of this system are the eyes and ears.
Component 3/Unit1-1c
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011

8. Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011
Body Cavities
Cranial – contains brain
Spinal – contains spinal cord
Thoracic – contains heart, lungs, and associated structures
Abdominopelvic – contains digestive, excretory, reproductive organs and structures
Body Cavities
There are four major body cavities. A cavity is a hollow space and is surrounded by bones or muscles that support and protect the organs and structures within the cavity. The four body cavities are:
The cranial cavity, which contains the brain.
The spinal cavity, which contains spinal cord.
The thoracic cavity which contains the heart, lungs, and associated structures
The abdominopelvic (pronounced ab-domino-pelvic) cavity, which contains digestive, excretory, and reproductive organs and structures.
Component 3/Unit1-1c
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011

9. Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011
Directional Terms
Anterior or ventral = front
Posterior or dorsal = back
Inferior = below
Superior = above
Lateral = side
Medial = middle
(SEER Training Modules, Anatomy & Physiology. U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. 6/27/2010
Directional Terms
Your study of terminology in healthcare would be incomplete unless you also learn the following commonly-used directional terms. These terms help to describe one process, organ, or system as it relates to another. They also assist in discussing the position or location of the patient's complaint. Directional terms include:
Anterior or ventral, which indicates the front of the body.
In contrast, posterior or dorsal indicates the back of the body.
Inferior is below another structure, or moving more toward the feet, while superior means something is above another structure, or moving more toward the head.
Lateral means alongside another structure.
And medial refers to the middle or near the middle of the body or structure.
Component 3/Unit1-1c
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011

10. Directional Terms (continued)
Proximal = near trunk or point of attachment
Distal = away from trunk or point of attachment
Supine = lying on spine with face upward
Prone = lying on stomach with face down
Directional Terms
Additional directional terms include proximal, which means located near the trunk or point of attachment to the body.
Distal means something is located is away from the trunk or point of attachment to the body.
Supine refers to the body’s position when you are lying on your spine with your face pointing upward.
Prone, on the other hand, refers to lying on your stomach with your face pointing down.
Component 3/Unit1-1c
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011

11. Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011
Tell me, Detective . . .
A dead body is discovered lying in the prone position in an alleyway. Which of the following observations can you make without moving the body?
Puncture wound below the navel.  
Laceration in the pectoral region.  
Crush injury to sternum.  
Gunshot wound to right buttock.  
Tell me, Detective . . .
So let's see how these terms might be used.
Imagine that a dead body is discovered lying in the prone position in an alleyway. Which of the following observations can you make without moving the body?
Puncture wound below the navel.    
Laceration in the pectoral (pronounced PECK-toral) region.    
Crush injury to sternum.  
 Gunshot wound to right buttock.
(note: Pause for about 10 seconds before going on with the next part)
The correct answer is a gunshot wound to right buttock. Remember that prone means lying face down. The other observations would be impossible to make unless the victim was supine, or face up.
Component 3/Unit1-1c
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011

12. Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011
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Tell me, Detective . . .
So let's see how these terms might be used.
Imagine that a dead body is discovered lying in the prone position in an alleyway. Which of the following observations can you make without moving the body?
Puncture wound below the navel.    
Laceration in the pectoral (pronounced PECK-toral) region.    
Crush injury to sternum.  
 Gunshot wound to right buttock.
(note: Pause for about 10 seconds before going on with the next part)
The correct answer is a gunshot wound to right buttock. Remember that prone means lying face down. The other observations would be impossible to make unless the victim was supine, or face up.
Component 3/Unit1-1c
Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 2.0/Spring 2011