Latin and Greek in anatomy and physiology
Science, especially medicine, is permeated with Latin and Greek terms. Latin names are used for every part of the body; and since the Greeks are the founders of modern medicine, Greek terms are common in medical terminology, as well.
Latin and Greek roots
This table represents some common Latin and Greek roots used in anatomy and physiology:
| English Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| angi(o)– | vessel | angiogram |
| arthr(o)– | joint | arthritis |
| bronch– | air passage | bronchitis |
| calc(i)– | calcium | calcify |
| card(i)– | heart | cardiovascular |
| cili– | small hair | cilia |
| corp– | body | corpus luteum |
| crani– | skull | cranium |
| cut(an)– | skin | cutaneous |
| gastr(o)– | stomach, belly | gastric |
| gluc(o)– | sweet, sugar | glucosa |
| hemat(o)– | blood | hematology |
| hist(o)– | webbing (tissue) | histology |
| hyster(o)– | womb | hysterectomy |
| lig– | to bind | ligament |
| osteo– | bone | osteoblast |
| pleur– | side, rib | pleural cavity |
| pulm(o)– | lung | pulmonary |
| ren– | kidney | renal |
| squam– | scale, flat | squamous |
| thorac– | chest | thoracic |
| vasc– | vessel | vascular |
Latin and Greek prefixes and suffixes
This table represents some common Latin and Greek prefixes and suffixes you should know when studying anatomy and physiology:
| English Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a(n)– | without, not | anaerobic |
| aut(o)– | self | autonomic |
| dys– | bad, disordered | dysplasia |
| ec–, ex(o)–, ect– | out, outside | exoskeleton |
| end(o)– | within, inside, inner | endometrium |
| epi– | over, above | epidermis |
| hyper– | excessive, high | hyperextension |
| hypo– | deficient, below | hypothalamus |
| inter– | between, among | interoceptor |
| intrañ | within, inside | intraocular |
| iso– | equal, same | isotope |
| meta– | beside, after | metacarpus |
| ortho– | straight, correct | orthopedic |
| para– | beside, near, alongside | parathyroid |
| peri– | around | pericardium |
| sub– | under | subcutaneous |
| trans– | across, beyond, through | transplant |
| –blast | -to sprout, to make, to bud | chloroblast |
| –clast | to break, broken | osteoclast |
| –crine | -to release, to secrete | endocrine |
Anatomic cavities
Your body’s cavities are basically the “holes” that would be left (besides bones and tissues forming the space) if you removed your internal organs. Your body has two main cavities; the dorsal and ventral.
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Ventral cavity: Extends from just under the chin to the pelvic area, encompassing the thoracic cavity, diaphragm, and abdomino-pelvic cavity
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Thoracic cavity: Contains the heart and lungs
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Abdomino-pelvic cavity: Contains the organs of the abdomen and pelvis
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Dorsal cavity: Contains posterior body organs extending from the cranial cavity into the vertebral canal housing the spinal cord
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Spinal cavity: Enfolds and protects the spinal cord
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Cranial cavity: Inside the skull and enclosing the human brain
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Anatomic positions
Whenever you see an anatomical drawing, like the one below, you’re looking at the anatomic position. This standard position (standing straight, looking forward, arms at your side, and facing forward) keeps everyone on the same page when you’re talking anatomy and physiology. Keep this list handy of anatomic descriptive terms that appear regularly in anatomy text:
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Anterior: Front, or toward the front
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Posterior: Back, or toward the back
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Dorsal: Back, or toward the back (think of a whale’s dorsal fin)
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Ventral: Front, or toward the front (think of an air vent)
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Lateral: On the side, or toward the side
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Medial/median: Middle, or toward the middle
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Proximal: Nearer to the point of attachment (such as the armpit)
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Distal: Farther from the point of attachment
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Superior: Situated above, or higher than, another body part
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Inferior: Situated below, or lower than, another body part
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Peripheral: Away from the center
Anatomic planes
When you’re talking anatomy and physiology, the body is divided into sections, usually three planes. Separating the body into sections, or cuts, let’s you know which body half is being explained. The anatomic planes are:
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Frontal or coronal: Divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior)
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Sagittal or median: Divides the body lengthwise into right and left sections
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Transverse or horizontal: Divides the body horizontally into top and bottom sections
