Anyone who has ever taken an anatomy course will tell you; sometimes it’s like learning another language. Some of these words will often be pronounced incorrectly, which, sometimes, gives them a completely different meaning. Here are 15 anatomical words that could give the new learner some trouble.
Duodenum - The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine, directly after the stomach, and before the jejunum (hmm, I think that’ll be my second word). Correct pronunciation- do-odd-a-num, not duo-denim!
Jejunum - This is, you guessed it, the second part of the small intestine.
Purkinje Fibers - These are fibers in the base of the heart that send signals the ventricles telling them to contract, thus, the heartbeat.
Tibia and Fibula - The two lower leg bones below the knee. I’m putting these in here because it seems like everyone has gotten these mixed up at least once. There’s no such thing as a tibula or a fibia (at least in anatomy).
Asterixis - This is the medical term used when someone’s arms are extended and they experience a hand flapping. If you sound it out slowly, you’ll get it.
Hepatic Encephalopathy - Sounds serious, and it is. This is no-no for the liver, and will typically occur in a patient with cirrhosis or hepatitis.
Inferior and Superior Vena Cava - These are where blood enters the heart from the body. Inferior- blood from below the heart, superior- from above.
Periosteum - This is the outer lining of our bones. This contains cells.
Oligodendrocyte - This is a structure in the nerve cell that produces the myelin sheath, which is along the axons (part of the nerve cell).
Hemoglobin - A molecule carried by the red blood cells that carry oxygen, which carries the o2 to the tissues. Each RBC contains about 4 hemoglobin.
Bilirubin - When the ‘heme-’ in the hemoglobin is broken down, bilirubin is a result. Have you ever seen a yellow baby? Their bilirubin level is elevated, which causes jaundice (the yellowing). If a normal bilirubin total level is typically 0.2-1.4 mg/dl, what do you think the Simpson’s levels are?
Erythropoiesis - This is the production of red blood cells (erythrocytes).
Alveoli - These are very tiny air pocket in the lungs that look like a bunch of grapes. This is where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange takes place. Thanks, Al.
Epiphysis - This is the end of a long bone that forms a joint surface.
Eosinophilia - A high level of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell, usually around to fight off parasitic invasions) in the blood.
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