Download Lisa McPhearson`s Autopsy Vocabulary: Compiled by Shante

Lisa McPhearson’s Autopsy Vocabulary:
Compiled by Shante Rochester
Abdominal Quadrants - the abdominal area contains many different organs it is divided in smaller areas,
called quadrants.
Adhesions - Fibrous bands that form between tissues and organs.
Antecubital fossa- A triangular cavity of the elbow that contains a tendon of the biceps, the meridian
nerve and the bronchial artery.
Antemortem Thrombus – A clot formed in the circulation during life.
Basilar arterial circulatory system- The basilar arterial supplies the brain with oxygen-rich blood.
- Relating to the right and left sides of the body or of a body structure.
Bronchial Bilaterally tree - Spreads the air from the trachea over a very wide area as quickly as possible.
Cerebral artificial circulatory system- is the movement of blood through the network of blood
vessels supplying the brain.
Confluent - Flowing together; blended into one.
Contusions – Bruises.
Dorsal - Relating to or on the back or upper surface
Dorsum - The upper, outer surface of an organ.
Dura- is the outermost of the three layers of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord
EKG- Electrocardiogram, An EKG is used to evaluate a patient who is suspected to have a heart related
problem.
Extra hepatic biliary system - The extra hepatic biliary system is composed of the bile ducts and the
gallbladder that carries bile from the liver to the small intestines which removes waste, and breaks down
fat.
Fibrosis – a formation or development of excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ.
Flank -the fleshy part of the side between the ribs and the hip.
Focal Atherosclerosis- is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as the result of a build-up of fatty
materials.
Gyri - is a ridge on the cerebral cortex. It is generally surrounded by one or more sulci.
Hepatobiliary system- refers to the liver, gall bladder and bile ducts, and how they work together to
make bile.
Hematoma - is extravasations of blood outside the blood vessels.
Hippocratic Faces- is the change produced in the face by impending death.
Hooded congestion- heart failure.
Iliac crest - The iliac crest is the thick curved upper border of the ilium, the most prominent bone on the
pelvis.
Infarct- an area of tissue death, due to a local lack of oxygen.
Incontinent- unable to restrain natural discharges or evacuations of urine or feces.
Irides- A plural of iris, the pigmented, round, contractile membrane of the eye, suspended between the
cornea and lens and perforated by the pupil. It regulates the amount of light entering the eye.
Laceration- A wound, lesion.
Lesions- any abnormal tissue found on or in an organism, usually damaged by disease or trauma.
Meningitis- is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Metacarpal- the intermediate part of the hand skeleton that is located between the bones of the fingers
forearm.
Mucosa- are linings.
Multifocal- Many locations.
Nares- The nostrils or nasal passages.
Occlusive Thrombus - A thrombus that occupies the entire lumen of a vessel and obstructs blood flow.
Occlusion- the manner in which the upper and lower teeth come together when the mouth is closed.
Opacification- the rendering opaque to x-rays of a tissue or organ by introduction of a contrast medium.
Orotracheal tube- An endotracheal tube inserted through the mouth.
Parenchyma- is a term used to describe a bulk of a substance.
Pericardial cavities- are a potential space between the parietalpericardium and visceral layer.
Peripheral- of, relating to, involving, forming, or located near a periphery or surface part (as of
the body).
Peritoneal cavity- is a potential space between the parietal peritoneum and visceral peritoneum,
That is, the two membranes that separate the organs in the abdominal cavity from the abdominal
wall.
Pleural cavities- the body cavity that surrounds the lungs.
Posterior- A person’s buttocks/behind.
Proximal Pulmonary artery - pulmonary arteries carry blood from the heart to the lungs.
Renal artery – supplies the kidneys with blood.
Sclera- also known as the white or white of the eye.
Subcapsular hematoma- Trauma of the liver.
Sulci- is a depression or fissure in the surface of an organ.
Suprailiac- An area just above the hip bone.
Thrombus- Bloodclot.
Tracheal Cartilage- Any of the incomplete rings of hyaline cartilage forming the wall of the
trachea.
Ureter- the ureters are muscular tubes that propel urine from the kidneys to the urinary.
Vasculature - The arrangement or the distribution of blood vessels in an organ or body part.
Viscenal pleura - A portion of the serous membrane covers the surface of the lung and dips into
the fissures between its lobes.
Viscid bile – sticky fluid secreted by the liver.
Volar - relating to the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot.