Glossary

Medical glossary

Many anatomical words sound intimidating, even though they stand for quite simple things. Here are the terms used in this guide, with short explanations and no Latin.

A word you understand eases worry better than any reassurance. When you know what a term means, talking to a doctor becomes easier.

— Editor's note

Skeleton and muscles

Skeleton: All the bones of the body together. An adult usually has 206 bones; a newborn has more, as some fuse later on.
Vertebra: A single bone of the spine. The vertebrae are linked to one another and form a flexible support for the body.
Joint: A movable connection between bones, lined with cartilage and surrounded by a joint capsule.
Cartilage: A firm, smooth, elastic tissue that covers the ends of bones in joints and reduces friction.
Ligament: A tough band of connective tissue that holds bones together.
Tendon: The dense part of a muscle that attaches it to a bone and transmits its pull.

Heart and blood vessels

Pulse: The rhythmic beat of an artery wall created by each contraction of the heart.
Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per minute. In an adult at rest, roughly 60–100; a doctor makes the assessment.
Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the organs.
Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood back to the heart.
Capillary: The finest blood vessel, through whose wall the blood exchanges substances with the tissues.
Blood pressure: The force with which blood presses on the artery walls. It is measured with a special device and assessed together with a doctor.

Organs

Skin: The body's largest organ, covering roughly 1.5–2 m² in an adult. It protects the body, helps maintain temperature and provides the sense of touch.
Lungs: The paired breathing organ in which oxygen passes from the air into the blood.
Liver: A large gland involved in metabolism and in neutralising many substances.
Stomach: A hollow organ where food is churned and digestion begins.
Brain: The main organ of the nervous system, which processes signals and controls how the body works.
Nerve: A bundle of nerve fibres that carries signals between the brain and the organs.

Medical tests

Anatomical atlas: A collection of detailed images of the body's structure. One of the first works of this calibre was the book by Vesalius published in 1543.
Plastination: A method of preserving anatomical specimens in which the fluids in the tissues are replaced with polymers. It was developed in the late 1970s.
X-ray imaging: Producing an image with X-rays; dense tissues such as bone show up especially well.
Ultrasound: A method in which an image is built from sound waves reflected by the organs.
Computed tomography (CT): Cross-sectional images of the body that a computer assembles from many X-ray images.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A method of producing detailed images, especially of soft tissues, using a magnetic field and radio waves.
Physiology: The science of how organs, and the body as a whole, work.

Where these words appear in the guide

Topics
Organ systems by group: support and movement, blood and breathing, digestion, nerves and senses. Plus the article catalogue.
Methods
How scientists studied the body in the past, how doctors look inside today, and what you can calmly observe yourself.
Prevention
Everyday care for your joints and back: movement, posture, sleep and breaks, with no miracle cures.
Research
Where knowledge about the body comes from, how to read popular science, and why anatomy myths are so persistent.
Anatomy exhibits (in Russian)
Archived address: what anatomy museums and exhibits show and how to prepare for a visit.
Body in the news (in Russian)
Archived address: six questions to ask of any news story about the body and medicine.
Free anatomy (in Russian)
Archived address: free ways to learn anatomy on your own or with a child.

Methods
How scientists studied the body in the past, how doctors look inside today, and what you can calmly observe yourself.
Topics
Organ systems by group: support and movement, blood and breathing, digestion, nerves and senses. Plus the article catalogue.
Questions
Questions about the heart, bones, joints and skin that are worth raising at a doctor's appointment.
Sources
The textbooks and reference materials this guide relies on, and where its limits are.

Sources

Textbooks of human anatomy and physiology
Andreas Vesalius, "On the Fabric of the Human Body" (De humani corporis fabrica, 1543)

This text reflects the generally accepted understanding of how the body works as of the date it was prepared. Human biology keeps refining the details, so take any questions about your own health to a doctor rather than relying on a reference article.