Biomechanics and Bone Health Lecture Review

Flashcards covering key biomechanics concepts, bone physiology, anatomical terminology, and bone health conditions based on the provided lecture notes.

Osteopenia

A condition where bone mineral density (BMD) is lower than normal but not yet severe enough to be classified as osteoporosis, often occurring as a precursor.

Osteoporosis

A more severe condition characterized by significantly reduced bone density and mass, leading to fragile bones and an increased risk of fractures.

Female Athlete Triad

A syndrome often seen in female athletes, consisting of energy deficiency, menstrual disturbances, and low bone mineral density.

Energy Deficiency (Female Athlete Triad)

Insufficient caloric intake relative to exercise expenditure, part of the Female Athlete Triad.

Menstrual Disturbances (Female Athlete Triad)

Irregular or absent menstrual periods (e.g., Amenorrhea), part of the Female Athlete Triad.

Low Bone Mineral Density (Female Athlete Triad)

Weakened bones (e.g., Osteopenia/Osteoporosis) due to hormonal imbalances and nutritional deficiencies, part of the Female Athlete Triad.

Quantitative Analysis

Involves measuring and reporting numerical data, focusing on quantity, magnitude, and precise measurements.

Qualitative Analysis

Involves describing and interpreting movement using non-numerical observations, focusing on the quality and characteristics of movement.

Bicep Curl (Movement Analysis Example)

A movement involving flexion/extension of the elbow, occurring in the Sagittal Plane around the Mediolateral (Transverse) Axis.

Sesamoid Bones

Small, round bones embedded within tendons, often found in joints; example: Patella (kneecap).

Epiphyseal Plates (Growth Plates)

Areas of cartilage located near the ends of long bones in children and adolescents, responsible for longitudinal bone growth.

Wolff's Law

States that bone in a healthy person or animal will adapt to the loads it is placed under, remodeling to become stronger with increased loading.

Calcium (Bone Building Block)

A major building block of bone that provides hardness and rigidity.

Phosphorus (Bone Building Block)

A major building block of bone that works with calcium to strengthen bones.

Collagen (Bone Building Block)

A fibrous protein that provides flexibility and strength, forming the organic matrix of bone.

Water (Bone Building Block)

Essential for metabolic processes within bone tissue, a major building block of bone.

Hypertrophy

An increase in the size of cells, especially muscle or bone tissue, leading to an increase in overall size, meaning increased bone density and strength in bones.

Biomechanics

The study of the mechanical principles and forces applied to biological systems, such as the human body, combining physics, engineering, and biology to understand movement.

Kinetics

The study of forces that cause motion, dealing with forces that produce, arrest, or modify the motion of a body or objects.

Kinematics

The study of motion itself, without regard to the forces causing it, describing spatial and temporal characteristics like displacement, velocity, and acceleration.

Kinesiology

A broader academic discipline encompassing the study of human movement, including physiological, biomechanical, psychological, and pathological dynamic principles.

General Motion

The most common type of motion in the human body, a combination of both linear (translational) and angular (rotational) motion.

Rectilinear Motion

Movement in a straight line; example: a sprinter starting a race moving purely forward.

Curvilinear Motion

Movement along a curved path; example: the trajectory of a thrown ball.

Anatomical Position

A standard reference position where the person stands erect with feet flat on the floor, toes forward, arms at sides, palms facing forward.

Sagittal Plane

Divides the body into right and left halves, with movements typically being flexion and extension.

Frontal Plane (Coronal Plane)

Divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) halves, with movements including abduction and adduction.

Transverse Plane (Horizontal Plane)

Divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) halves, with movements typically being rotational.

Mediolateral (Transverse) Axis

Runs from side to side, perpendicular to the sagittal plane, around which movements like flexion and extension occur.

Anteroposterior Axis (Sagittal Axis)

Runs from front to back, perpendicular to the frontal plane, around which movements like abduction and adduction occur.

Longitudinal Axis (Vertical Axis)

Runs from top to bottom, perpendicular to the transverse plane, around which rotational movements occur.

Superior (Cranial)

Directional term meaning closer to the head.

Inferior (Caudal)

Directional term meaning closer to the feet.

Anterior (Ventral)

Directional term meaning closer to the front of the body.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Directional term meaning closer to the back of the body.

Medial

Directional term meaning closer to the midline of the body.

Lateral

Directional term meaning farther from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Directional term meaning closer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body (limb).

Distal

Directional term meaning farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body (limb).

Superficial

Directional term meaning closer to the surface of the body.

Deep

Directional term meaning farther from the surface of the body.

Ipsilateral

Directional term meaning on the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Directional term meaning on the opposite side of the body.

Unilateral

Directional term meaning involving one side of the body.

Bilateral

Directional term meaning involving both sides of the body.

Supine

Directional term meaning lying on the back, face upwards.

Prone

Directional term meaning lying on the stomach, face downwards.

Palmar

Directional term pertaining to the palm of the hand.

Plantar

Directional term pertaining to the sole of the foot.

Compression

A squeezing force that pushes materials together.

Tension

A pulling or stretching force that tends to pull materials apart.

Shearing

A force acting parallel to a surface or plane, causing one part of a material to slide past another.

Bending

A combination of compression on one side and tension on the opposite side of an object, causing it to curve.

Torsion

A twisting force that acts around an object's longitudinal axis.

Stiffness

The resistance of an object or material to deformation in response to an applied force.

COG (aka COM - Center of Gravity/Mass)

The theoretical point where the entire mass of an object appears to be concentrated, and where all gravitational forces are considered to act.

Volume

The amount of space an object occupies, typically measured in cubic units.

Density

The amount of mass per unit volume of a substance, a measure of how tightly packed the matter in a substance is.

Adult Human Bones

An adult human body typically has 206 bones.

Axial Skeleton

Forms the central axis of the body, including the skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage (ribs and sternum).

Appendicular Skeleton

Comprises the bones of the limbs (arms and legs) and their respective girdles (shoulder and pelvic girdles).

Long Bones

Bones longer than they are wide, with a shaft (diaphysis) and two ends (epiphyses); examples: Femur, humerus, tibia.

Short Bones

Roughly cube-shaped bones with equal length, width, and thickness; examples: Carpals (wrist bones), tarsals (ankle bones).

Flat Bones

Thin, flattened, and often curved bones; examples: Scapula (shoulder blade), sternum, cranial bones.

Irregular Bones

Bones with complex shapes that don't fit into other categories; examples: Vertebrae, sacrum, facial bones.