Medical Terminology - Chapter 3: The Skeletal System

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering anatomical structures, medical specialists, pathologies, fractures, and surgical procedures of the skeletal system.

Osteoclasts

Cells that break down old or damaged bone during bone growth and repair.

Osteoblasts

Cells that help rebuild bone tissue during growth and repair.

Compact bone

Dense, hard, and very strong bone tissue that forms the protective outer layer of bones; also known as cortical bone.

Spongy bone

Porous bone tissue, also known as cancellous bone, that is lighter and weaker than compact bone and commonly contains red bone marrow.

Endosteum

The tissue that lines the medullary cavity in the shaft of long bones.

Red bone marrow

Hematopoietic tissue located within spongy bone that manufactures red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and thrombocytes.

Yellow bone marrow

Bone tissue located in the medullary cavity that functions as a fat storage area.

Articular cartilage

Smooth tissue that covers the surfaces of bones where they articulate, enabling smooth joint movement and protecting bones from rubbing together.

Meniscus

Curved, fibrous cartilage found in specific joints, such as the knee and the temporomandibular joint of the jaw.

Diaphysis

The shaft of a long bone.

Epiphyses

The wider ends of long bones, categorized as proximal or distal relative to the midline of the body.

Foramen

An opening in a bone through which blood vessels, nerves, and ligaments pass.

Sutures

Inflexible fibrous joints formed by dense connective tissue that hold the bones of the adult skull tightly together.

Fontanelles

Soft spots on a newborn's skull that allow for passage through the birth canal and growth of the skull during the first year.

Pubic symphysis

The cartilaginous joint located between the pubic bones in the anterior pelvis that allows slight movement to facilitate childbirth.

Axial skeleton

The 80-bone division of the skeleton that protects major organs of the nervous, respiratory, and circulatory systems.

Appendicular skeleton

The 126-bone division of the skeleton that makes body movement possible and protects the organs of digestion, excretion, and reproduction.

Olecranon

The proximal tip of the ulna, commonly known as the funny bone.

Acetabulum

The deep bony cavity on the pelvis that holds the head of the femur, also known as the hip socket.

Calcaneus

The heel bone, which is the largest of the tarsal bones in the foot.

Chiropractor

A specialist holding a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree who focuses on the manipulative treatment of disorders originating from misalignment of the spine.

Rheumatologist

A physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and disorders characterized by inflammation in joints and connective tissues.

Ankylosis

The loss or absence of mobility in a joint.

Hallux valgus

An abnormal enlargement of the base joint of the great toe; also known as a bunion.

Subluxation

The partial displacement of a bone from its joint.

Osteoarthritis

A degenerative joint disease associated with aging and wear-and-tear of articular cartilage; also known as OA.

Gout

A form of arthritis characterized by deposits of urate crystals in the joints.

Abnormal Curvatures of the Spine

Spinal malalignments including kyphosis (hunchback), lordosis (swayback), and scoliosis (lateral curvature).

Avascular necrosis

Bone tissue death caused by an insufficient supply of blood; also known as osteonecrosis.

Osteomalacia

Abnormal softening of bones in adults caused by a deficiency of vitamin D; also known as adult rickets.

Osteomyelitis

Inflammation of the bone marrow and adjacent bone.

Osteoporosis

A marked loss of bone density and increase in bone porosity frequently associated with aging.

Osteopenia

A condition characterized by thinner-than-average bone density in an individual who does not yet have osteoporosis.

Types of Bone Fractures

Classifications of broken bones, including incomplete, closed (simple, complete), open (compound), and comminuted fractures.

Greenstick fracture

An incomplete fracture in which one side of the bone is broken and the other side is bent, occurring primarily in children.

Crepitation

The grating sound heard when the ends of a broken bone move together; also called crepitus.

Dual x-ray absorptiometry

A low-exposure radiographic measurement of the spine and hips used to accurately measure bone density; abbreviated as DXA.

Allogenic bone marrow transplant

A procedure using healthy blood-forming stem cells from a compatible donor, such as a sibling, to replace damaged bone marrow.

Autologous bone marrow transplant

A procedure in which a patient receives their own previously harvested, cleansed, and stored bone marrow stem cells.

Arthrodesis

The surgical fusion of two bones to stiffen a joint; also known as surgical ankylosis.

External fixation

A fracture treatment procedure in which an external appliance is attached to hold the bone stabilized during healing.

Internal fixation

A surgical procedure (ORIF) placing plates or pins directly into the bone to hold fractured pieces in alignment.