Musculoskeletal Pathophysiology and Pharmacology - Week 7 (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering fractures, bone remodeling, OA/Rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and related pharmacology from the notes.

Fracture

A break in a bone, caused by trauma or disease.

Pathological fracture

A fracture that occurs at a site weakened by disease (e.g., osteoporosis, osteomalacia, infection, cancer) and may occur spontaneously.

Osteoporosis

Metabolic bone disorder with reduced bone mass and strength, increasing fracture risk.

Osteomalacia

Defective mineralization of osteoid, leading to softened bones.

Osteoclasts

Bone-resorbing cells that break down bone tissue during remodeling.

Osteoblasts

Bone-forming cells that lay down new bone matrix.

Osteoid

The organic, unmineralized bone matrix produced by osteoblasts.

Resorption cavity

Space created in bone by osteoclast activity during remodeling.

Bone remodeling

Coordinated resorption and formation of bone to maintain strength and integrity.

Haematoma

Localized blood clot at the fracture site that initiates healing.

Granulation tissue

New connective tissue and tiny vessels forming at the fracture site during healing.

Fracture callus

New tissue bridging fracture ends; progresses from soft to hard callus.

Fibrocartilaginous callus

Early bridging tissue consisting of fibrocartilage and collagen formed after fracture.

Endochondral ossification

Bone formation process where cartilage is replaced by bone.

Soft callus

Initial cartilage-rich bridge between fracture ends.

Hard callus

Mineralized bone callus that strengthens the fracture site.

Stage 3: Bony callus (ossification)

Continued mineralization of the soft callus into a hard callus over ~3 months.

Stage 4: Remodeling

Osteoclasts and osteoblasts reshape bone to restore form and strength over months to years.

Medullary cavity

The hollow interior cavity of a bone where bone marrow resides.

Osteophyte

Bone spur that forms at joint margins in arthritis.

Joint space narrowing

Radiographic thinning of the space between bones due to cartilage loss.

Subchondral sclerosis

Hardening of the bone just beneath the cartilage (subchondral plate).

Osteoarthritis

Degenerative joint disease with cartilage loss and imbalance of repair vs. destruction.

Primary osteoarthritis

Idiopathic osteoarthritis with no identifiable cause.

Secondary osteoarthritis

OA due to identifiable factor such as injury or deformity.

Cartilage degeneration

Defect, softening, or thinning of articular cartilage in OA.

Pannus

Inflamed granulation tissue in RA that invades and damages joint structures.

Synovium

Lining of the joint that can become inflamed in arthritis (synovitis).

Synovitis

Inflammation of the synovial membrane within a joint.

Erosions

Radiographic or pathologic loss of bone at joint margins, typical in RA.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Systemic autoimmune disease with joint inflammation, pannus formation, and joint destruction.

Rheumatoid factor (RF)

Autoantibody commonly elevated in RA that targets host proteins.

Anti-CCP

Autoantibody to cyclic citrullinated peptide, highly specific for RA.

HLA-DRB1 / MHC (shared epitope)

Genetic risk factor for RA; part of the immune system’s antigen presentation.

CD4+ T helper cells

Immune cells involved in orchestrating autoimmune responses in RA.

Gout

Systemic metabolic disease with uric acid crystal deposition in joints and tissues.

Uric acid

Waste product that can crystallize and provoke inflammation in joints and kidneys.

Tophi

Deposits of urate crystals in tissues, seen in chronic gout.

Podagra

Acute gout attack involving the first metatarsophalangeal joint (big toe).

Uricosuric agents

Drugs that increase uric acid excretion by inhibiting renal reabsorption.

Probenecid

A uricosuric agent used to increase uric acid excretion; not effective if GFR < 40 mL/min.

Allopurinol

Xanthine oxidase inhibitor that reduces uric acid production.

Xanthine oxidase inhibitors

Drug class (e.g., allopurinol) that lowers uric acid by inhibiting XO.

Methotrexate (MTX)

DMARD used for RA; folate antagonist that reduces cellular replication and inflammatory cytokines.

Folic acid co-prescription

Folate given with MTX to reduce adverse effects; not taken on the same day.

Adenosine (MTX mechanism)

Increased intracellular adenosine contributes to anti-inflammatory effects of MTX.

Interleukins and TNF-α

Cytokines involved in inflammatory signaling targeted by RA therapies.

Bone marrow suppression

A potential adverse effect of MTX (and some DMARDs).

ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate)

Blood test marker of inflammation used in rheumatic disease assessment.

CRP (C-reactive protein)

Inflammation marker in blood used to monitor disease activity.

Tenosynovitis

Inflammation of a tendon sheath, common in RA and other inflammatory conditions.

Ankylosis

Joint fusion that may occur in chronic inflammatory arthritis.

Capsaicin

Topical analgesic that desensitizes TRPV1 receptors to reduce pain in OA.

TRPV1

Nociceptor receptor activated by heat and capsaicin; target in pain modulation.

Substance P

Neuropeptide involved in pain transmission and inflammatory signaling.