Osteology/Arthrology/Myology & Neurovascular Upper & Lower Limb – Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering definitions of key osteology, arthrology, myology, and neurovascular concepts from the lecture notes, with emphasis on upper and lower limb anatomy.

Osteology

The study of bone structure and function.

Arthrology

The study of joints and how bones connect to enable movement.

Long bones

Bones with a tubular shaft and two ends (e.g., femur, humerus, ulna, radius, tibia, fibula, phalanges).

Flat bones

Bones with thin, flat surfaces (e.g., skull bones, sternum, ribs).

Irregular bones

Bones with complex shapes not fitting other categories (e.g., vertebrae, certain facial bones).

Short bones

Cube-shaped bones that absorb shock and provide stability (e.g., carpals, tarsals).

Sesamoid bones

Small bones within tendons that modify pressure and increase mechanical advantage; patella is the best known.

Endochondral ossification

Bone formation where cartilage is replaced by bone; common for most long bones (e.g., clavicle example).

Articular cartilage

Hylaine cartilage covering articular surfaces to reduce friction and absorb shock.

Synovial fluid

Viscous fluid within a joint that lubricates cartilage and nourishes it.

Synovial membrane

Inner layer of the joint capsule that secretes synovial fluid.

Bursa

Fluid-filled sacs around joints that reduce friction between moving parts.

Meniscus

Fibrocartilaginous disc in certain joints that distribute load and stabilize the joint.

Intracapsular ligaments

Ligaments located inside the joint capsule that provide internal stability (e.g., ACL, PCL in the knee).

Extracapsular ligaments

Ligaments outside the joint capsule that reinforce external aspects (e.g., MCL, LCL).

Synovial joints

Joints that are freely movable, with a joint cavity, synovial membrane, and ligaments.

Fibrous joints

Joints connected by dense connective tissue with little to no movement (e.g., sutures, syndesmoses).

Suture

Fibrous joint between skull bones with interlocking edges; essentially immovable.

Gomphosis

Fibrous joint where a tooth sits in a socket; limited movement.

Syndesmosis

Joint where bones are joined by an interosseous membrane; movement is limited.

Synchondrosis

Cartilaginous joint joined by hyaline cartilage; typically immovable to slightly movable.

Symphysis

Cartilaginous joint joined by fibrocartilage; permits slight movement (e.g., pubic symphysis).

Plane joint

Synovial joint allowing gliding with limited rotation (e.g., some carpal joints).

Hinge joint

Synovial joint permitting flexion/extension in one plane (e.g., elbow, knee).

Pivot joint

Synovial joint allowing rotation around a vertical axis (e.g., proximal radioulnar).

Saddle joint

Synovial joint with saddle-shaped surfaces; allows biaxial movement (e.g., 1st carpometacarpal).

Ball-and-socket joint

Synovial joint allowing movement in multiple planes and axes (e.g., shoulder, hip).

Joint capsule

Encloses a synovial joint; composed of an outer fibrous layer and inner synovial membrane.

Superior Glenohumeral ligament

Capsular ligament stabilising the humeral head; part of the HG ligaments.

Middle Glenohumeral ligament

Capsular ligament stabilising the humeral head; part of HG ligaments.

Inferior Glenohumeral ligament

Capsular ligament stabilising the humeral head, especially during abduction.

Coracohumeral ligament

Ligament reinforcing the shoulder joint capsule and limiting inferior displacement.

Transverse humeral ligament

Keeps the long head of the biceps tendon in the intertubercular groove.

Coracoacromial ligament

Connects coracoid process to acromion, forming a roof over the humeral head.

Acromioclavicular ligament

Ligament strengthening the acromioclavicular joint.

Coracoclavicular ligament

Ligament (trapezoid and conoid parts) anchoring clavicle to scapula.

Sternoclavicular joint

Saddle-type synovial joint linking the sternum and clavicle; essential but relatively stable.

Scapulothoracic rhythm

Functional movement relationship between the scapula and thorax during arm elevation (often 2:1 ratio with GH motion).

Degrees of freedom

Number of independent directions a joint can move in (1 DOF = one plane, 2 DOF = two planes, 3 DOF = three planes including rotation).

Force

A push or pull that causes movement or change in motion; generated by muscle contractions and transmitted across joints.

Range of motion (ROM)

The degree of movement possible at a joint, measured in degrees of angular movement.

Open-chain movements

Distal segment free to move; allows isolation of muscles; common in non-weight-bearing training.

Closed-chain movements

Distal segment fixed; promotes joint stability and multi-joint coordination; typical in functional activities.

Intrinsic hand muscles

Muscles whose origin and insertion are within the hand; fine motor control and precision.

Extrinsic hand muscles

Muscles with bellies in the forearm and tendons that insert in the hand; major gross hand movements.

Thenar muscles

Thenar compartment muscles (thumb) enabling precision grip: Abductor pollicis brevis, Flexor pollicis brevis, Opponens pollicis, Adductor pollicis.

Hypothenar muscles

Hypothenar compartment muscles (little finger side) improving grip and cupping palm: Abductor digiti minimi, Flexor digiti minimi, Opponens digiti minimi.

Interosseous muscles

Intrinsic hand muscles between metacarpals that assist with finger movements and grip.

Lumbricals

Intrinsic hand muscles that flex MCP joints and extend IP joints.

Kinetic chain

Concept that movement at one joint affects adjacent joints through linked muscles and nerves.

Dermatomes

Skin areas innervated by sensory fibers from a single spinal nerve root.

Myotomes

Muscle groups innervated primarily by motor fibers from a single spinal nerve root.

Brachial plexus

Network of nerves (roots C5–T1 mainly) supplying the upper limb.

Axillary nerve

Nerve supplying deltoid and teres minor; vulnerable in quadrangular space injuries.

Radial nerve

Nerve supplying posterior arm and forearm muscles; travels in radial groove and divides into sensory and motor branches.

Musculocutaneous nerve

Nerve supplying anterior arm muscles (biceps, brachialis, coracobrachialis).

Median nerve

Nerve supplying most of the anterior forearm and thenar/lateral lumbricals; bypasses elbow flexors above the elbow.

Ulnar nerve

Nerve supplying medial forearm muscles and most hand intrinsic muscles (except thenar and lateral lumbricals).

Cubital fossa

Triangular area anterior to the elbow where the brachial artery, median nerve, and other structures are palpated.

Anatomical snuff box

Dorsal radial-side triangle on the wrist; floor formed by scaphoid; tenderness suggests fracture.

Palmar arches (deep and superficial)

Arterial networks in the hand: deep arch (radial and ulnar) and superficial arch (from ulnar).

Quadrangle space/triangular interval/triangular space

Anatomical spaces containing neurovascular structures (axillary nerve, radial nerve, profunda brachii, etc.).

Tinel/Palpation pulses in upper limb

Sites for palpating pulses (brachial, radial, ulnar) to assess circulation and rhythm.

Tom, Dick and A Very Nervous Harry

Mnemonic for contents of the tarsal tunnel: Tibialis posterior, Flexor digitorum longus, Posterior tibial artery, Posterior tibial vein, Tibial nerve, Flexor hallucis longus.

Tom, Dick and A Very Nervous Harry (lower limb roots/nerves)

Mnemonic to recall tibial and fibular/neural arrangements in the leg and foot.

Screw-home mechanism

Knee mechanism where the tibia unlocks by popliteus muscle rotation to initiate flexion.

ACL

Anterial cruciate ligament; prevents anterior tibial displacement and stabilises rotation.

PCL

Posterior cruciate ligament; prevents posterior tibial displacement; stabilises knee during flexion.

MCL

Medial collateral ligament; resists valgus forces (medial knee stability).

LCL

Lateral collateral ligament; resists varus forces (lateral knee stability).

Menisci

Medial and lateral fibrocartilaginous discs in the knee; distribute load, improve congruence, and provide proprioception.

Acetabulofemoral joint

Ball-and-socket hip joint; strong, depth provides stability but ROM is limited.

Sacroiliac joint

Joint between sacrum and ilium; anterior portion is synovial plane, posterior is fibrous syndesmosis.

Tibiofemoral joint

Knee joint; modified hinge allowing slight rotation to increase congruence.

Talocrural joint

Ankle joint (tibia, fibula, talus); synovial hinge allowing dorsiflexion and plantarflexion.

Subtalar joint

Talocalcaneal joint; plane joint allowing inversion and eversion.

Plantar arches

Medial and lateral arches of the foot distributing weight and absorbing shock.

Sensation and motor mapping (dermatomes/myotomes)

Clinical tools to localize nerve injury by skin sensation and muscle function.

Dermatome: Which spinal nerve root innervates the thumb?

C6

Dermatome: Which spinal nerve root innervates the middle finger?

C7

Dermatome: Which spinal nerve root innervates the little finger?

C8

Dermatome: Which spinal nerve root innervates the nipple line?

T4

Dermatome: Which spinal nerve root innervates the umbilicus?

T10

Dermatome: Which spinal nerve root innervates the great toe?

L5

Dermatome: Which spinal nerve root innervates the little toe?

S1

Myotome: Which spinal nerve root primarily causes elbow flexion?

C5

Myotome: Which spinal nerve root primarily causes wrist extension?

C6

Myotome: Which spinal nerve root primarily causes elbow extension?

C7

Myotome: Which spinal nerve root primarily causes finger flexion?

Myotome: C8

Myotome: Which spinal nerve root primarily causes hip flexion?

Myotome; L2

Myotome: Which spinal nerve root primarily causes knee extension?

Myotome: L3

Myotome: Which spinal nerve root primarily causes ankle dorsiflexion?

myotome; L4

Myotome: Which spinal nerve root primarily causes great toe extension?

L5

Myotome: Which spinal nerve root primarily causes ankle plantarflexion?

S1