Medical Terminology - The Skeletal System

Flashcards on the Skeletal System

Bones

Act as the framework of the body and support and protect the internal organs.

Joints

Work in conjunction with muscles, ligaments, and tendons to make possible body movements.

Calcium

Mineral required for normal nerve and muscle function and is stored in bones.

Red bone marrow

Plays an important role in the formation of blood cells and is located within spongy bone.

Ossification

Process that starts turning fragile membranes and cartilage into bone and continues through adolescence.

Osteoclast

Cells that break down old or damaged bone.

Osteoblast

Cells that help rebuild bone.

Compact bone (Cortical bone)

Dense, hard, and very strong bone that forms the protective outer layer of bones.

Spongy bone (Cancellous bone)

Porous bone, making it lighter and weaker than compact bone, and commonly containing red bone marrow.

Medullary cavity

Central cavity located in the shaft of long bones and surrounded by compact bone, where red and yellow bone marrow are stored.

Endosteum

Tissue that lines the medullary cavity.

Red bone marrow

Hematopoietic tissue that manufactures red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and thrombocytes.

Yellow bone marrow

Functions as a fat storage area and gradually replaces about half of red bone marrow after early adolescence.

Cartilage

Smooth, rubbery, blue-white connective tissue that acts as a shock absorber between bones.

Articular cartilage

Covers the surfaces of bones where they articulate, making smooth joint movement possible and protecting the bones from rubbing against each other.

Meniscus

Curved, fibrous cartilage found in some joints, such as the knee and temporomandibular joint.

Diaphysis

Shaft of a long bone.

Epiphyses

Wider ends of long bones such as the femurs of the legs.

Proximal epiphysis

End of the bone located nearest to the midline of the body.

Distal epiphysis

End of the bone located farthest away from the midline of the body.

Foramen

Opening through which blood vessels, nerves, and ligaments pass.

Process

Normal projection on the surface of a bone, commonly serving as an attachment for a muscle or tendon.

Joints

Also known as articulations, these are the place of union between two or more bones.

Fibrous Joints

Hold the bones tightly together and consist of inflexible layers of dense connective tissue.

Cartilaginous Joints

Allow only slight movement and consist of bones connected entirely by cartilage.

Synovial Joints--Ball-and-socket joints

Allow a wide range of movement in many directions, like hips and shoulders.

Synovial Joints--Hinge joints

Allow movement primarily in one direction or plane, like knees and elbows.

Axial Skeleton

Protects major organs of the nervous, respiratory, and circulatory systems, consisting of 80 bones of the head and body.

Appendicular Skeleton

Makes body movement possible and protects the organs of digestion, excretion, and reproduction, consisting of 126 bones.

Chiropractor

Medical professional who specializes in manipulative treatment of disorders originating from misalignment of the spine.

Orthopedic surgeon

Physician specializing in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders involving the bones, joints, and muscles.

Osteopath

Medical professional who uses traditional forms of medical treatment in addition to specializing in treating health problems by spinal manipulation.

Podiatrist

Medical professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the foot.

Rheumatologist

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

Ankylosis

Loss or absence of mobility in a joint.

Bursitis

Inflammation of the bursa.

Chondromalacia

Abnormal softening of cartilage.

Costochondritis

Inflammation of cartilage connecting the ribs to the sternum.

Hemarthrosis

Blood within a joint.

Synovitis

Inflammation of the synovial membrane.

Dislocation

Total displacement of a bone from its joint.

Subluxation

Partial displacement of a bone from its joint.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Wear-and-tear arthritis; degenerative joint disease.

Osteophytes

Formation of bone spurs.

Spondylosis

Spinal osteoarthritis.

Gout

Deposits of urate crystals in the joints; gouty arthritis.

RA

Chronic autoimmune disorder where joints and some organs of other body systems are attacked; rheumatoid arthritis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)

Inflammation of joints between vertebrae.

Spina bifida

Congenital defect where the spinal canal fails to close completely.

Kyphosis

Outward curvature of the spine; hunchback.

Lordosis

Forward curvature of the spine; swayback.

Scoliosis

Lateral curvature of the spine.

Avascular necrosis

Insufficient blood flow to bone tissue; osteonecrosis.

Osteitis

Inflammation of a bone.

Osteomalacia

Abnormal bone softening; adult rickets due to vitamin D deficiency.

Osteomyelitis

Inflammation of the bone marrow and adjacent bone.

Spinal stenosis

Narrowing of the spaces within the spine.

Clubfoot (talipes)

Congenital deformity of the foot involving the talus.

Multiple myeloma

Cancer that occurs in blood-making plasma cells of red bone marrow.

Osteochondroma

Benign bony projection covered with cartilage.

Osteoporosis (OP)

Marked loss of bone density and increase in bone porosity, frequently associated with aging.

Osteopenia

Thinner-than-average bone density but not yet osteoporosis.

Compression fracture

Occurs when the bone is pressed together (compressed) on itself.

Colles fracture

Broken wrist, often from trying to stop a fall.

Comminuted fracture

Bone is splintered or crushed.

Incomplete fracture

One side of the bone is broken, and the other side is only bent; greenstick fracture.

Oblique fracture

Occurs at an angle across the bone.

Pathologic fracture

Bone weakened by osteoporosis or cancer breaks under normal strain.

Spiral fracture

Complete fracture in which the bone has been twisted apart, often due to a severe twisting motion.

Stress fracture

Small crack in bone that develops from chronic, excessive impact; overuse injury.

Transverse fracture

Occurs straight across, perpendicular to the shaft of the bone.

Fat embolus

Fat cells from yellow bone marrow are released into the blood after a fracture.

Crepitation (crepitus)

Grating sound heard when ends of a broken bone move together.

Callus

Bulging deposit around the area of the break that forms as bone heals.

Arthroscopy

Visual examination of the internal structure of a joint using an arthroscope.

Bisphosphonates

Drugs used to slow the loss of bone density due to osteoporosis, reducing the risk of broken bones.

Orthotic

Mechanical appliance to support, control, correct, or compensate for impaired limb function.

Prosthesis

Substitute for a diseased or missing body part.

ACL reconstruction

Surgery to replace a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee.

Arthrodesis

Surgical fusion (joining together) of two bones to stiffen a joint.

Percutaneous diskectomy

Removal of a fragment of the disk that is compressing a nerve.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty

Bone cement injected to stabilize osteoporosis-related compression fractures.

Laminectomy

Surgical removal of lamina to relieve pressure on spinal cord by enlarging spinal column; decompression surgery.

Spinal fusion

Immobilizes part of the spine by joining together (fusing) two or more vertebrae.

Decompressive craniectomy

Surgical removal of a portion of the skull to relieve increased intracranial pressure.

Craniotomy

Surgical incision or opening into the skull to gain access to the brain.

Osteotomy

Surgical cutting and reshaping of a bone.

Closed reduction

Attempted non-surgical realignment of a fracture or joint dislocation; manipulation.

Open reduction

Surgical realignment of a fracture or joint dislocation; performed when closed reduction is not practical.

Immobilization

Holding, suturing, or fastening bone in a fixed position with strapping or a cast.

Traction

Pulling force exerted on a limb to return the bone or joint to normal alignment.

External fixation

Fracture treatment with external appliance.

Internal fixation

Plate or pins placed directly into the bone to hold pieces in place; also known as open reduction internal fixation (ORIF).