Skeletal System - Fractures, Overview, Appendicular Skeleton

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering skeletal terminology, fracture types, repair steps, bone loss conditions, and bone structures of the pectoral girdle, pelvis, and limbs.

Traumatic Fracture

A fracture caused by injury.

Spontaneous (Pathologic) Fracture

A fracture caused by disease.

Simple (Closed) Fracture

A fracture protected by uninjured skin or mucous membrane.

Compound (Open) Fracture

A fracture in which the bone is exposed to the outside through an opening in the skin or mucous membrane.

Hematoma

A large blood clot that forms right after a fracture occurs.

Cartilaginous (Soft) Callus

A stage in fracture repair where osteoblasts invade to produce spongy bone, phagocytes remove debris, and fibrocartilage is produced.

Bony (Hard) Callus

A stage in fracture repair where the cartilaginous callus breaks down and osteoblasts invade to fill the space with a hard callus.

Remodeling (Fracture)

The final step in fracture repair where bone is restored close to its original shape as osteoclasts remove excess bone.

Fragility Fracture

A fracture that occurs after a fall from less than standing height; it serves as a sign of low bone density.

Osteopenia

A condition characterized by bone loss.

Osteoporosis

Severe bone loss that leaves spaces and canals in bone, making them weak.

Axial Skeleton

A division of the skeleton consisting of $80$ bones, including the skull, middle ear bones, hyoid bone, vertebral column, and thoracic cage.

Appendicular Skeleton

A division of the skeleton consisting of $126$ bones, including the pectoral girdle, upper limbs, pelvic girdle, and lower limbs.

Condyle

A rounded process that usually articulates with another bone.

Crest

A narrow, ridge-like projection.

Epicondyle

A projection situated above a condyle.

Facet

A small, nearly flat surface.

Fissure

A cleft or groove.

Fontanel

A soft spot in the skull where membranes cover the space between bones.

Foramen

An opening through a bone that usually serves as a passageway for blood vessels, nerves, or ligaments.

Fossa

A relatively deep pit or depression.

Fovea

A tiny pit or depression.

Head

An enlargement on the end of a bone.

Linea

A narrow ridge.

Meatus

A tube-like passageway within a bone.

Process

A prominent projection on a bone.

Ramus

A branch or similar extension.

Sinus

A cavity within a bone.

Spine

A thorn-like projection.

Sulcus

A furrow or groove.

Suture

An interlocking line of union between bones.

Trochanter

A relatively large process.

Tubercle

A knob-like process.

Tuberosity

A knob-like process usually larger than a tubercle.

Pectoral Girdle

An incomplete ring supporting the upper limbs, consisting of $2$ clavicles and $2$ scapulae.

Glenoid Cavity

The fossa of the scapula that articulates with the head of the humerus.

Humerus

The only bone of the upper arm.

Radius

The lateral bone of the forearm; it is shorter than the ulna.

Ulna

The medial bone of the forearm; it is longer than the radius and features a U-shaped trochlear notch.

Carpal Bones

The $8$ bones of the wrist, including the scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, hamate, capitate, trapezoid, and trapezium.

Pelvis

A structure formed by the pelvic girdle, sacrum, and coccyx.

Acetabulum

A depression in the hip bone for the head of the femur.

Obturator Foramen

The opening between the pubis and ischium.

False Pelvis

The upper/greater pelvis positioned superior to the pelvic brim, bounded by lumbar vertebrae posteriorly and iliac bones laterally.

True Pelvis

The lower/lesser pelvis positioned inferior to the pelvic brim, bounded by the sacrum, coccyx, lower ilium, ischium, and pubic bones.

Femur

The longest bone of the body, also known as the thigh bone.

Patella

A flat sesamoid bone located in the quadriceps tendon on the anterior surface of the knee joint.

Tibia

The larger of the two leg bones, positioned medially to the fibula; also known as the shin bone.

Fibula

A long, slender, non-weight bearing bone located on the lateral side of the tibia.

Calcaneus

The heel bone.