The Skeletal System

ankyl/o

crooked, bent, stiff (combining form)

arthr/o

joint (combining form)

burs/o

bursa, a fluid-filled sac that cushions joints (combining form)

chondr/i

cartilage (combining form ending in -i)

chondr/o

cartilage (combining form ending in -o)

cost/o

rib (combining form)

crani/o

skull, cranium (combining form)

-desis

to bind, tie together (suffix)

kyph/o

bent, hump (combining form)

lord/o

curve, swayback, bent forward (combining form)

-lysis

loosening, setting free, separation, or destruction (suffix)

myel/o

bone marrow or spinal cord (combining form)

oss/e

bone (combining form starting with oss- and ending in -e)

oss/i

bone (combining form starting with oss- and ending in -i)

ost/o

bone (combining form starting with ost- and ending in -o)

oste/o

bone (combining form starting with oste-)

scoli/o

curved, bent laterally (combining form)

spondyl/o

vertebrae, vertebral column, backbone (combining form)

synovi/o

synovial membrane or fluid (combining form starting with synovi-)

synov/o

synovial membrane or fluid (combining form starting with synov-)

-clasis

to break, surgical fracture (suffix)

-listhesis

slipping (suffix)

-poietic

pertaining to formation (suffix)

Ossification

Process of bone formation from cartilage

Osteoblasts

Cells that build bone matrix

Osteocytes

Mature, bone-maintaining cells

Osteoclasts

Cells that break down/resorb bone

Axial skeleton

Skull, spine, ribs, and sternum

Appendicular skeleton

Limbs, shoulder girdle, and pelvic girdle

Periosteum

Outer fibrous tissue membrane of bone

Endosteum

Inner vascular lining of the medullary cavity

Diaphysis

Shaft of a long bone

Epiphysis

Expanded ends of a long bone

Medullary cavity

Central cavity storing yellow marrow

Red bone marrow

Hemopoietic tissue that produces blood cells

Yellow bone marrow

Fat storage tissue in the medullary cavity

Articular cartilage

Cartilage covering epiphyses to reduce friction

Compact bone

Dense, hard outer bone layer

Spongy bone

Porous bone containing red marrow

Fontanels

Infant soft spots or unjoined cranial bones

Sutures

Immovable joints of the skull

Foramen

Opening in a bone for nerves and vessels

Cranium

Skull portion protecting the brain

Clavicle

Collarbone

Scapula

Shoulder blade

Sternum

Breastbone

Humerus

Upper arm bone

Radius

Lateral forearm bone on the thumb side

Ulna

Medial forearm bone on the pinky side

Carpals

Wrist bones

Metacarpals

Palm bones

Phalanges

Finger or toe bones

Cervical vertebrae

Neck vertebrae C1 through C7

Thoracic vertebrae

Upper back vertebrae T1 through T12

Lumbar vertebrae

Lower back vertebrae L1 through L5

Sacrum

Fused triangular bone at the base of the spine

Coccyx

Tailbone

Femur

Thigh bone

Patella

Kneecap

Tibia

Shin bone

Fibula

Lateral lower leg bone

Tarsals

Ankle and heel bones

Metatarsals

Foot bones

Ankylosing spondylitis

Progressive stiffening and fusing of the vertebrae

Osteoarthritis

Wear-and-tear arthritis of joint cartilage

Gout

Uric acid crystal joint inflammation

Bunion

Deformity at the base of the great toe

Kyphosis

Outward curvature of the thoracic spine

Lordosis

Inward curvature of the lumbar spine

Scoliosis

Lateral spinal curvature

Spondylolisthesis

Forward slipping of a vertebra

Osteomalacia

Abnormal adult bone softening usually due to Vitamin D deficiency

Osteopenia

Diminished or below-normal bone density

Osteoporosis

Systemic loss of bone density resulting in porous bones

Osteomyelitis

Bone marrow or bone infection

Chondromalacia

Abnormal softening of cartilage

Paget's disease

Disorganized and rapid bone remodeling