Chapter 15: Musculoskeletal System - Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering bones, joints, muscles, anatomy landmarks, and common musculoskeletal terms from Chapter 15.

Bone

A complete organ composed of osseous tissue that forms the skeleton and provides support, protection, and movement.

Osseous tissue

Bone tissue; specialized connective tissue consisting of osteocytes, collagen, and calcium salts.

Osteocyte

A mature bone cell.

Osteoblast

Immature bone cell that synthesizes bone tissue.

Osteoclast

Large cell that absorbs and removes old or damaged bone tissue.

Ossification

Process of bone formation; replacement of cartilage by bone.

Endochondral ossification

Bone formation where cartilage is gradually replaced by immature bone cells and calcium deposits.

Periosteum

Strong fibrous membrane that covers the surface of most bones (except at joints' ends).

Compact bone

Hard, dense bone tissue that forms the outer layer under the periosteum.

Cancellous bone (spongy bone)

Less dense, porous bone tissue found inside bones.

Medullary cavity

Central cavity of a long bone that contains yellow bone marrow.

Yellow bone marrow

Fatty tissue found in the medullary cavity of long bones.

Epiphysis

End portion of a long bone.

Diaphysis

Shaft or middle section of a long bone.

Epiphyseal plate (line)

Cartilaginous area at ends of long bones where lengthwise growth occurs.

Metaphysis

Flared portion of a long bone between the epiphysis and diaphysis.

Articular cartilage

Hyaline cartilage covering the ends of bones in a joint to reduce friction.

Haversian canal

Channel within compact bone that contains blood vessels and nerves.

Vertebral column

Bone column consisting of 26 vertebrae separated into cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions.

Vertebra

An individual backbone segment with a vertebral body, processes, and arches.

Intervertebral disc

Cartilaginous disc between vertebrae containing nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus.

Nucleus pulposus

The inner gel-like core of an intervertebral disc.

Annulus fibrosus

The tough outer ring of an intervertebral disc.

Cervical vertebrae

First seven vertebrae (C1–C7) in the neck.

Thoracic vertebrae

T1–T12 vertebrae in the chest region.

Lumbar vertebrae

L1–L5 vertebrae in the lower back.

Sacrum

Five fused vertebrae forming a triangular bone at the base of the spine.

Coccyx

Tailbone; fused small bones at the end of the vertebral column.

Clavicle

Collarbone; a long bone that connects the sternum to the scapula.

Scapula

Shoulder blade.

Sternum

Breastbone; central chest bone to which ribs attach.

Ribs

12 pairs of curved bones forming the chest wall; true (1–7), false (8–10), floating (11–12).

Humerus

Upper arm bone.

Ulna

Medial lower arm bone (pinky side in anatomical position).

Radius

Lateral lower arm bone (thumb side in anatomical position).

Carpals

Wrist bones.

Metacarpals

Five bones of the palm of the hand.

Phalanges (hand/fingers)

Bones of the fingers.

Pelvic girdle

Bony ring of the pelvis; composed of ilium, ischium, and pubis.

Femur

Thigh bone; the longest bone in the body.

Patella

Kneecap; a sesamoid bone within the tendon of the quadriceps.

Fibula

Smaller of the two bones in the lower leg; located laterally.

Tibia

Larger bone of the lower leg; weight-bearing.

Tarsals

Ankle and midfoot bones.

Metatarsals

Five bones between the tarsals and phalanges.

Phalanges (toes)

Bones of the toes.

Frontal bone

Bone forming the forehead and the roofs of the eye sockets.

Parietal bone

Bones forming the roof and upper sides of the cranium.

Temporal bone

Bones forming the lower sides and base of the cranium; contains the ear.

Occipital bone

Back and base of the skull.

Sphenoid bone

Bat-shaped bone behind the eyes; part of the skull base.

Ethmoid bone

Thin bone supporting the nasal cavity and eye sockets.

Fontanelle

Soft spot on an infant's skull where sutures are not yet fused.

Foramen magnum

Opening in the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes.

Suture

Immovable joint between skull bones.

Lacrimal bone

Small bone at the corner of each eye forming part of the eye socket.

Nasal bone

Bones forming the bridge of the nose.

Maxilla

Upper jawbone.

Mandible

Lower jawbone.

Zygomatic bone

Cheekbone.

Vomer

Thin bone forming part of the nasal septum.

Rheumatologist

Physician who specializes in joint problems, often non-surgical.

Physiatrist

Physician focusing on rehabilitation of muscles, bones, and nerves.

Chiropractor

Practitioner who manipulates the spine and joints; not a medical physician.

Athletic trainer

Healthcare professional who provides rehabilitation and therapeutic interventions for injuries.

Articular cartilage

Smooth white tissue covering the ends of bones in joints.

Joint capsule

Fibrous tissue capsule enclosing a synovial joint.

Synovial membrane

Tissue lining the joint capsule that produces synovial fluid.

Synovial cavity

Space between bones in a synovial joint filled with synovial fluid.

Bursa

Closed sacs of synovial fluid that cushion joints.

Ligament

Fibrous connective tissue that binds bones to other bones.

Tendon

Fibrous connective tissue that binds muscles to bones.

Meniscus

Crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure in joints (e.g., knee).

Arthroplasty

Surgical repair or replacement of a joint.

Arthroscopy

Visual examination of a joint with an arthroscope.

Arthrodesis

Surgical fusion of a joint.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

Degenerative joint disease with loss of articular cartilage and bone changes.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Autoimmune inflammatory joint disease affecting synovial membranes.

Gouty arthritis (gout)

Inflammation and swelling due to uric acid crystal deposits in joints.

Lyme disease (Lyme arthritis)

Chronic arthritis caused by Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted by ticks.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)

Compression of the median nerve at the wrist leading to pain/paresthesia.

Bunion

Enlargement of bone or tissue around the base of the big toe.

Herniated nucleus pulposus (herniated disc)

Intervertebral disc protrusion pressing on spinal nerves.

Osteoporosis

Decrease in bone density; thinning and weakening of bones.

Osteomalacia

Softening of bone due to inadequate mineralization, typically calcium or vitamin D.

Osteomyelitis

Inflammation of bone and bone marrow usually due to infection.

Ewing sarcoma

Rare malignant bone tumor usually occurring in children/adolescents.

Osteogenic sarcoma (osteosarcoma)

Malignant bone tumor arising from osteoblasts, common in youth.

Fracture

Traumatic break in a bone.

Dislocation

Displacement of a bone from its joint.

Disc degeneration/herniation

Herniated disc; nucleus pulposus protrudes into spinal canal or nerves.

DEXA scan

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; test measuring bone mineral density.

Bone density (BMD)

Measurement of mineral content in bone; used to assess osteoporosis risk.

Calcium

Mineral essential for bone strength and mineralization.

Phosphorus

Mineral component of bone in combination with calcium.

Vitamin D

Nutrient essential for calcium absorption and bone health.

Sella turcica

Bony saddle in the sphenoid bone that houses the pituitary gland.

Foramen magnum (anatomical)

Large opening in the occipital bone for the spinal cord.

Suture (cranial)

Joint where skull bones meet; typically immovable after early development.

Fontanelle

Soft spot on a baby's skull where sutures have not fused.