Language of Medicine: Musculoskeletal System

acetabulum

rounded depression, or socket, in the pelvis that joins the femur, forming the hip joint

acromion

Outward extension of the shoulder blade forming the point of the shoulder; it overlies the shoulder joint and articulates with the clavicle

bone

Dense, hard connective tissue composing the skeleton. Examples are long bones (femur), short bones (carpals), flat bones (scapula), and sesamoid bones (patella).

bone depression

opening or hollow region serving as a connective for bones or passageways for blood vessels and nerves; examples are fissures, foramen, fossa, sinus

bone process

enlarged area that extends from bones as an attachment for muscles, tendons, and ligaments; ex: bone head, condyle, epicondyle, trochanter, tubercle, tuberosity

calcium

One of the mineral constituents of bone. Calcium phosphate is the major calcium salt in bones.

cancellous bone

spongy, porous, bone tissue in the inner part of a bone

cartilage

flexible connective tissue; found in the immature skeleton at the epiphyseal growth plate, and one joint surfaces (articular)

collagen

dense, connective tissue protein strands found in bone and other tissues

compact bone

hard, dense bone tissue, usually found around the outer portion of bones

cranial bones

skull bones: ethmoid, frontal, occipital, parietal, sphenoid, and temporal

diaphysis

shaft, or mid-portion, of a long bone

disk (disc)

Flat, round, plate-like structure. An intervertebral disk is a fibrocartilaginous substance between two vertebrae.

epiphyseal plate

cartilaginous area at the ends of long bones where lengthwise growth takes place in the immature skeleton

epiphysis

each end of a long bone; the area beyond the epiphyseal plate

facial bones

bones of the face: lacrimal, mandibular, maxillary, nasal, vomer, and zygomatic

fontanelle

soft spot (incomplete bone formation) between the skull bones of an infant

foramen magnum

opening of the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes

Haversian canal

minute spaces filled with blood vessels; found in compact bone

ligament

fibrous connective tissue that binds bones to other bones

malleolus

Round process on both sides of the ankle joint. The lateral malleolus is part of the fibula, and the medial malleolus is part of the tibia.

manubrium

upper portion of the sternum; joins with the clavicle to form the sternoclavicular joint

mastoid process

rounded projection on the temporal bone behind the ear

medullary cavity

central, hollowed-out area in the shaft of a long bone

metaphysis

flared portion of a long bone, between the diaphysis and the epiphyseal plate

olecranon

large process on the proximal end of the ulna at the elbow

osseous tissue

bone tissue

ossification

process of bone formation

osteoblast

bone cell that helps form bony tissue

osteoclast

bone cell that absorbs and removes unwanted bony tissue

periosteum

membrane surrounding bones; rich in blood vessels and nerve tissue

phosphorus

mineral substance found in bones in combination with calcium

physiatrist

medical doctor specializing in rehabilitation

pubic symphysis

area of confluence (coming together) of the two pubic bones in the pelvis

red bone marrow

found in cancellous bone; site of hematopoiesis

ribs

twelve pairs of curved bones that form the chest wall; true ribs are the first 7 pairs, false ribs are pairs 8-10, and floating ribs are pairs 11-12

sella turcica

depression in the sphenoid bone where the pituitary gland is located

sinus

hollow air cavity within a bone

styloid process

pole-like process extending downward from the temporal bone on each side of the skull

suture

immovable joint between bones, such as the skull

temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

connection on either side of the head between the temporal bone of the skull and mandibular bone of the jaw

tendon

fibrous connective tissue that binds muscles to bones

trabeculae

supporting bundles of bony fibers in cancellous (spongy) bone

vertebra

individual segment of the spine composed of the vertebral body, vertebral arch, spinous process, transverse process, and lamina, enclosing the neural canal

xiphoid process

lower, narrow portion of the sternum

yellow bone marrow

fatty tissue found in the medullary cavity of most adult long bones

hypercalcemia

excessive calcium in the blood

decalcification

calcium loss (from bone)

kyphosis

increased curvature of the thoracic region of the vertebral column, leading to a humpback posture; also called hunchback

laminectomy

the surgical removal of the lamina and spinous process (to relive symptoms of compression of the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots)

lordosis

abnormal anterior curvature of the lumbar spine (sway-back condition)

lumbar

lower back

lumbosacral

pertaining to the lumbar regions (loin) and the sacrum

myelopoiesis

formation of bone marrow cells

osteitis

inflammation of the bone

osteodystrophy

poor bone development; defective bone development that is usually attributable to renal disease or to disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism

osteogenesis

formation of bone

osteogenesis imperfecta

brittle bone disease

scoli/o

crooked, bent

Scoliosis

abnormal lateral curvature of the spine

spondylosis

degeneration of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae and related tissues

spondyl/o

vertebra (used to make words about conditions of the structure)

vertebr/o

vertebra (used to describe the structure itself)

vertebroplasty

surgical repair of a vertebra (usually performed for compression fractures with bone cement)

-listhesis

slipping

spondylolisthesis

the forward slipping (subluxation) of the body of one of the vertebrae on a lower vertebra

epiphysis

End of a long bone

-malacia

softening

-physis

to grow

-porosis

pore, passage

Osteoporosis

loss of bone density

-tome

instrument to cut

osteotome

surgical instrument used for cutting bone

acetabular

pertaining to the acetabulum

Calcaneal

pertaining to the heel (calcaneous)

carpal

pertaining to the wrist

Supraclavicular

above clavicle

subcostal

below a rib or ribs

chondrocostal

pertaining to the cartilage attached to the ribs

craniotomy

incision of the skull

craniotome

Instrument to cut the skull (cranium).

femoral

Pertaining to the thigh bone (femur).

fibular

pertaining to the fibula (smaller lower leg bone)

humeral

pertaining to the humerus

ilium

pertaining to the ilium (upper part of pelvic bone)

ischial

Pertaining to the ischium (lower and posterior part of the pelvic bone).

malleolar

Pertaining to the malleolus (process on each side of the ankle).

mandibular

pertaining to the mandible (lower jaw)

maxillary

pertaining to the maxilla (upper jaw)

metacarpectomy

Surgical excision of one or more bones of the hand

metatarsalgia

pain in the bones of the foot

olecranal

pertaining to the elbow

patellar

pertaining to the anterior knee (kneecap) region

pelvimetry

measurement of the pelvis, used to determine if vaginal delivery is possible

peroneal

pertaining to the fibula

perone/o

fibula

phalangeal

Pertaining to the finger or toe bones.

pubic

Pertaining to the pubis (anterior portion of the hip bone).

radial

pertaining to the radius (forearm bone, thumb side)

scapular

pertaining to the scapula (shoulder blade)