Musculoskeletal System Terminology

Vocabulary flashcards covering anatomy, body planes, directional terms, positions, and movements from Chapter 4.

articulation

a joint; the point where two bones come together

bursa

a fibrous sac between certain tendons and bones that is lined with a synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid

disk or disc

a flat, plate-like structure composed of fibrocartilaginous tissue

nucleus pulposus

the soft, fibrocartilaginous, central portion of intervertebral disk between the vertebrae that reduces friction

ligament

a flexible band of fibrous tissue that connects bone to bone

synovial membrane

membrane lining the capsule of a joint

synovial fluid

joint-lubricating fluid secreted by the synovial membrane

muscle

tissue composed of fibers that can contract, causing movement of an organ or part of the body

striated muscle (skeletal muscle)

voluntary muscle attached to the skeleton

smooth muscle

involuntary muscle found in internal organs

cardiac muscle

muscle of the heart

origin of a muscle

muscle end attached to the bone that does not move when the muscle contracts

insertion of a muscle

muscle end attached to the bone that moves when the muscle contracts

tendon

a band of fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone

fascia

a band or sheet of fibrous connective tissue that covers, supports, and separates muscle

anatomic or anatomical position

a term of reference that health professionals use when applying any other term of reference planes, positions, or directions: the person is assumed to be standing upright (erect), facing forward, feet pointed forward and slightly apart, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward; the patient is visualized in this pose when applying any other term of reference

body planes

reference planes for indicating the location or direction of body parts

coronal plane (frontal plane)

vertical division of the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions

sagittal plane

vertical division of the body into right and left portions

transverse plane

horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions

anterior (A) / ventral

front of the body

posterior (P) / dorsal

back of the body

anterior-posterior (AP)

from front to back, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray beam

posterior-anterior (PA)

from back to front, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray beam

superior (cephalic)

situated above another structure, toward the head

inferior (caudal)

situated below another structure, away from the head

proximal

toward the beginning or origin of a structure; for example, the proximal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area closest to where it attaches to the hip

distal

away from the beginning or origin of a structure; for example, the distal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area at the end of the bone near the knee

medial

toward the middle (midline)

lateral

toward the side

axis

the imaginary line that runs through the center of the body or a body part

erect

normal standing position

decubitus

lying down, especially in a bed; lateral decubitus is lying on the side (decumbo = to lie down)

prone

lying face down and flat

recumbent

lying down

supine

horizontal recumbent; lying flat on the back ("on the spine")

flexion

bending at the joint so that the angle between the bones is decreased