Skeletal System Pathology & Radiologic Technology Application

Vocabulary flashcards covering skeletal pathologies, bone fractures, joint injuries, anatomical structures, and radiologic applications based on Chapter 6.

Hip fracture

A common skeletal pathology in older adults resulting from a fall, affecting the weight-bearing proximal femur.

Fracture

A skeletal pathology evaluated via X-ray to determine if a bone is broken, its location, and the alignment of bone fragments.

Closed/simple fracture

A fracture in which the bone is broken but the skin remains intact.

Open/compound fracture

A fracture in which the broken bone communicates with the outside through an open wound.

Complete fracture

A fracture in which a bone is completely separated into two or more pieces.

Incomplete fracture

A fracture in which the bone bends and cracks without breaking completely across its width.

Transverse fracture

A fracture pattern where the fracture line runs straight across the shaft of a long bone.

Spiral fracture

A fracture pattern caused by a twisting injury, producing a fracture line that spirals around the shaft of a long bone.

Oblique fracture

A fracture caused by an angled force, producing a diagonal fracture line across the bone.

Comminuted fracture

A fracture in which the bone has broken into several fragments.

Monitor fracture healing

The purpose of a follow-up radiographic examination performed weeks after an injury to check normal bone healing progression.

Fracture hematoma

The first major stage of fracture repair, characterized by blood clot formation around the injured bone.

Soft callus

A stage in fracture repair where a temporary connective-tissue bridge forms between broken bone fragments.

Hard/bony callus

A stage in fracture repair where newly formed bone bridges the fracture site.

Bone remodeling

The final stage of fracture repair where bone gradually reorganizes and strengthens according to mechanical demands.

Humerus

The bone of the upper arm containing the surgical neck, a clinically important fracture site.

Coccyx

The fused terminal portion of the vertebral column located at the base, prone to injury during direct falls onto the buttocks.

Cervical spine injury

A critical skeletal injury resulting from significant neck trauma that places the spinal cord at risk.

Spinal fracture

A pathology evaluated via imaging in trauma patients with back pain to check the stability of the vertebral column.

Sprain

A joint injury involving the stretching or tearing of a ligament surrounding a joint.

Dislocation

A joint injury where a bone is forced completely out of its normal joint position.

Subluxation

A joint injury characterized by the partial displacement of a bone from its normal joint position.

Separation

An injury involving separation at a joint together with damage to supporting structures.

Osteoarthritis

A joint disease characterized by chronic degeneration of articular cartilage, joint space narrowing, and osteophyte formation.

Rheumatoid arthritis

An inflammatory autoimmune disorder causing progressive destruction, swelling, and pain in multiple joints.

Bursitis

A condition with localized pain and restricted movement caused by inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) that reduces joint friction.

Scapula and humerus

The two primary bones that form the main articulation of the highly mobile shoulder joint.

Shoulder joint

The joint formed by the articulation between the head of the humerus and the glenoid cavity of the scapula.

Osteoporosis

A disease characterized by reduced bone mass and deterioration of bone structure, increasing vulnerability to fractures from minor falls.

Bone-density assessment

A diagnostic assessment used specifically to evaluate bone mineral density when osteoporosis is suspected.

Osteoclasts

Bone-remodeling cells primarily responsible for bone resorption.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

A hormone released when blood calcium levels drop to promote mechanisms, including bone resorption, that raise blood calcium.

Osteogenesis imperfecta

A genetic bone disorder caused by abnormal collagen formation, leading to abnormally fragile bones and repeated fractures.

Osteomyelitis

A bone infection often caused by bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, which increases osteoclast activity and decreases osteoblast activity.

Surgical debridement

A surgical procedure used in cases of osteomyelitis to remove damaged or infected bone tissue.

Bone grafting

A surgical procedure considered to replace or restore bone tissue following severe bone damage from infection.

Lumbar region

The region of the lower back containing large, weight-bearing vertebrae, clinically significant for abnormal intervertebral disk pathologies.

Herniated/ruptured intervertebral disk

A condition where disk material bulges or breaks, evaluated with imaging to assess possible nerve compression.

Occipital bone

The cranial bone located at the back of the skull that contains the foramen magnum.

Maxilla

The facial bone that forms the upper jaw.

Mandible

The facial bone that forms the lower jaw.

Zygomatic bones

The facial bones that form the prominent region of the cheeks.

Nasal bones

The facial bones that form the bridge of the nose.

Lacrimal bones

Small skull bones located in the medial wall of the orbit.

Vomer

The facial bone that forms the inferior and posterior portion of the nasal septum.

Frontal bone

The cranial bone that forms the forehead and the roof of the orbit.

Sphenoid

The cranial bone located at the central floor of the cranial cavity and posterior orbit.

Ethmoid

The cranial bone situated between the nasal cavity and the cranial cavity.

Temporal bone

The cranial bone forming the side of the skull near the ear and articulating with the mandible.

Atlas (C1)

The first cervical vertebra, supporting the skull.

Axis (C2)

The second cervical vertebra, featuring the dens process which facilitates head rotation.

Thoracic vertebrae

The vertebrae that articulate with the ribs and contribute to the structure of the thoracic cage.

Lumbar vertebrae

The largest and strongest vertebrae in the spinal column that bear most of the body weight.

Sacral hiatus

An anatomical landmark and inferior opening in the sacrum used for specialized injections.

Sternal angle

An anatomical landmark on the sternum where the second rib articulates.

12 pairs

The total number of rib pairs present in the human thoracic cage.

True ribs 1–7

Ribs that attach directly to the sternum via their costal cartilages.

False ribs 8–12

Ribs that do not attach directly to the sternum.

Floating ribs 11–12

The false ribs that lack any anterior attachment to the sternum.

Heart and lungs

The vital organs primarily protected by the surrounding thoracic cage.

Clavicle

The collarbone that links the scapula to the sternum, serving as the primary bony connection between the upper limb and axial skeleton.

Radius

The lateral bone of the forearm on the thumb side.

Ulna

The medial bone of the forearm on the pinky-finger side.

Scaphoid

The carpal bone that is most frequently fractured during wrist trauma.

Trapezium

The carpal bone that articulates with the first metacarpal and is essential for thumb movement.

Capitate

The largest, centrally located carpal bone of the wrist.

Hamate

A carpal bone on the medial side of the distal row identified by its distinctive hook process.

Lunate

A carpal bone that articulates with the radius to help form the wrist joint.

Acetabulum

The deep socket on the hip bone that receives the head of the femur.

Ilium

The largest component bone of the hip structure.

Ischium — ischial tuberosity

The pelvic bone and landmark that forms the lower posterior part of the pelvis and supports body weight while seated.

Tibia

The larger, medial, major weight-bearing bone of the lower leg.

Tarsals

The collection of bones forming the ankle and posterior portion of the foot.

Foot

The terminal lower limb structure responsible for weight distribution, balance, movement, and shock absorption.