Medical Terminology & Anatomy: Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, and Hemato-Lymphatic Systems

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terms, combining forms, prefixes, suffixes, and system structures across the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and blood/lymphatic/immune systems.

Condyle

A smooth, rounded portion at the end of a bone.

Epicondyle

A projection located above or on a condyle.

Trochanter

A large, rough process for the attachment of a muscle.

Tubercle

A small, rough process that provides the attachment for tendons and muscles.

Tuberosity

A large, rough process that provides the attachment for tendons and muscles.

Sinus

A hollow cavity within a bone.

Foramen

A smooth, round opening for nerves and blood vessels.

Fossa

A shallow cavity or depression on the surface of a bone.

Fissure

A slit-type opening in a bone.

Head (bone structure)

A large, smooth, ball-shaped end on a long bone, which may be separated from the body or shaft by a narrow area called the neck.

Sphenoid bone

A bat-shaped bone that forms part of the base of the skull and the floor and sides of the eye orbit.

Ethmoid bone

A cranial bone that forms part of the eye orbit, nose, and floor of the cranium.

Mandible

The lower jawbone; the only movable bone of the skull.

Vomer bone

A single facial bone that forms the base of the nasal septum.

Palatine bone

Forms the hard palate (PAL-et), which is the roof of the oral cavity and the floor of the nasal cavity.

Skull Bones

Consists of cranial bones (frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, sphenoid, ethmoid) and facial bones (lacrimal, nasal, maxilla, mandible, zygomatic, vomer, palatine).

Cervical vertebrae

Seven vertebrae located in the neck region, including the atlas and axis.

Thoracic vertebrae

Twelve vertebrae in the chest region with ribs attached.

Lumbar vertebrae

Five vertebrae located in the small of the back, about waist level.

Sacrum

Five vertebrae that become fused into one triangular-shaped flat bone at the base of the vertebral column.

Coccyx

Three to five very small vertebrae attached to the sacrum that often become fused.

Vertebral Column

The spinal column consisting of 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, and 5 lumbar vertebrae, as well as the sacrum and coccyx.

True ribs

The upper 7 pairs of ribs attached anteriorly to the sternum.

False ribs

The 3 pairs of ribs located immediately inferior to the true ribs.

Floating ribs

The lowest 2 pairs of ribs that do not connect anteriorly to the sternum.

Rib Cage and Sternum

Composed of 12 pairs of ribs (7 true, 3 false, 2 floating) and the sternum (manubrium, body, and xiphoid process), attached via costal cartilage.

Radius

The forearm bone located on the thumb side of the lower arm.

Ulna

The forearm bone located on the little finger side of the lower arm.

Os coxae

The pelvic girdle / hipbone composed of three fused bones: ilium, ischium, and pubis.

Tibia

The shin bone; the thicker of the two lower leg bones.

Fibula

The thinner long bone located on the lateral side of the lower leg.

Synovial joint

A freely movable joint enclosed by a joint capsule and synovial membrane, containing a fluid-filled joint cavity and articular cartilage.

Muscular system function

Produces movement through bundles, sheets, or rings of tissue that contract and pull on the structures to which they are attached.

Cardiovascular system function

Distributes blood to all areas of the body via a pump and vessels, delivering needed substances to cells and removing wastes.

Blood functions

Transports gases, nutrients, and wastes attached to red blood cells or dissolved in plasma; white blood cells fight infection and disease, and platelets initiate blood clotting.

Rh+ blood type

Does not make anti-Rh antidotes; can receive both Rh+ and Rh- transfusions.

Rh- blood type

Produces anti-Rh antidotes; can only receive Rh- blood.

Lymphatic system function

A network of lymph vessels that picks up excess tissue fluid, cleanses it, returns it to the circulatory system, and absorbs fat from the digestive system.

Immune system function

Fights disease and infections.

ankyl/o

Stiff joint

arhtr/o

Joint

chondr/o

Cartilage

kyph/o

Hump

lord/o

Bent backward

scoli/o

Crooked

spondyl/o

Vertebra

-clasia

Surgically break

-desis

To fuse

-listhesis

Slipping

fasci/o

Fibrous band

kinesi/o

Movement

-asthenia

Weakness

ather/o

Fatty substance

isch/o

To hold back

phleb/o

Vein

varic/o

Dilated vein

-manometer

Instrument to pleasure pressure

aggulutin/o

Clumping

eosin/o

Rosy red

moprh/o

Shape

-apheresis

Removal, carry away

-poiesis

Formation

-stasis

Standing still

lymphaden/o

Lymph node

lymphangi/o

Lymph vessel

-edema

Swelling

-toxic

Pertaining to posion