Injury Prev Book definitions

human anatomy

study of structures and the relationships among structures of the body

surface anatomy

study of the form and surface of the body

anatomical position

erect position with the arms at the sides and palms of the hands facing forward

sprain

overstretching (1st degree), partial tearing (2nd degree), or complete rupture (3rd degree) of a ligament

proprioception

awareness of the position of a body part in space

contusion

a bruise

acute injury

a recent, traumatic injury

mechanism of injury

describes the specific cause of injury

chronic injury

a non traumatic injury of an ongoing nature

antalgic gait

a painful or abnormal walking of running pattern

distal

a point on an extremity located near the trunk

proximal

a point on an extremity located near the trunk

valgus

alignment of a joint or stress to the joint that places the distal bone in a lateral direction; the knock kneed position of the knee joint

varus

alignment of a joint or stress to the joint that places the distal bone in a medial direction; the bow legged position of the knee joint

anterior cruciate ligament

a ligament crossing through the knee joint that attaches from the anterior tibia to the posterior femur. The anterior tibia to the posterior femur. The anterior cruciate ligaments limits anterior movement of the tibia from the femur as well as rotation of the tibia

menisci

the intra-articular cartilage of the knee

avascular

the absence of blood supply

quadriceps femoris

the muscles group in the anterior thigh consisting of the rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and vastus lateralis

hamstrings

a muscle group in the posterior thigh consisting of the semitendinosus semimenbranosus, and biceps femoris

bursa

a fluid sac that reduces friction between two structures

contralateral

refers to the opposite extremity

open-chain exercise

exercise in which the distal segment of the extremity does not bear weight

closed-chain exercise

exercise in which the distal segment of the extremity is fixed to the ground

electrical muscle stimulation

use of electrical current to induce a muscle to contract

biofeedback

feedback provided through visual observation or an audiotone

innominate bones

two flat bones that form the pelvic girdle; each consists of an ilium, pubis, and ischium

circumduction

a combination of abduction, adduction, flexion, and extension

spica

a figure-eight wrap that incooperates the thigh and hip or the arm and shoulder

iliac crest

the superior border of the iliac bone; the colloquial term for a contusion to the area is hip pointer

myositis ossificans

the formation of bone within a muscle that has suffered a contusion

hematoma

a collection of pooling blood