Skeletal System & Medical Terminology

A comprehensive vocabulary review of skeletal system divisions, medical word roots and suffixes, long bone anatomy, joint structures, abnormal spinal curvatures, fracture types, and surgical joint terminology.

Axial Skeleton

The body's central framework containing $80$ bones, including the skull, vertebral/spinal column, ribs, sternum, and thoracic cage.

Appendicular Skeleton

The skeleton division comprising bones associated with the upper and lower extremities and the girdles that attach them to the body (e.g., clavicle, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, pelvic bones, femur, tibia, and fibula).

oste/o

Medical root meaning bone (e.g., osteoporosis).

myel/o

Medical root meaning bone marrow in skeletal terminology (can also refer to the spinal cord in other contexts; e.g., myeloma).

arthr/o

Medical root meaning joint (e.g., arthritis).

chondr/o

Medical root meaning cartilage (e.g., chondroblast).

cost/o

Medical root meaning rib (e.g., intercostal).

spondyl/o

Medical root meaning vertebra (e.g., spondylolisthesis).

rachi/o

Medical root meaning spine (e.g., rachischisis).

ili/o

Medical root referring to the ilium (e.g., iliac).

-blast

Suffix meaning an immature or forming cell (e.g., chondroblast).

Diaphysis

The shaft or long central portion of a long bone.

Epiphysis

The expanded ends of a long bone.

Metaphysis

The region of a long bone located between the diaphysis and epiphysis, containing the epiphyseal/growth plate in a growing child.

Medullary Cavity

The hollow internal cavity of a long bone shaft containing marrow.

Periosteum

The connective tissue membrane covering the outer surface of bone, except where articular cartilage is present.

Ligament

A structure connecting bone to bone, primarily functioning to stabilize and strengthen joints.

Tendon

A structure connecting muscle to bone.

Articular Cartilage

Cartilage covering the ends of bones at many joints that helps create a smooth surface for movement.

Bursa

A small fluid-filled sac that helps reduce friction around a joint.

Synovial Fluid

Fluid found within synovial joints that lubricates the joint, reduces friction, and cushions joint surfaces.

Diarthrosis

A freely movable joint, exemplified by synovial joints.

Kyphosis

An exaggerated posterior thoracic spinal curvature, commonly associated with a "hunchback" appearance.

Lordosis

An exaggerated inward/anterior lumbar spinal curvature, sometimes described as "swayback."

Scoliosis

An abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.

Spondylolisthesis

Displacement or slipping of one vertebra relative to another, commonly described as one vertebra slipping forward over the vertebra below it.

Spondylolysis

A defect or fracture involving the pars interarticularis.

Spinal Stenosis

The narrowing of the spinal canal.

Comminuted Fracture

A fracture in which the bone breaks or splinters into multiple fragments.

Greenstick Fracture

An incomplete fracture in which the bone bends and partially breaks, occurring more commonly in children.

Impacted Fracture

A fracture where one fractured portion of bone is driven into another.

Colles Fracture

A characteristic fracture involving the distal radius, typically associated with dorsal displacement or angulation.

Arthrodesis

Surgical fusion or binding of a joint, creating permanent or greatly reduced movement (-desis = binding/fusion).

Arthroplasty

Surgical repair or reconstruction of a joint (-plasty = surgical repair).

Arthrocentesis

Surgical puncture of a joint, usually performed to remove fluid (-centesis = surgical puncture).

Arthroscopy

Visual examination of the inside of a joint using a scope (-scopy = visual examination).

Ilium

The large, broad, superior portion of the hip bone (part of the pelvis, distinguished from the ileum of the small intestine).