Musculoskeletal System

PT

PT

Patellar tendon

EDM

Extensor digiti minimi

PTB

Patellar tendon bearing

FHL

Flexor hallucis longus

ECRL

Extensor carpi radialis longus

FDL

Flexor digitorum longus

ECRB

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

AT

Achilles tendon

APL

Abductor pollicis longus

EHL

Extensor hallucis longus

EPL

Extensor pollicis longus

EIP

Extensor indicis proprius

FPL

Flexor pollicis longus

ECU

Extensor carpi ulnaris

FDP

Flexor digitorum profundus

Tuberosity

Large prominence on bone for attachment of muscles or ligaments.

Tarsal

Pertaining to the tarsal bones in the foot.

Sternotomy

Surgical incision of sternum.

Phalanges

Bones of the fingers and toes.

Patellar

Pertaining to patella.

Osteoblast

cells that form bone tissue

Metatarsal

Area of foot between the ankle and toes, five bones extending from tarsus to phalanges.

Metacarpal

Long bones of the hand that form the skeletal structure of the palm.

Iliac

Pertaining to the ilium

Hammer toe

This is a deformity of the toe, commonly caused by arthritis or wearing ill-fitting shoes. The toe or toes curl downward instead of lying flat. This is most commonly found in the second and third toes

Hallux valgus

A progressive deformity of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and is the most common foot deformity. Over time this become swollen and painful making it difficult to walk. The joint will gradually sublux, pulling the phalanges in (adduction) and pushing the MTP joint out (abduction)

Hallux rigidus

This refers to a stiff big toe, usually due to osteoarthritis and bone spur formation of the MTP joint.

Hallux

Refers to the big toe

Femoral

Pertaining to femur (thigh bone)

Dactylic

Pertaining to finger or toe

Crystalloid (solution)

Used to increase intravascular volume caused by loss of fluid during surgery.

Connective

Tissue connecting or binding together.

Coccygeal

Pertaining to the coccyx.

Chondral

Pertaining to cartilage.

Concentric reduction

Putting a dislocated joint back to its normal position, allowing the joint to move freely.

Carpal

Pertaining to the wrist bones.

Calcaneus

Large bone of the heel.

Aspiration

Withdrawal of fluid or tissue from the body, typically using a needle.

Arthrodesis

Surgical fixation of a joint.

Arthrocentesis

Surgical puncture of a joint for aspiration of fluid.

A1 pulley

Band of tissue holding flexor tendon closely to finger bones, near palm

Volar

Relating to the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot.

Ventral

The front or lower side.

Varus

This refers to angulation (or bowing) within the shaft of a bone or at a joint in the coronal plane. Whenever the distal part of the long bone is pointing inward or is more medial, it is called varus.

Valgus

This refers to angulation (or bowing) within the shaft of a bone or at a joint in the coronal plane. Whenever the distal end of the long bone is pointing outward or is more lateral, it is called valgus.

Transverse

Lying in a crosswise direction (horizontal).

Supine

Lying face up. Opposite: Prone.

Superior

Something above. Example: The head is superior to the neck. Opposite: Inferior.

Radial

Structures closer to the radius. Opposite: Ulnar.

Proximal

Closer to the origin of the structure. Opposite: Distal.

Prone

Lying face down. Opposite: Supine.

Posterior

At or near the back of the body (back view). Opposite: Anterior.

Midline

An imaginary vertical line that divides the body equally in half.

Medial

Closer to midline (side view). Opposite: Lateral.

Lateral

Farther from midline (side view). Opposite: Medial.

Inferior

Something below. Example: The feet are inferior to the knees. Opposite: Superior.

Dorsoradial

Both dorsal and radial in direction.

Dorsal

The back or upper side. Opposite: Ventral.

Distal

Farther from the origin of the structure. Opposite: Proximal.

Anterior

At or near the front of the body (front view). Opposite: Posterior.

Vertebroplasty

Minimally invasive surgery to treat a spinal compression fracture. Similar to kyphoplasty, except a cavity is not created before using bone cement to reinforce the vertebra where the compression fracture is.

Trigger point injection

Injections into a muscle trigger point with a small amount of anesthetic and/or steroid may relieve pain. Trigger points are painful “knots” in muscles.

Trigger finger release

Tenolysis at A1 pulley to allow more movement of flexor tendon through tendon sheath.

UKA

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (same as partial knee replacement)

TKR

Total knee replacement

TKA

Total knee arthroplasty (same as total knee replacement)

TJR

Total joint replacement

THR

Total hip replacement (same as posterior hip replacement)

PKR

Partial knee replacement

DAA

Direct Anterior Approach to hip replacement (a technique often associated with minimally invasive hip replacement procedures)

BTHR

Bilateral hip replacement (same as double hip replacement)

BTKR

Bilateral knee replacement (same as a double knee replacement)

Joint replacement

There are multiple types:

- Total Knee Replacement (TKR/TKA)

- Partial knee replacement (PKR/UKA)

- Total hip replacement (THR)

- Bilateral hip and knee replacement (BTHR, BTKR)

Fasciotomy

Cutting into the fascia to release, not remove, fascia. In plantar fasciotomy, often performed for plantar fasciitis, the fascia over the muscles and tendons on the bottom of the foot is incised. When the fascia heals, it effectively has lengthened the fascial area and relieves the fasciitis.

Kyphoplasty

Minimally invasive surgery to treat a spinal compression fracture. Kyphoplasty treats a compression fracture by using a cannula to insert a balloon into the fracture to create a cavity, then uses bone cement to reinforce the vertebra where the compression fracture is.

Arthroscopy

A surgical technique where a small scope (long narrow tube with a light and camera on the end of it) is used to examine the inside of a joint. The camera transmits pictures to a video monitor; can detect signs of RA and other joint diseases.

Arthrocentesis

Fluid is aspirated from an affected joint using a needle and examined under the microscope. It can help detect synovial inflammation and exclude other causes of arthritis. There may be excessive synovial fluid in RA. The fluid may reveal characteristic signs of inflammation suggestive of RA such as an

X-ray

Imaging using electromagnetic waves to diagnose problems (primarily used for bones).

Ultrasound

Uses soundwaves to image soft tissues.

Tinel’s sign

Positive sign indicates carpal tunnel syndrome. Test is performed by tapping over the carpal tunnel at the wrist.

Thompson test

Tests for Achilles tendon rupture. Squeezing the calf produces a foot flex when the Achilles tendon is intact. If the squeezing of the calf does not produce foot movement, the Achilles tendon is likely injured.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Uses radio waves and magnetic fields to capture soft tissue or joint damage.

Homan’s sign test

Positive sign indicates possible deep vein

Finkelstein test

Positive sign identifies de Quervain’s tenosynovitis as the cause of wrist pain.

Fluoroscopy

A type of imaging that uses continuous X-ray images to look at a body part or system.

FABER Test

Positive sign identifies sacroiliac dysfunction (FABER stands for flexion, abduction, external rotation). Also called Patrick’s test.

Electromyography (EMG)

Measures electrical activity of muscle.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan

Measures density and mass of structures in the body (ex: bone mass).

Computed tomography (CT/CAT) scan

Imaging to diagnose problems with bones or muscles.

Arthrogram

Imaging of inside of joint using contrast dye; may use X-Ray, CT, or MRI depending on problem.

-plasty

Remodel or repair

-scopy

Observation often related to visual observation with an endoscope

-otomy

To cut a part of the body, but not necessarily remove the organ

-opexy

Surgical fixation of an organ

-orraphy

Surgical suture

-lysis

—To free up

-graphy

—Imaging

-ectomy

Surgical removal

-desis

Surgical fixation of bone or joint

-clasis

Surgical break or fracture