Anatomy and Physiology: Bone, Axial/Appendicular Skeleton, Muscle, and Nervous Tissue

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering bone biology, skull/axial skeleton features, muscle tissue cellular mechanism, neuroglial taxonomy, and limb anatomy based on the lecture transcripts.

Hematopoiesis

The process of blood cell production, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, occurring in red bone marrow.

Diaphysis

The shaft or main long portion of a long bone.

Epiphysis

One end or distal/proximal extremity of a long bone.

Metaphyses

The regions in a long bone between the diaphysis and epiphysis that include the epiphyseal plate in growing bones.

Periosteum

A tough membrane covering the bone surface not covered by cartilage, consisting of an outer fibrous layer and an inner osteogenic layer.

Hydroxyapatite

The primary mineral salt component of bone matrix, composed of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate.

Osteoblasts

Bone-building cells that synthesize and secrete collagen fibers and initiate calcification.

Osteoclasts

Huge multinucleated cells derived from monocytes that digest and break down bone matrix during resorption.

Osteon

The basic structural unit of compact bone tissue, consisting of concentric lamellae surrounding a central canal; also called a Haversian system.

Trabeculae

An irregular latticework of thin columns of bone characteristic of spongy bone tissue.

Intramembranous Ossification

The bone formation process where bone develops directly on or within loose fibrous connective tissue membranes.

Endochondral Ossification

The bone formation process where hyaline cartilage is replaced by bone tissue.

Pott's Fracture

A fracture at the distal end of the fibula.

Colles's Fracture

A fracture at the distal end of the radius.

Achondroplastic Dwarfism

A genetic condition retarding endochondral bone growth, resulting in abnormally short long bones with normal trunk width.

Fontanels

Dense connective tissue membrane-filled spaces between cranial bones of fetuses and infants that permit skull flexibility during birth.

Microcephaly

A condition characterized by a small, underdeveloped head caused by premature cessation of brain enlargement and skull growth.

Foramen Magnum

The large opening in the inferior part of the occipital bone where the brain connects to the spinal cord.

Sella Turcica

A saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone that holds the pituitary gland.

Crista Galli

A triangular superior projection of the ethmoid bone that serves as an attachment point for the brain coverings.

Herniated Disc

A condition where the pulpy nucleus pulposus protrudes through the outer fibrous ring into an adjacent vertebral space.

Scoliosis

An abnormal lateral bending or curvature of the vertebral column.

Spina Bifida

A congenital neural tube defect where adjacent vertebral arches fail to fuse properly, allowing meninges or spinal cord to bulge.

Pneumothorax

The entry of air into the pleural cavities leading to a collapsed lung.

Myostatin

A protein that inhibits skeletal muscle growth both before and after birth.

Epimysium

The outermost layer of dense irregular connective tissue surrounding an entire skeletal muscle.

Perimysium

Connective tissue layer that surrounds bundles of 10 to 100 muscle fibers called fascicles.

Endomysium

Connective tissue layer that separates individual muscle fibers from one another within a fascicle.

Transverse (T) Tubules

Tiny invaginations of the sarcolemma that rapidly carry muscle action potentials deep into the muscle fiber.

Sarcomere

The basic functional contractile unit of a myofibril bounded by two adjacent Z discs.

Dystrophin

A structural protein that links thin filaments to the sarcolemma and helps transmit contractile force to tendons.

Botulinum Toxin

A toxin that blocks acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction, preventing muscle contraction.

Creatine Phosphate

An energy-rich molecule found uniquely in muscle fibers that rapidly regenerates ATP for maximal short energy bursts lasting about $15\,s$.

Wave Summation

The increased strength of muscle contraction resulting from a second stimulus applied before complete relaxation from a previous stimulus.

Calmodulin

A regulatory calcium-binding protein in smooth muscle cytosol that activates myosin light chain kinase to enable contraction.

Compartment Syndrome

A condition where elevated pressure within a confined fascial space cuts off blood supply, causing muscle and nerve injury.

Rigor Mortis

A state of postmortem muscular rigidity starting 3 to 4 hours after death caused by calcium leakage from the SR without ATP to detach crossbridges.

Nissl Bodies

Prominent clusters of rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes in neuronal cell bodies responsible for protein synthesis.

Astrocytes

Star-shaped neuroglia in the CNS that form the blood-brain barrier and regulate potassium ion balance.

Oligodendrocytes

Glial cells in the CNS that form and maintain myelin sheaths around multiple axon segments.

Schwann Cells

Glial cells in the PNS that produce the myelin sheath and neurilemma around a single axon segment.

Nodes of Ranvier

Unmyelinated gaps along a myelinated axon between adjacent Schwann cells or oligodendrocyte processes.

Saltatory Conduction

The rapid propagation of a nerve impulse leaping from node to node along a myelinated axon.

Wallerian Degeneration

The breakdown of an axon and its surrounding myelin sheath distal to a site of injury in a peripheral neuron.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

An autoimmune disorder causing progressive destruction of myelin sheaths in the CNS into hardened scleroses or plaques.

Acromion

The flattened lateral process of the scapular spine that forms the high point of the shoulder.

Acetabulum

The deep hemispherical socket formed by the ilium, ischium, and pubis that articulates with the head of the femur.

Pollex

The anatomical term for the thumb (digit I).

Hallux

The anatomical term for the big toe (digit I).

Syndactyly

A congenital condition where digits fail to separate completely due to failure of apoptosis during embryology.

Ectrodactyly

A severe form of syndactyly resulting in fused digits that form cleft, lobster-claw-like hand or foot structures.