Musculoskeletal System Assessment and Conditions

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing core musculoskeletal terminology, anatomical structures, joint movements, physical exam techniques, and common joint and bone disorders.

Musculoskeletal System

The bodily system composed of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons that provides structure, support, movement, and organ protection.

Skeletal Muscles

A group of approximately 650 voluntary muscles that attach to bones via tendons to facilitate body movement.

Tendons

Fibrous connective tissues that anchor skeletal muscles to bones.

Ligaments

Strong connective tissues that reinforce joints and prevent undesirable movements between bones.

Meniscus

A tough, rubber-like disc in the knee joint that functions as a shock absorber; it is vulnerable to tearing when twisting under weight.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Essential self-care tasks evaluated during a functional assessment, comprising bathing, toileting, dressing, grooming, eating, mobility, and communicating.

Osteoporosis

A skeletal disorder not considered a normal part of aging, characterized by weak and porous bone tissue resulting from the failure to form adequate new bone.

Osteoarthritis

A mechanical wear-and-tear joint disorder causing cartilage breakdown, stiffness, aching, localized edema, and diffuse pain.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

A chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation of the synovial lining, joint degeneration, pain, stiffness, edema, and systemic signs such as fatigue and low-grade fever.

Heberden's Nodes

Bony enlargements or protuberances that develop on the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints of the fingers in patients with osteoarthritis.

Bouchard's Nodes

Bony nodules that form on the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of the fingers, commonly seen in osteoarthritis.

Gout

A form of inflammatory arthritis triggered by an elevation of uric acid levels, leading to the accumulation of urate crystals within the joints.

Herniated Nucleus Pulposus

A condition (slipped disk) where damage to the outer fibrocartilage of an intervertebral disk causes displacement of the inner gelatinous material, compressing spinal nerves.

Phalen Test

A diagnostic maneuver that reproduces tingling, numbness, and burning in the hands of individuals affected by carpal tunnel syndrome.

Bulge Sign

A clinical assessment used to detect small amounts of fluid in the suprapatellar bursa by milking fluid upward on the medial aspect of the knee and tapping the lateral aspect to watch for a fluid wave.

Ballottement

An examination technique designed to detect large amounts of joint effusion in the suprapatellar bursa by compressing the patella against the femur.

Dorsiflexion

The movement of bending the foot backward at the ankle joint toward the shin or anterior lower leg.

Plantar Flexion

The movement of flexing the foot at the ankle joint in a downward direction, pointing the toes away from the shin.

Abduction

The skeletal muscle movement that draws a limb or bodily structure laterally away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

The movement of bringing an extremity or body segment toward the midline or medial axis of the body.