Skeletal System Anatomy, Physiology, and Disorders

Vocabulary review flashcards covering anatomy, histology, physiology, and pathology of the skeletal system based on chapter review notes.

Long bones

Bones that are longer than they are wide and have chubby ends, such as the tibia.

Short bones

Bones that are cubelike in shape, such as carpal bones.

Flat bones

Bones that look like a molded sheet of clay, such as the parietal bone.

Irregular bones

Bones that feature many projections and spines, such as vertebrae.

Sesamoid bones

Bones that grow within tendons where there is a high amount of friction, such as the patella.

Axial skeleton

The skeletal division containing the cranial bones, facial bones, spinal column, sternum, ribs, and hyoid bone.

Appendicular skeleton

The skeletal division composed of the bones of the limbs and the girdle bones that connect the limbs to the axial skeleton.

True ribs

The 7 pairs of ribs that possess individual costal cartilages.

False ribs

The 5 pairs of ribs that do not have individual costal cartilages, including 2 floating pairs that do not share or attach to a costal cartilage.

Osteoblasts

Bone connective tissue cells that build matrix with collagen fibers and produce a chemical allowing calcium phosphate crystals to deposit.

Osteoclasts

Cells that destroy and reabsorb bone by producing hydrochloric acid to dissolve calcium phosphate crystals.

Chondrocytes

Cartilage connective tissue cells that produce a matrix composed of proteoglycans and water.

Hydroxyapatite

Calcium phosphate crystals deposited within the bone matrix that make bone hard.

Osteon (Haversian system)

The highly organized structural unit of compact bone.

Trabeculae

The loosely organized structural lattice that forms cancellous (spongy) bone.

Epiphyses

The clubby ends of a long bone, composed mostly of cancellous bone covered by a thin layer of compact bone at the surface.

Diaphysis

The shaft of a long bone, composed of compact bone.

Periosteum

The tissue membrane that covers the diaphysis of a long bone.

Endosteum

The tissue layer lining the marrow cavity inside the diaphysis of a long bone.

Red bone marrow

Marrow located in the epiphyses of long bones that produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Yellow marrow

Marrow that fills the central marrow cavity in the diaphysis of a long bone.

Hyaline cartilage

Smooth and clear cartilage matrix found as nasal cartilages, costal cartilages, and articular cartilages covering the ends of long bones.

Fibrocartilage

Cartilage matrix with fibers going in one direction to act as a shock absorber, found in intervertebral disks, menisci of the knee, and the pubic symphysis.

Elastic cartilage

Cartilage matrix containing an abundance of elastic fibers going in all directions, found in the pinna of the ear and the epiglottis.

Suture

A fibrous joint formed by the membranes of intramembranous ossification.

Gomphosis

A fibrous joint formed by ligaments holding a tooth in its socket.

Syndesmosis

A fibrous joint formed by an interosseous membrane between bones.

Symphysis

A cartilaginous joint formed by fibrocartilage between the pubic bones.

Synchondrosis

A cartilaginous joint formed by hyaline cartilage between the diaphysis and epiphyses of bones in children.

Synovial membrane

A membrane lining synovial joints that secretes synovial fluid into the joint space.

Meniscus

A fibrocartilage pad located in the knee joint that acts as a shock absorber.

Intramembranous ossification

The developmental process through which flat bones are formed.

Endochondral ossification

The developmental process through which long bones are formed and continue to grow longer after birth until epiphyseal plates close.

Appositional growth

Bone growth that makes bones more massive along lines of stress.

Calcitonin

Hormone that signals osteoblasts to deposit bone when blood calcium levels are too high.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Hormone that signals osteoclasts to reabsorb bone when blood calcium levels are too low.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

A common diagnostic test used alongside X-rays to evaluate skeletal system disorders.

Osteoporosis

A bone disorder characterized by a severe lack of bone density.

Osteomalacia

Bone loss resulting from the reabsorption of calcium to meet the demands of pregnancy.

Rickets

A bone-softening condition caused by a lack of bone deposition in children.

Osteogenesis imperfecta

Also known as brittle bone disease, a condition caused by a lack of collagen fibers in bone.

Kyphosis

An abnormal spinal curvature characterized by an exaggerated thoracic curvature.

Lordosis

An abnormal spinal curvature characterized by an exaggerated lumbar curvature.

Scoliosis

An abnormal spinal curvature characterized by a lateral curvature of the vertebral column.

Osteoarthritis

A joint disease resulting from wear and tear on a joint as people age.

Rheumatoid arthritis

An autoimmune joint disease causing inflammation that can affect anyone, including children.

Gout

A joint disorder characterized by the excessive buildup and deposit of monosodium urate / uric acid crystals within joints and soft tissues.

Mastoiditis

An infection of the mastoid process of the temporal bone.

Osteomyelitis

An acute or chronic bone infection usually caused by bacteria or fungi.

Osteosarcoma

A malignant bone tumor that occurs in immature bone.

Chondrosarcoma

A cancerous tumor that occurs in cartilage.

Cleft palate

A common craniofacial congenital defect characterized by the failure of the hard or soft palate to fuse during gestation.

Herniated disk

A disorder characterized by the lateral bulge of an intervertebral disk.