Med Term Chapter 14 - Musculoskeletal System

bone

organ made up of hard connective tissue with a dense outer layer and spongy inner layer

periosteum

(per-ē-OS-tē-um)

outermost layer of the bone, made up of fibrous tissue

compact bone

dense, hard layers of bone tissue that lie underneath the periosteum

cancellous bone

tissue encased within compact bone that contains little spaces like a sponge; provides structural support and houses bone marrow that produces blood cells (also called spongy bone)

endosteum

(en-DOS-tē-um)

membranous lining of the hollow cavity of the bone

diaphysis

(dī-AF-i-sis)

middle section (shaft) of the long bones

epiphysis (pl. epiphyses)

(e-PIF-i-sis), (e-PIF-i-sēz)

end of each long bone

bone marrow

material found in the cavities of bones

red marrow

thick, bloodlike material found in flat bones and the ends of long bones; location of blood cell formation

yellow marrow

soft, fatty material found in the medullary cavity of long bones

maxilla

upper jawbone

mandible

lower jawbone

vertebral column

(ver-TĒ-brel) (KOL-em)

curved structure made up of bones called vertebrae (pl.) or vertebra (s.) through which the spinal cord runs. The vertebral column protects the spinal cord, supports the head, and provides points of attachment for ribs and muscles.

cervical vertebrae (C1 to C7)

first set of seven vertebrae, forming the neck (contains the first anterior curve of the spine)

thoracic vertebrae (T1 to T12)

second set of 12 vertebrae. They articulate with the 12 pairs of ribs to form the outward (posterior) curve of the spine.

lumbar vertebrae (L1 to L5)

third set of five larger vertebrae, which forms the inward curve of the spine (lower anterior curve)

sacrum

next five vertebrae, which fuse together to form a triangular bone positioned between the two hip bones, forming joints called the sacroiliac joints

coccyx

four vertebrae fused together to form the tailbone

laminae (s. lamina)

(LAM-i-nā) (LAM-i-na)

flat plates of bone that form the vertebral arch, the posterior portion of the spinal canal

clavicle

collarbone

scapula

shoulder blade

acromion process

extension of the scapula, which forms the superior point of the shoulder

sternum

breastbone

xiphoid process

(ZĪ-foid) (PRA-ses)

lower portion of the sternum

humerus

upper arm bone

ulna and radius

lower arm bones

olecranon process

(ō-LEK-ra-non) (PRA-ses)

projection at the proximal end of the ulna that forms the bony point of the elbow

carpal bones

wrist bones; there are 8 carpal bones in each wrist

metacarpal bones

hand bones (also called metacarpus)

meta-, meaning beyond, and carpus, meaning wrist

phalanx (pl. phalanges)

(FĀ-lanks) (fa-LAN-jēz)

finger and toe bones

pelvis

bowl-like structure made up of three bones fused together (also called pelvic bones and hip bones)

ischium

(IS-kē-um)

lower, posterior portion of the pelvis on which one sits

ilium

upper, wing-shaped part on each side of the pelvis

pubis

anterior portion of the pelvis

acetabulum

(as-a-TAB-ū-lum)

large socket in the pelvis for the head of the femur

femur

upper leg bone

tibia and fibula

(TIB-ē-a), (FIB-ū-la)

lower leg bones

patella (pl. patellae)

(pa-TEL-a) (pa-TEL-ē)

kneecap

tarsal bones

ankle bones; there are 7 tarsal bones in each ankle

calcaneus

(kal-KĀ-nē-us)

heel bone

metatarsal bones

foot bones

joint

junction of two or more bones, which often allows for movement of these bones (also called articulation)

cartilage

firm connective tissue primarily found in joints. Articular cartilage covers the contacting surfaces of bones.

meniscus

crescent-shaped cartilage found in some joints, including the knee

intervertebral disk

(in-ter-VUR-tē-bral) (disk)

cartilaginous pad found between the vertebrae in the spine (also called intervertebral disc)

pubic symphysis

(PŪ-bik) (SIM-fi-sis)

cartilaginous joint at which two pubic bones come together anteriorly at the midline

synovia

(si-NŌ-vē-a)

fluid secreted by the synovial membrane and found in joint cavities, bursae, and around tendons (also called synovial fluid)

bursa (pl. bursae)

(BUR-sa) (BUR-sā)

fluid-filled sac that allows for easy movement of one part of a joint over another

ligament

flexible, tough band of fibrous connective tissue that attaches one bone to another at a joint

tendon

band of fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone

aponeurosis

(ap-ō-noo-RŌ-sis)

strong sheet of tissue that acts as a tendon to attach muscles to bone

muscle

tissue composed of specialized cells with the ability to contract to produce movement; the three types of muscle tissue are skeletal, smooth, and cardiac

fascia

band or sheet of connective tissue that encloses muscles and separates their layers

skeletal muscles

attached to bones by tendons and make body movement possible. Skeletal muscles produce action by working in pairs and pulling on bones to which they connect.

They are also known as voluntary muscles because we have control over these muscles. Alternating dark and light bands create striations (stripes). (also called striated muscles)

smooth muscles

located in internal organs such as the walls of blood vessels and the digestive tract. They are also known as involuntary muscles because they respond to impulses from the autonomic nerves and are not controlled voluntarily. (also called unstriated muscles)

cardiac muscle

forms most of the wall of the heart. Its involuntary contraction produces the heartbeat. (also called myocardium)

ankylosis

(ang-ki-LŌ-sis)

abnormal condition of stiffness (often referring to fusion of a joint, such as the result of chronic rheumatoid arthritis)

arthritis

(ar-THRĪ-tis)

inflammation of a joint (The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.)

bursitis

(ber-SĪ-tis)

inflammation of a bursa

chondromalacia

(kon-drō-ma-LĀ-sha)

softening of cartilage

chondrosarcoma

malignant tumor of cartilage

cranioschisis

(krā-nē-OS-ki-sis)

fissure (split) of the cranium (congenital)

discitis

inflammation of an intervertebral disk

fasciitis

(fa-shē-Ī-tis)

inflammation of the fascia (connective tissue enclosing and separating muscle layers)

fibromyalgia

(fī-brō-mī-AL-ja)

pain in the fibrous tissues and muscles (a common condition characterized by widespread pain and stiffness of muscles, fatigue, and disturbed sleep)

kyphosis

(kī-FŌ-sis)

abnormal condition of a hump (in the thoracic spine)

(also called hunchback or humpback)

lordosis

(lōr-DŌ-sis)

abnormal condition of bending forward (in the lumbar spine)

(also called swayback)

meniscitis

(men-i-SĪ-tis)

inflammation of a meniscus

myeloma

(mī-e-LŌ-ma)

tumor of the bone marrow (malignant)

osteitis

(os-tē-Ī-tis)

inflammation of the bone

osteoarthritis (OA)

(os-tē-ō-ar-THRĪ-tis)

inflammation of the bone and joint

osteochondritis

(os-tē-ō-kon-DRĪ-tis)

inflammation of the bone and cartilage

osteochondroma

(os-tē-ō-kon-DRŌ-ma)

tumor composed of bone and cartilage (benign)

osteomalacia

(os-tē-ō-ma-LĀ-sha)

softening of bone

osteomyelitis

(os-tē-ō-mī-e-LĪ-tis)

inflammation of the bone and bone marrow (caused by bacterial infection)

osteonecrosis

(os-tē-ō-ne-KRŌ-sis)

abnormal condition of bone death (due to lack of blood supply)

osteopenia

(os-tē-ō-PĒ-nē-a)

abnormal reduction of bone mass (caused by inadequate replacement of bone lost to normal bone lysis and can lead to osteoporosis)

osteopetrosis

(os-tē-ō-pe-TRŌ-sis)

abnormal condition of stonelike bones (very dense bones caused by defective resorption of bone)

osteosarcoma

(os-tē-ō-sar-KŌ-ma)

malignant tumor of the bone

polymyositis (PM)

(pol-ē-mī-ō-SĪ-tis)

inflammation of many muscles

rachischisis

(ra-KIS-ki-sis)

fissure (split) of the vertebral column (congenital)

(also called spina bifida)

rhabdomyolysis

(rab-dō-mī-OL-i-sis)

dissolution of striated muscle (caused by trauma, extreme exertion, or drug toxicity; in severe cases renal failure can result)

sarcopenia

(sar-kō-PĒ-nē-a)

abnormal reduction of connective tissue (such as loss of skeletal muscle mass in the elderly)

scoliosis

(skō-lē-Ō-sis)

abnormal condition of (lateral) curved (spine)

spondylarthritis

(spon-dil-ar-THRĪ-tis)

inflammation of the vertebral joints

(also called spondyloarthritis)

spondylosis

(spon-di-LŌ-sis)

abnormal condition of the vertebrae (a general term used to describe changes to the spine from osteoarthritis or ankylosis)

synoviosarcoma

(si-nō-vē-ō-sar-KŌ-ma)

malignant tumor of the synovial membrane

tendinitis

(ten-di-NĪ-tis)

inflammation of a tendon

(also spelled tendonitis)

tenosynovitis

(ten-ō-sin-ō-VĪ-tis)

inflammation of the tendon and synovial membrane

ankylosing spondylitis

(ang-ki-LŌ-sing) (spon-di-LĪ-tis)

form of arthritis that first affects the spine and adjacent structures and that, as it progresses, causes a forward bend of the spine

(also called Strümpell-Marie arthritis or disease, or rheumatoid spondylitis)

bunion

abnormal prominence of the joint at the base of the great toe, the metatarsal-phalangeal joint. It is a common problem, often hereditary or caused by poorly fitted shoes. (also called hallux valgus)

carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)

(KAR-pl) (TUN-el) (SIN-drōm)

common nerve entrapment disorder of the wrist caused by compression of the median nerve; symptoms include pain and tingling in portions of the hand and fingers

compartment syndrome

painful condition caused by increased pressure within a muscle that can lead to ischemia; acute compartment syndrome is a medical emergency and is caused by severe injury

dislocation

displacement of bones in a joint from their normal alignment (also called luxation)

exostosis

(ek-sos-TŌ-sis)

abnormal benign growth on the surface of a bone (also called spur)

fracture (fx)

broken bone

ganglion cyst

collection of jellylike fluid forming a benign mass arising from joints, most commonly appearing in the wrist, hand, and ankle

gout

disease in which an excessive amount of uric acid in the blood causes sodium urate crystals (tophi) to be deposited in the joints, producing arthritis. The great toe is frequently affected.

herniated disk

rupture of the intervertebral disk cartilage, which allows the contents to protrude through it, putting pressure on the spinal nerve roots

(also called slipped disk, ruptured disk, herniated intervertebral disk, or herniated nucleus pulposus [HNP])

Lyme disease

infection caused by a bite from a deer tick infected with Borrelia burgdorferi.

This bacterium provokes an immune response in the body, the symptoms of which can mimic several musculoskeletal diseases. Patients may experience fever, headache, and joint pain. A rash (target lesion) may initially arise at the site of the tick bite.