Musculoskeletal System Practice Questions

Flashcards covering musculoskeletal anatomy, skeletal functions, bone classifications, pathologies, and nursing care for skeletal and muscular conditions.

Functions of the Skeletal System

Support, protection, movement, mineral storage (calcium and phosphorus), and hematopoiesis.

Bone Remodeling

A continuous process throughout life involving osteoclast and osteoblast activity where bone tissue is constantly rebuilt.

Osteoporosis Risk Reduction

Performing weight-bearing exercise and ensuring adequate intake of calcium and Vitamin D.

Adult Human Skeleton

A skeletal structure containing $206$ bones.

Infant Skeleton

A skeletal structure containing approximately $270$ bones before fusion occurs.

Axial Skeleton

The division of the skeleton containing $80$ bones along the central axis, including the skull, vertebral column, thoracic cage, and hyoid.

Appendicular Skeleton

The division of the skeleton containing $126$ bones, including the limbs and attachment girdles.

Clavicle

A bone that is part of the pectoral girdle and the appendicular skeleton.

Adult Vertebral Column

A structure composed of $26$ bones: $7$ cervical, $12$ thoracic, $5$ lumbar, $1$ sacrum, and $1$ coccyx.

Cervical Vertebrae ($C1-C7$)

The seven vertebrae located in the neck region.

Thoracic Vertebrae

The $12$ vertebrae that articulate with the ribs.

Lumbar Vertebrae

The vertebrae with the largest bodies that bear the greatest amount of body weight.

Thoracic Cage

The skeletal structure composed of $25$ bones, specifically $24$ ribs and the sternum.

Floating Ribs

Ribs $11-12$, which attach posteriorly to the vertebrae but have no anterior attachment.

Skull Bone Count

A total of $28$ bones consisting of $8$ cranial bones, $14$ facial bones, and $6$ auditory ossicles.

Mandible

The only freely movable bone of the skull, which articulates at the temporomandibular joint.

Sesamoid Bone

A type of bone embedded in a tendon, such as the patella.

Flat Bones

Bones characterized by a thin, flattened shape, including the sternum, ribs, scapulae, and cranial bones.

Long Bones

Bones such as the femur that possess a shaft and two expanded ends.

Short Bones

Bones that are roughly cube-shaped, such as the carpals and tarsals.

Irregular Bones

Bones with complex shapes that do not fit other categories, such as a vertebra.

Hematopoiesis

The production of blood cells which occurs in red marrow within spongy bone (e.g., sternum, ribs, ilium, vertebrae).

Osteoblast

A specialized cell responsible for building new bone tissue and forming the bone matrix.

Epiphyseal Plate

The structure responsible for longitudinal bone growth; a fracture here in a child may interfere with future bone lengthening.

Hematoma Formation

The first stage of fracture healing where bleeding produces a blood clot at the site.

Scoliosis

A condition characterized by a lateral curvature of the spine.

Kyphosis

An exaggerated thoracic curve of the spine, often seen in osteoporosis due to vertebral compression fractures.

Lordosis

An exaggerated lumbar curve of the spine.

Temporal Bone

A bone on the side of the head vulnerable to fracture and epidural bleeding; its squamous portion is joined to the parietal bone by the squamous suture.

Carpals

The eight small bones that form the wrist.

Metatarsals

The five bones that form the midfoot.

Radius

The lateral bone of the forearm located on the thumb side.

Tibia

The larger, medial, weight-bearing bone of the lower leg.

Olecranon Process

The bony prominence of the ulna that forms the point of the elbow.

Iliac Crest

The upper border of the hip bone used as a landmark for ventrogluteal injections.

Calcaneus

The largest tarsal bone which forms the heel.

Open (Compound) Fracture

A fracture where the bone pierces the skin, increasing the risk of infection and osteomyelitis.

Greenstick Fracture

An incomplete break where the bone bends and cracks on one side, common in children.

Compartment Syndrome

A serious condition indicated by early signs of pain unrelieved by opioids and paresthesia, or late signs like dusky toes and slow capillary refill.

Quadriceps Femoris

The muscle group responsible for extending the knee, consisting of the rectus femoris and three vastus muscles.

Achilles (Calcaneal) Tendon

The tendon that connects the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the heel bone.

Sternocleidomastoid

A neck landmark muscle that rotates the head to the opposite side and flexes the neck.

Biceps Brachii

The muscle that flexes the forearm at the elbow and supinates the forearm.

Deltoid

A large triangular muscle that covers the shoulder, abducts the arm, and is used for small-volume ($1$ mL or less) intramuscular injections.

Dorsiflexion

Movement where the toes are pulled toward the shin; it assesses peroneal nerve function.

Skeletal Muscle

Muscle tissue that is striated, attached to bone, and under voluntary control.

Cardiac Muscle

Muscle tissue found in the heart that is striated, involuntary, self-excitable, and contains intercalated discs.

Smooth Muscle

Nonstriated, involuntary muscle tissue found in the walls of blood vessels and the gastrointestinal tract.

Elasticity

The property that allows muscle to recoil to its original resting length after stretching.

Neuromuscular Junction

The point where a motor neuron meets a muscle fiber.

Acetylcholine

The neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction to initiate skeletal muscle contraction.

Insertion

The attachment of a muscle to the more movable bone.

Myasthenia Gravis

A condition where autoantibodies impair acetylcholine receptors, causing weakness that worsens with activity and improves with rest.

Muscular Dystrophy

A group of inherited disorders characterized by progressive degeneration and weakness of skeletal muscle fibers.

Fat Embolism Syndrome

A potential complication of long-bone fractures characterized by dyspnea, chest pain, confusion, and a petechial rash.

Osteomyelitis

A bacterial infection of the bone causing pain, fever, and swelling.

Synovial Joints

Freely movable joints containing a joint cavity; examples include ball-and-socket (shoulder, hip) and hinge (elbow, knee) joints.

Ligament

A structure that connects bone to bone and stabilizes a joint.

Osteoarthritis

A degenerative joint condition characterized by weight-bearing pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest.

Gout

A condition involving uric acid deposition; clients should avoid high-purine foods like organ meats and shellfish.

Proximal

An anatomical term meaning closer to the trunk or point of attachment.

Anterior

An anatomical term meaning toward the front of the body.

Supination

Turning the palm upward.

Plantarflexion

Pointing the toes downward.

Inversion

Turning the sole of the foot inward (medially).

Circumduction

A circular movement combining flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction.

Vastus Lateralis

The preferred intramuscular injection site for infants younger than $12$ months.

Ventrogluteal Site

The preferred site for adult intramuscular injections of irritating medications or volumes up to $2$ mL.

RICE

The initial intervention for acute soft-tissue injuries: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.