The Language of Medicine - Chapter 15 (Musculoskeletal System)

acetabulum

rounded depression, or socket, in the pelvis that joins the femur(thigh bone), forming the hip joint

acromion

outward extension of the shoulder blade forming the point of the shoulder

bone

dense, hard connective tissue composing the skeleton

bone depression

opening or hollow region serving as a connection for bones, or passageways for blood vessels and nerves

bone process

enlarged area that extends from bones as an attachment for muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

calcium

one of the mineral constituents of bone

cancellous bone

spongy, porous, bone tissue in the inner part of the bone

cartilage

flexible, connective tissue; found in the immature skeleton, at the epiphyseal growth plate

collagen

Dense, connective tissue protein strands found in the bone and other tissues

compact bone

hard dense bone tissue, usually found around the outer portion of bones

cranial bones

skull bones; ethmoid, frontal, occipital, parietal, sphenoid, and temporal

diaphysis

shaft, or mid-portion, of a long bone

disk (disc)

flat, round, plate-like structure

epiphyseal plate

cartilaginous area at the ends of long bones where lengthwise growth takes place in the immature skeleton

epiphysis

each end of a long bone; the area beyond the epiphyseal plate

facial bones

bones of the face; lacrimal, mandibular, maxillary, nasal, vomer, and zygomatic

fontanelle

soft spot (incomplete bone formation) between the skull bones of an infant

foramen magnum

opening of the occipital bone through which the spinal cord passes

haversian canals

minute spaces filled with blood vessels; found in compact bone

ligament

fibrous connective tissue that binds bones to other bones

malleolus

round process on both sides of the ankle joint

manubrium

upper portion of the sternum; joins with the clavicle to form the sternoclavicular joint

mastoid process

rounded projection on the temporal bone behind the ear

medullary cavity

central, hollowed-out area in the shaft of a long bone

metaphysis

flared portion of a long bone, between the diaphysis and the epiphyseal plate

olecranon

large process on the proximal end of the ulna at the elbow

orthopedist

medical doctor who specializes in bone, joint, and muscle conditons

osseous tissue

bone tissue

ossification

process of bone formation

osteoblast

bone cell that helps form bony tissue

osteoclast

bone cell that absorbs and removes unwanted bony tissue

periosteum

membrane surrounding bones; rich in blood vessels and nerve tissue

phosphorus

mineral substance found in bones in combination with calcium

physiatrist

medical doctor specializing in rehabilitation

pubic symphysis

area of confluence (coming together) of the two pubic bones in the pelvis

red bone marrow

found in cancellous bone; site of hematopoiesis

ribs

twelve pairs of curved bones that form the chest wall

sella turcica

depression in the sphenoid bone where the pituitary gland is located

sinus

hollow air cavity within a bone

styloid process

pole-like process extending downward the temporal bone on each side of the skull

suture

immovable joint between bones, such as the skull

temporomandibular joint

connection on either side of the head between the temporal bone of the skull and mandibular bone of the jaw

tendon

fibrous connective tissue that binds muscles to bones

trabeculae

supporting bundles of bony fibers in cancellous (spongy) bone

vertebra

individual segment of the spine composed of the vertebral body, vertebral arch, spinous process, transverse process, and lamina, enclosing the neural canal and spinal cord

xiphoid process

lower, narrow portion of the sternum

yellow bone marrow

fatty tissue found in the medullary cavity of most adult long bones

calc/o, calci/o

calcium

kyph/o

humpback, hunchback (posterior curvature in the thoracic cavity)

lamin/o

lamina (part of the vertebral arch)

lord/o

curve, swayback (anterior curvature in the lumbar region)

lumb/o

loins, lower back

myel/o

bone marrow

orth/o

straight

oste/o

bone

scoli/o

crooked, bent (lateral curvature)

spondyl/o

vertebra (combining form is used to make words about conditions of the structure)

vertebr/o

vertebra (combining form is used to describe the structure itself)

-blast

embryonic or immature cell

-clast

to break

-listhesis

slipping

-malacia

softening

-physis

to grow

-porosis

pore, passage

-tome

instrument to cut

acetabul/o

acetabulum

calcane/o

calcaneus (heel)

carp/o

carpals

clavicul/o

clavicle

cost/o

ribs

crani/o

cranium (skull)

femor/o

femur

fibul/o

fibula

humer/o

humerus

ili/o

ilium

ischi/o

ischium

malleol/o

malleolus

mandibul/o

mandible

maxill/o

maxilla

metacarp/o

metacarpals

metatars/o

metatarsals

olecran/o

olecranon

patell/o

patella

pelv/o

pelvis

perone/o

fibula

phalang/o

phalanges (finger and/or toe bones)

pub/o

pubis

radi/o

radius

scapul/o

scapula

stern/o

sternum

tars/o

tarsals

tibi/o

tibia

uln/o

ulna

Ewing sarcoma

rare malignant tumor arising in bone; most often occurring in children. Pain and swelling are common, especially if the tumor involves the shaft (medullar cavity) of a long bone. This tumor usually occurs at an early age between 5 and 15 years, and combined treatment with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy represents the best chance for cure (60% to 70% of patients are cured if metastasis has not occurred).

exostosis

Bony growth (benign) arising from the surface of bone

fracture

traumatic breaking of a bone

osteogenic sarcoma (osteosarcoma)

common malignant tumor arising from osteoblasts, found primarily in children and adolescents

osteomalacia

softening of bone, with inadequate amounts of mineral (calcium) in the bone - seen in vitamin D deficiency - known as rickets in children

osteomyelitis

Inflammation of the bone and the bone marrow secondary to infection

osteoporosis

decrease in bone density (mass); thinning and weakening of bone