Medical Language - Chapter 9: Orthopedics (Muscular System)

Vocabulary practice flashcards defining key structures, movements, pathologies, tests, and treatments related to the muscular system from Chapter 9 Orthopedics.

Orthopedics

The medical specialty that studies the muscular and skeletal systems, using diagnostic tests, procedures, and drugs to treat related diseases.

Muscular system

A widespread body system consisting of voluntary skeletal muscles, tendons, and related structures that maintains body position and produces movements of the bony framework.

Skeletal muscle

Voluntary muscle with prominent striations (color bands) and multiple nuclei that allows for body movements; the only muscle type belonging to the muscular system.

Cardiac muscle

Involuntary muscle that makes up the heart, characterized by less prominent striations and a single nucleus.

Smooth muscle

Involuntary muscle with no striations and a single nucleus that forms a continuous, thin layer around many organs and structures.

Tendon

A white fibrous band of connective tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.

Fascia

A thin layer of connective tissue that wraps each muscle and merges into its tendon.

Aponeurosis

A white fibrous sheet of connective tissue that attaches a flat muscle to a bone or to deeper muscles.

Retinaculum

A translucent band of fibrous tissue and fascia that holds down tendons in the wrist and ankle.

Bursa

A membranous, fluid-filled sac that helps reduce friction where a tendon rubs against a bone.

Origin

The site where a tendon attaches to a stationary or near-stationary bone.

Insertion

The site where a tendon attaches to the bone that moves when the muscle contracts.

Belly

The part of the muscle with the greatest mass.

Biceps brachii

A muscle located in the arm with two origins (heads) on different parts of the scapula and an insertion on the radius.

Brachioradialis

A muscle pertaining to the arm (brachi/o-) and the radius (radi/o-), located along the forearm.

Extensor digitorum

A forearm muscle that straightens and extends the fingers.

Flexor hallucis brevis

A short muscle that bends (flexes) the big toe.

Gluteus maximus

The large muscle located in the buttocks.

Rectus abdominis

A muscle located in the abdomen running in a straight up-and-down direction.

Temporalis

A muscle located directly above the temporal bone on the side of the cranium.

Muscle fascicle

A bundle of muscle fibers within a muscle, wrapped in fascia.

Muscle fiber

A single long muscle cell containing hundreds of nuclei along its length.

Myofibril

A microscopic component within a muscle fiber composed of thin actin strands and thick myosin strands.

Neuromuscular junction

The connection point between a single nerve cell and a muscle fiber where the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is released.

Muscle tone

A state of mild, partial contraction produced by nerve impulses from the brain and spinal cord that keeps muscles firm; the only skeletal muscle activity not under conscious control.

Flexion

Bending a joint to decrease the angle between two bones or two body parts.

Extension

Straightening and extending a joint to increase the angle between two bones or two body parts.

Plantar flexion

Downward pointing of the toes and foot.

Dorsiflexion

Upward movement of the foot that points the toes upward.

Abduction

Moving a body part away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Moving a body part toward the midline of the body.

Rotation

Moving a body part around its axis.

Supination

Turning the palm of the hand superiorly or upward.

Pronation

Turning the palm of the hand inferiorly or downward.

Eversion

Turning a body part outward and toward the side.

Inversion

Turning a body part inward.

Atrophy

Loss of bulk in one or more muscles.

Avulsion

A condition in which a muscle tears away from a tendon or a tendon tears away from a bone.

Compartment syndrome

A condition in which severe injury causes bleeding and the surrounding fascia acts as a closed compartment, trapping accumulated blood and exerting pressure on surrounding tissues.

Contracture

A condition in which a muscle becomes progressively more flexed and eventually sticks in a nearly immovable position.

Fibromyalgia

A condition characterized by pain at specific trigger points in the muscles of the neck, hips, and back.

Hyperextension-hyperflexion injury

An acceleration-deceleration injury (commonly known as whiplash) where the head snaps backward and then forward, causing muscle strains, tears, or nerve damage.

Muscle contusion

Bleeding inside a muscle caused by blunt trauma; commonly known as a bruise.

Muscle spasm

A sudden, severe, and painful involuntary contraction of a muscle; also called a muscle cramp.

Torticollis

A painful muscle spasm on one side of the neck; also known as wryneck.

Muscle strain

Overstretching or tearing of a muscle or tendon; also referred to as a pulled muscle.

Muscular dystrophy (MD)

A group of genetic muscle diseases caused by a mutation in the gene encoding dystrophin, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy beginning in early childhood.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy

The most common and most severe form of muscular dystrophy.

Myalgia

Muscle pain resulting from injury or muscle disease.

Polymyalgia

Pain affecting several different muscle groups simultaneously.

Myasthenia gravis

An autoimmune disorder where antibodies destroy acetylcholine receptors on muscle fibers, causing abnormal and rapid muscle fatigue that worsens during the day but improves with rest.

Myopathy

A general diagnostic category that encompasses many different muscle diseases.

Myositis

Inflammation of a muscle accompanied by localized swelling or tenderness.

Repetitive strain injury (RSI)

Damage to muscles, tendons, or nerves caused by repetitive movements over an extended period; also known as cumulative trauma disorder.

Rhabdomyoma

A benign tumor originating in muscle tissue.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

A cancerous tumor of the muscle, typically diagnosed in children and young adults.

Rotator cuff tear

A tear in the rotator muscles of the shoulder surrounding the humerus, typically resulting from acute trauma or repetitive overuse.

Bursitis

Inflammation of a bursal sac caused by repetitive muscle movements or constant pressure on the underlying bone.

Dupuytren contracture

A progressive disease where thickening and shortening of the palmar fascia produces contracture and flexion deformity of the fingers, most often the ring and little fingers.

Epicondylitis

Inflammation of the muscles and tendons attached to the bony protrusions on either side of the distal humerus; includes lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) and medial epicondylitis (golfer's or pitcher's elbow).

Fasciitis

Inflammation of the fascia surrounding a muscle, frequently occurring on the bottom of the foot as plantar fasciitis.

Ganglion

A semisolid or fluid-filled cyst forming on a tendon that appears as a rounded lump.

Shin splints

Pain and inflammation of the tendons and flexor muscles along the anterior lower leg bone (tibia) resulting from overuse.

Tendinitis

Inflammation of any tendon resulting from injury or overuse.

Tenosynovitis

Inflammation and pain due to overuse of a tendon combined with insufficient lubricating fluid production by the synovial membrane.

Ataxia

Lack of muscle coordination during movement, especially evident during walking.

Bradykinesia

Abnormally slow muscle movements or a marked decrease in spontaneous movements, typically associated with Parkinson disease.

Dyskinesia

Abnormal involuntary movements—such as tics, spasms, jerks, or slow writhing—resulting from impaired control of voluntary muscles.

Hyperkinesis

An abnormally increased amount of muscular movement.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS)

A nighttime neurological disorder causing uncomfortable restlessness, twitching, aching, or crawling sensations in the leg muscles.

Tremor

Small, continuous, involuntary back-and-forth oscillations of the hands, head, jaw, or extremities.

Acetylcholine receptor antibody test

A blood test detecting autoantibodies targeting acetylcholine receptors, used to establish a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.

Creatine phosphokinase (CPK-MM) test

A laboratory blood test measuring the skeletal muscle isoenzyme CPK-MM; elevated levels indicate muscle tissue destruction or muscular dystrophy.

Edrophonium test

A diagnostic procedure where the administration of the drug edrophonium temporarily increases acetylcholine levels, briefly restoring muscle strength to confirm myasthenia gravis.

Electromyography (EMG)

A diagnostic procedure inserting a needle electrode directly into a muscle to record its electrical activity during contraction and relaxation.

Orthosis (Brace)

An orthopedic device designed to support, straighten, and maintain a body part in anatomical alignment while permitting movement.

Deep tendon reflexes (DTR)

A neurological evaluation testing the integrity of the muscular-nervous pathway by tapping briskly on a tendon (e.g., patellar reflex test).

Muscle strength test

A clinical examination in which the physician applies opposing pressure against a moving body part, scoring motor strength on a scale from 0 to 5.

Active exercise

Physical therapy exercises where the patient performs movements independently without outside assistance.

Passive exercise

Physical therapy range-of-motion movements carried out entirely by a therapist or nurse for a patient unable to move independently.

RICE treatment

Standard treatment regimen for acute muscle sprains and soft tissue injuries: Rest, Ice, Compression bandage, and Elevation.

Trigger point injection

A procedure for fibromyalgia involving the injection of a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid directly into painful trigger points.

Fasciectomy

The surgical removal (partial or total) of fascia, commonly performed to release Dupuytren contracture.

Fasciotomy

A surgical incision into fascia to decompress trapped blood and pressure in acute compartment syndrome.

Ganglionectomy

The surgical excision of a ganglion cyst from a tendon.

Muscle biopsy

The removal of a small sample of muscle tissue via incision or needle aspiration for diagnostic microscopic evaluation.

Myorrhaphy

The surgical suturing of a torn muscle.

Tenorrhaphy

The surgical suturing together of the severed ends of a torn tendon.

Thymectomy

The surgical excision of the thymus gland, used in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.