Musculoskeletal System Terms

oste/o, oss/e, oss/i

combining form(s) for bone

ossification

the formation of bone from fibrous tissue

cortical bone (or compact bone)

the hard, dense, strong bone that forms the outer layer of bone

cortex

means bark or shell in Latin

cancellous bone (or spongy bone)

the lighter, less strong bone that is found in the ends and inner portions of long bones

cancellous

means latticework in Latin

hematopoiesis (or hemopoiesis)

the formation of blood cells and platelets, which occurs in the bone marrow

cartilage

a form of connective tissue that is more elastic than bone

chondr/o

combining form for cartilage

joints (or articulations)

the junction or union site of two or more bones

arthr/o

combining form for joint

ligament

a band of fibrous connective tissue that connects one bone to another bone to help stabilize joints

ligament/o

combining form for ligament

tendon

a band of fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone to help with movement

ten/o, tend/o, tendin/o

combining form(s) for tendon

bursa

a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion to reduce friction during movement

cranium

the portion of the skull that encloses the brain

crani/o

combining form for skull

vertebra

the individual bones making up the vertebral column

spondyl/o & vertebr/o

combining form(s) for vertebra

ribs

paired bones that attach to thoracic vertebrae

cost/o

combining form for rib

sternum

forms the midline ventral portion of the rib cage

stern/o

combining form for sternum

appen-

to add or hang

onych/o

combining form for claw or nail

ilium

the largest, blade-shaped pair of bones in the pelvis

ischium

the caudal pair of bones in the pelvis

pubis

the ventral pair of bones in the pelvis

acetabulum

the large socket of the pelvic bone that forms where the three bones meet; receives the head of the femur

my/o

combining form for muscle

fibr/o & fibros/o

combining form(s) for fibrous tissue

fascia

a sheet of fibrous connective tissue that covers & supports muscles, nerves, bones, etc.

fasci/o & fasc/i

combining form(s) for fascia

kinesiology

the study of movement

kinesi/o & -kinesis

combining form & suffix meaning movement

antagonist

muscles that work against or opposite each other

synergist

muscles that contract at the same time as another muscle to help movement or support movement

abductor

muscle that moves a part away from the midline

adductor

muscle that moves a part toward the midline

flexor

muscle that bends a limb at its joint or decreases the joint angle

extensor

muscle that straightens a limb or increases the joint angle

levator

muscle that raises or elevates a part

depressor

muscle that lowers or depresses a part

rotator

muscle that turns a body part on its axis

supinator

muscle that rotates the palmar or plantar surface upward

pronator

muscle that rotates the palmar or plantar surface downward

arthrocentesis

surgical puncture of a joint to remove fluid for analysis

arthroscopy

visual examination of the joint using a fiberoptic scope

arthralgia

joint pain

arthritis

inflammatory condition of joints

chondromalacia

abnormal cartilage softening

osteomalacia

abnormal softening of bone

osteomyelitis

inflammation of bone & bone marrow

osteonecrosis

death of bone tissue

osteoporosis

abnormal condition of marked loss of bone density & an increase in bone porosity

osteosclerosis

abnormal hardening of bone

luxation

dislocation or displacement of a bone from its joint

spondylitis

inflammation of the vertebrae

spondylosis

any degenerative disorder of the vertebrae

arthrodesis

fusion of a joint or the spinal vertebrae by surgical means

-desis

suffix meaning to bind or surgical fixation of a bone or joint

laminectomy

surgical removal of the dorsal arch of a vertebrae

onychectomy

surgical removal of a claw

trephination

process of cutting a hole into a bone using a trephine (circular sawlike instrument used to remove bone or tissue)

linea alba

a fibrous band of connective tissue on the ventral abdominal wall that is the median attachment of the abdominal muscles

adhesion

band of fibers that hold structures together in an abnormal fashion

ataxia

lack of voluntary control of muscle movement; “wobbliness”

atrophy

decrease in size or complete wasting of an organ, tissue, or cell

dystrophy

defective growth

clon/o

means violent action (spasm)

bursitis

inflammation of the bursa