Gross Anatomy & Musculoskeletal System Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from gross anatomy, skeletal, muscular, and joint physiology lecture notes.

Anatomical position

Standard body posture used for reference: standing upright, facing forward, arms at sides, palms forward, feet together.

Sagittal plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into left and right sections.

Frontal plane

Vertical plane dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions; also called the coronal plane.

Horizontal plane

Plane parallel to the ground that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts; also called the transverse plane.

Anterior (ventral)

Toward or at the front of the body.

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward or at the back of the body.

Superior (cranial)

Toward the head or a higher position.

Inferior (caudal)

Away from the head or a lower position.

Medial

Toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment, origin, or trunk.

Distal

Farther from the point of attachment, origin, or trunk.

Superficial (external)

Near or on the body surface.

Deep (internal)

Farther beneath the body surface than superficial structures.

Flexion

Movement that decreases the angle of a joint; occurs in the sagittal plane.

Extension

Movement that increases the angle of a joint; opposite of flexion.

Abduction

Movement of a limb away from the body’s midline; occurs in the frontal plane.

Adduction

Movement of a limb toward the body’s midline; opposite of abduction.

Rotation

Pivoting of a body part around its long axis; occurs in the horizontal plane.

Pronation

Forearm movement that turns the palm downward.

Supination

Forearm movement that turns the palm upward; opposite of pronation.

Inversion

Ankle movement turning the sole of the foot inward.

Eversion

Ankle movement turning the sole of the foot outward; opposite of inversion.

Dorsiflexion

Ankle movement lifting the toes upward.

Plantarflexion

Ankle movement pointing the toes downward; opposite of dorsiflexion.

Protraction

Movement of the scapula away from the vertebral column.

Retraction

Movement of the scapula toward the vertebral column; opposite of protraction.

Axial skeleton

Skull, vertebral column, and thoracic cage; the body’s central framework.

Appendicular skeleton

Upper and lower limbs plus the shoulder and pelvic girdles.

Process

Any projection or bump on a bone.

Ramus

Bone extension that forms an angle with the rest of the structure.

Trochanter

Large, rough projection for tendon/ligament attachment (e.g., femur).

Tuberosity

Relatively smaller, rough projection on a bone.

Tubercle

Small, rounded projection on a bone.

Crest

Prominent ridge on a bone.

Line (bone)

Low, narrow ridge on a bone.

Spine (bone)

Pointed, slender process on a bone.

Head (bone)

Expanded articular end of an epiphysis, often separated by a neck.

Neck (bone)

Narrow connection between the head and shaft (diaphysis) of a bone.

Condyle

Smooth, rounded articular process.

Trochlea

Smooth, grooved articular process shaped like a pulley.

Facet

Small, flat articular surface.

Fossa

Shallow depression in a bone.

Sulcus

Narrow groove in a bone.

Foramen

Rounded passageway for blood vessels or nerves.

Fissure

Elongated cleft in a bone.

Canal

Passageway through the substance of a bone.

Sinus (antrum)

Chamber within a bone, usually air-filled.

Tendon

Collagenous band connecting muscle to bone.

Ligament

Dense band of connective tissue attaching bone to bone.

Origin (muscle)

Less moveable, usually proximal, point of muscle attachment.

Insertion (muscle)

More moveable, usually distal, point of muscle attachment.

Agonist (prime mover)

Muscle chiefly responsible for producing a specific movement.

Antagonist

Muscle that opposes the action of an agonist.

Synergist

Muscle that assists the agonist in performing a movement.

Fixator

Muscle that stabilizes the origin of the agonist by preventing unnecessary movement.

First-class lever

Lever with fulcrum between applied force and resistance; can change force direction and speed.

Second-class lever

Lever with resistance between applied force and fulcrum; magnifies force but reduces speed/distance.

Third-class lever

Lever with applied force between resistance and fulcrum; increases speed/distance but requires more force.

Synarthrosis

Immovable joint (e.g., skull suture).

Amphiarthrosis

Slightly movable joint (e.g., pubic symphysis).

Diarthrosis

Freely movable synovial joint.

Syndesmosis

Fibrous amphiarthrosis where bones are connected by a ligament (e.g., interosseous membrane).

Symphysis

Cartilaginous amphiarthrosis with fibrocartilage pad (e.g., intervertebral disc).

Synostosis

Bony fusion where a joint becomes completely ossified and immobile.

Synovial fluid

Viscous fluid within synovial joints that lubricates, nourishes cartilage, and absorbs shock.

Joint capsule

Dense connective tissue envelope surrounding a synovial joint.

Synovial membrane

Inner lining of joint capsule that secretes synovial fluid.

Gliding (planar) joint

Synovial joint with flat/slightly curved surfaces allowing limited sliding movement.

Hinge joint

Monoaxial synovial joint permitting flexion and extension (e.g., elbow).

Pivot joint

Monoaxial synovial joint allowing rotation (e.g., atlas-axis).

Ellipsoidal (condyloid) joint

Biaxial synovial joint with oval surface fitting into depression, permitting angular motion (e.g., wrist).

Saddle joint

Biaxial synovial joint with concave/convex surfaces resembling a saddle (e.g., thumb base).

Ball and socket joint

Triaxial synovial joint with spherical head fitting into a cup-like depression (e.g., shoulder, hip).

Meniscus

Fibrocartilaginous pad in some synovial joints that subdivides cavity and channels fluid.

Bursa

Small fluid-filled sac that reduces friction and absorbs shock where tendons or ligaments rub tissues.

Synovial tendon sheath

Tubular bursa that surrounds a tendon crossing bony surfaces.

Intracapsular ligament

Ligament located inside a joint capsule.

Extracapsular ligament

Ligament located outside a joint capsule.