Med Term for Health Professionals - Chapter 4

cartilage

nonvascular, firm connective tissue found mostly in joints

chiropractic

diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system

chiropractor

practitioner of chiropractic

detoxification

removing poison from a tissue or substance

ligament

band of fibrous tissue connecting two structures

muscle

a tissue consisting of cells that can contract

musculoskeletal

pertaining to muscles and the bony skeleton

orthopedic

pertaining to the correction and cure of deformities and diseases of the musculoskeletal system; originally, most of the deformities treated were children

orthopedist

specialist in orthopedics

osteocalcin

a hormone produced by bone cells

osteopath

practitioner of osteopathy

oteopathy

medical practice based on maintaining the balance of the body

tendon

fibrous band that connects muscle to bone

cortex

outer portion of an organ, such as bone

cortical (adj)

pertaining to a cortex

diaphysis

the shaft of a long bone

epiphysis

expanded area at the proximal and distal ends of a long bone to provide increased surface area for attachment of ligaments and tendons

epiphysial (adj)

pertaining to an epiphysis

Haversian canals

Vascular canals in bone

marrow

fatty, blood-forming tissue in the cavities of long bone

medulla

central portion of a structure surrounded by cortex

medullary (adj)

Pertaining to a medulla

periosteum

strong membrane surrounding a bone

periosteal (adj)

pertaining to the periosteum

achondroplasia

condition with abnormal, early conversion of cartilage into bone, leading to dwarfism

osteogenesis imperfecta

inherited condition in which bone formation is incomplete, leading to fragile, easily broken bones

osteomalacia

soft, flexible bones lacking in calcium (rickets)

osteomyelitis

inflammation of bone and bone marrow

osteopenia

decreased calcification of bone

osteoporosis

condition in which the bones become more porous, brittle, and fragile and more likely to fracture

rickets

disease due to vitamin D deficiency, producing soft, flexible bones

sarcoma

malignant tumor originating in connective tissue

chondrosarcoma

malignant tumor originating in cartilage cells

osteogenic sarcoma

malignant tumor originating in bone-producing cells

callus

bony tissue that forms at a fracture site early in healing

cancellous

bone that has a spongy or lattice-like structure

comminuted

a fracture in which the bone is broken into pieces

hematoma

collection of blood that has escaped from blood vessels into tissue

osteoblast

a bone-forming cell

osteocyte

a bone-maintaining cell

pathologic fracture

fracture occuring at a site already weakened by a disease process, such as cancer

cervical

pertaining to the neck region

coccyx

small tailbone at the lowest end of the vertebral column

foramen

an opening through a structure

foramina (pl)

(pl) an opening through a structure

kyphosis

a normal posterior curve of the spine that can be exaggerated in disease

kyphotic (adj)

pertaining to or suffering from kyphosis

lumbar

the region of the back and sides between the ribs and pelvis

sacrum

segment of the vertebral column that forms part of the pelvis

sacral (adj)

pertaining to or in the region of the sacrum

scoliosis

an abnormal lateral curvature of the vertebral column

scoliotic (adj)

pertaining to or suffering from scoliosis

spine

vertebral column or a short projection from a bone

spinal (adj)

pertaining to the spine

vertebra

one of the bones of the spinal column

vertebrae (pl)

(pl) one of the bones of the spinal column

vertebral (adj)

pertaining to the vertebra

whiplash

symptoms caused by sudden, uncontrolled extension, and flexion of the neck, often in an automobile accident

cranium

the upper part of the skull that encloses and protects the brain

cranial (adj)

pertaining to the skull

ethmoid

bone that forms the back of the nose and encloses numerous air cells

lacrimal

lacrimal bone forms part of the medial wall of the orbit, or pertaining to tears

mandible

lower jaw bone

mandibular (adj)

pertaining to the mandible

maxilla

upper jaw bone containing right and left maxillary sinuses

maxillary (adj)

pertaining to the maxilla

occipital

the back of the skull

palatine

bone that forms the hard palate and parts of the nose and orbits

parietal

the two bones forming the sidewalls and roof of the cranium

sphenoid

wedge-shaped bone at the base of the skull

temporal

bone that forms part of the base of the skull

temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

the joint between the temporal bone and the manible

zygoma

bone that forms the prominence of the cheek

zygomatic (adj)

pertaining to the cheekbone

acromion

lateral end of the scapula, extended over the shoulder joint

acriomioclavicular

the joint between the acromion and the clavicle

articulate

two separate bones have formed a joint

articulation

a joint

clavicle

curved bone that forms the anterior part of the pectoral girdle

clavicular (adj)

pertaining to the clavicle

deformity

a permanent structural deviation from the normal

dislocation

completely out of joint

humerus

single bone of the upper arm

pectoral

pertaining to the chest

pectoral girdle

incomplete bony ring that attaches the upper limb to the axial skeleton

scapula

shoulder blade

spaculae (pl)

(pl) shoulder blade

scapular (adj)

pertaining to the shoulder blade

subluxation

an incomplete dislocation when some contact between the joint surfaces remains

aspiration

removal by suction of fluid or gas from a body cavity

aspirate (verb)

(verb) removal by suction of fluid or gas from a body cavity

bursa

a closed sac containing synovial fluid

bursae (pl)

(pl) a closed sac containing synovial fluid

bursitis

inflammation of a bursa

capitulum

a small head or rounded extremity of a bone

olecranon

prominent, proximal extremity of ulna

pronation

process of lying face down or of turning a hand or foot with the volar (palm or sole) surface down

pronate (verb)

process of lying face down or of turning a hand or foot with the volar (palm or sole) surface down

prone

lying face down, flat on your belly

radius

the forearm bone on the thumb side