Joint Classifications, Movements, and Pathologies

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from lecture materials on joint classifications, movements, and joint pathologies.

Cartilage Tear

A joint injury caused by compression and shear stress where torn fragments may cause the joint to lock or bind.

Sprain

A joint injury in which reinforcing ligaments are stretched or torn.

Dislocation (Luxation)

A joint injury in which bones are forced out of alignment, accompanied by sprains, inflammation, and difficulty moving the joint.

Subluxation

A partial dislocation of a joint.

Bursitis

Inflammation of a bursa, usually caused by a blow or friction.

Tendonitis

Inflammation of tendon sheaths, typically caused by overuse.

Osteoarthritis (OA)

The most common chronic, irreversible degenerative arthritis in which articular cartilage is broken down faster than it is replaced.

Osteophytes

Bone spurs that may form from the thickened ends of bones in joints affected by osteoarthritis.

Crepitus

A crunching noise made by stiff joints upon movement or rising, characteristic of osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

A chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease of unknown cause in which the body's immune system attacks its own joint tissue cells.

Synovitis

Inflammation of the synovial membrane of an affected joint, marking the beginning of rheumatoid arthritis.

Pannus

An abnormal, thickened tissue formed from the inflamed synovial membrane that clings to and erodes articular cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis.

Ankylosis

The connection and fusing of articulating bone ends by scar tissue, resulting in joint immobilization in rheumatoid arthritis.

Gouty Arthritis

An inflammatory joint disease caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals in joints and soft tissues.

Lyme Disease

An inflammatory disease caused by bacteria transmitted by tick bites, leading to skin rash, flu-like symptoms, foggy thinking, and joint pain.

Muscle Tone

The constant state of slight muscular contraction that keeps tendons taut across joints, serving as the most important factor in joint stability.

Origin (Muscle)

The point of attachment of a muscle to an immovable or stationary bone.

Insertion (Muscle)

The point of attachment of a muscle to a movable bone.

Nonaxial Movement

Joint movement limited to slipping or gliding motions without rotation around an axis.

Uniaxial Movement

Movement allowed by a synovial joint in only one plane.

Biaxial Movement

Movement allowed by a synovial joint across two distinct planes.

Multiaxial Movement

Movement allowed by a synovial joint in or around all three spatial planes.

Gliding Movement

A motion where one flat bone surface glides or slips over another similar flat surface.

Angular Movement

A movement that increases or decreases the angle between two articulating bones along the sagittal or frontal plane.

Flexion

An angular movement along the sagittal plane that decreases the angle of the joint.

Extension

An angular movement along the sagittal plane that increases the angle of the joint.

Hyperextension

An angular movement extending a joint beyond its anatomical position.

Abduction

Movement of a limb along the frontal plane away from the body midline.

Adduction

Movement of a limb along the frontal plane toward the body midline.

Circumduction

A circular movement involving sequential flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction such that the limb describes a cone in space.

Rotation

The turning of a bone around its own long axis, either toward or away from the body midline.

Medial Rotation

Rotation of a bone around its long axis toward the midline of the body.

Lateral Rotation

Rotation of a bone around its long axis away from the midline of the body.

Supination

Rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces anteriorly and the radius and ulna are parallel.

Pronation

Rotation of the forearm so that the palm faces posteriorly and the radius crosses over the ulna.

Dorsiflexion

A special movement at the ankle joint that bends the foot superiorly toward the shin.

Plantar Flexion

A special movement at the ankle joint that points the toes inferiorly away from the shin.

Inversion

A special movement of the foot where the sole turns medially.

Eversion

A special movement of the foot where the sole turns laterally.

Protraction

An anterior movement of a body part along a transverse plane, such as jutting out the mandible.

Retraction

A posterior movement of a body part along a transverse plane, such as pulling the mandible back toward the neck.

Elevation

A movement that lifts a body part superiorly, such as shrugging the shoulders.

Depression

A movement that lowers a body part inferiorly, such as opening the jaw.

Opposition

Special movement of the thumb that allows it to touch the tips of other fingers on the same hand.

Reposition

Movement of the thumb back to its standard anatomical position following opposition.