801 Exam 1 Vocab Words and Definitions

Abduction

The movement of an appendage or limb away from midline. This motion occurs in the frontal/coronal plane and the axis of rotation is in the anterior-posterior (sagittal) plane.

Accessory movement

Joint movements which cannot be performed by the individual. These movements include roll, spin and slide which accompany physiological movements of a joint. They are examined passively to assess range and symptom response.

Actin

A cellular protein found especially in microfilaments (such as those comprising myofibrils) and active in muscular contraction, cellular movement, and maintenance of cell shape.

Active range of motion

The range that you can use your body/extremity with just the assistance of your muscles and no outside forces.

Adduction

Movement of a limb toward the midline of the body; the opposite is ABduction.

Arthrokinematics

Refers to the movement of joint surfaces.

Cell adhesion molecule (CAM)

Cell surface proteins that mediate the interaction between cells, or between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM). There are four families of adhesion molecules: immunoglobulin-like adhesion molecules, integrins, cadherins and selectins.

Chondrocyte

A cartilage cell.

Chromatin

The material of which the chromosomes of organisms other than bacteria (i.e., eukaryotes) are composed. It consists of protein, RNA, and DNA.

Codon

3 nucleotide base pairs that code for a specific amino acid.

Collagen

Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. It is the primary building block of your body's skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues.

Compressive force

Is the application of power, pressure, or exertion against an object that causes it to become squeezed, squashed, or compacted.

Cytokines

Small proteins that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells.

Cytoskeleton

Series of filament or fibers organizes other constituents of the eukaryotic cell, maintains the cell's shape, and is responsible for the locomotion of the cell itself and the movement of the various organelles within it.

Glycosaminoglycans

Any of various polysaccharides derived from an amino hexose that are constituents of mucoproteins, glycoproteins, and blood-group substances.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

The molecule inside cells that contains the genetic information needed for a person and most other organisms to develop and grow - is passed from one generation to the next. Made up of two strands that twist into the shape of a double helix; each strand made up of sugar and phosphate molecules that attach to one of four bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C) which pair up with another (A with T, and G with C) to form chemical bonds.

Angiogenesis

The formation of new blood vessels.

Edema

Medical term for swelling.

Effusion

An abnormal collection of fluid in hollow spaces or between tissues of the body.

Elastic cartilage

Cartilage that supports parts of the body that need to bend and move to function, it can bounce back to its original shape even after a strong force.

Endothelial cell

Endothelial cells are cells that form the endothelium, which is a single squamous layer of cells that lines the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels of the body.

Epigenetics

Refers to how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work. Unlike genetic changes (mutations), epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change the sequence of DNA bases, but they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence.

Extension

Refers to the movement that increases the angle between two body parts.

External Rotation

Defined as rotation away from the midline along a vertical axis.

Extracellular matrix

A large network of proteins and other molecules that surround, support, and give structure to cells and tissues in the body.

Fibrin

A protein involved in forming blood clots in the body. It is made from the protein fibrinogen and helps stop bleeding and heal wounds.

Fibroblast

Diverse spindle shaped mesenchymal cells designed to participate in tissue homeostasis and disease by producing extracellular matrix-rich connective tissue, which is important for essential organ functions. They can transform in response to biomechanical and chemical cues within the surrounding environment and can specialize into a variety of cells. Other functions include secretion, metabolism, and mechanical forces.

Fibrocartilage

Type of connective tissue that provides structural support for the musculoskeletal system. Fibrocartilage is very strong. It is found predominantly in the intervertebral disks of the spine and at the insertions of ligaments and tendons.

Fibrous (fibrillar) component

Part of the extracellular matrix of connective tissue consisting of collagen and elastin.

Flexion

A bending movement around a joint in a limb (as the knee or elbow) that decreases the angle between the bones of the limb at the joint.

Focal adhesions (complex)

Large, dynamic protein complexes through which the cytoskeleton of a cell connects to the ECM.

Hypoxia

Low levels of oxygen to the body's tissue.

Can cause

confusion, restlessness, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, and bluish skin

Glide / Slide

a single point on one articular surface contacts multiple points on another articular surface

Ground (interfibrillar) substance

non-fibrous, gel-like, extracellular matrix material found between the fibrils and cells in connective tissues that provides structural support, facilitates nutrient exchange, and maintains hydration

Guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-protein)

a family of proteins that act as molecular switches inside cells, and are involved in transmitting signals from a variety of stimuli outside a cell to its interior.

Hematoma

DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THIS DEFINITION

Histone

a protein that provides structural support for a chromosome. Each chromosome contains a long molecule of DNA, which must fit into the cell nucleus. To do that, the DNA wraps around complexes of histone proteins, giving the chromosome a more compact shape. Histones also play a role in the regulation of gene expression.

Homeostasis

The physiological tendency toward an internally maintained stable environment that buffers external changes in a coordinated manner.

Hyaline (articular) cartilage

connective tissue that produces a resilient surface with minimal friction, ability to resist compressive forces at sites of bone articulation, usually moist, composed of proteoglycans and type II collagen, most copious type of cartilage

Inflammation (injury) phase

Immediate response to the trauma. The wound swells and there is the inevitable bleeding which is a primary mechanism through which debris and toxins can be removed.

Internal Rotation

rotation toward the midline along a vertical axis.

Ligament

a tough fibrous band of tissue connecting the articular extremities of bones or supporting an organ in place

Macrophage

A type of white blood cell that surrounds and kills microorganisms, removes dead cells, and stimulates the action of other immune cells

Mast cell

A type of white blood cell that is found in connective tissues all through the body, especially under the skin, near blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, lungs, and the intestines

Mechanotransduction

Cellular mechanisms by which load bearing cells sense physical forces, transduce the forces into biochemical signals, and generate appropriate responses leading to alterations in cellular structure and function

Messenger RNA

A type of RNA found in cells. Messenger RNA molecules carry the genetic information needed to make proteins. They carry the information from the DNA in the nucleus of the cell to the cytoplasm where the proteins are made. Also called mRNA.

Neutrophil

type of granulocyte that acts as your immune system's first line of defense

Nucleosome

the basic repeating subunit of chromatin packaged inside the cell's nucleus; a single nucleosome consists of ~150 base pairs of DNA sequence wrapped around a core of histone proteins

Osteokinematics

The angular/rotary movement occurring between two bones at synovial joints

Passive range of motion

the range of motion (ROM) achieved when an outside force (from physical therapist or CPM machine) exclusively causes movement of a joint and it is the max ROM that a joint can move

Physiologic movements

the natural movement associated with living organisms, encompassing all actions that result from muscle contraction or passive physical forces.

Platelet

small colorless cell fragments that form clots and prevent bleeding

Platelet-derived growth factor

stimulates the growth of its target cells, but also affects chemotaxis, affects the differentiation of specific cell types and promotes cell survival.

Proliferation (injury) phase

The third stage of the wound healing process that typically occurs within 3 to 21 days after the initial injury that is characterized by the formation of granulation tissue, collagen deposition, and angiogenesis at the site of the wound. The aim of this phase is to fill the wound defect.

Remodeling (injury) phase

is the final phase of the healing process in which the granulation tissue matures into scar and tissue tensile strength is increased

Ribonucleic acid

a nucleic acid used for most biological functions, it is important for protein translation.

Roll

to impel forward by causing to turn over and over on a surface

Shear force

a mechanical force that acts internally on the skin tissue in a direction parallel to the body's surface, occur between the internal body structures and skin tissues typically moving in opposite directions and may lead to deep tissue injury

Spin

Multiple points on one articular surface contact one point on another articular surface (radius relative to ulna) OR a single point on one articular surface rotates on a single point on another articular surface (radius relative to humerus).

Stretch-activated ion channels (SAC)

Stretch-activated ion channels, also known as mechanosensitive ion channels, are membrane proteins that open/close in response to mechanical deformation of the cell membrane.

Cross-friction massage

a technique used to decrease the negative effects of scar tissue in the body. It is a specialized massage technique that may break up tissue adhesions that are limiting normal movement in the skin and the underlying tissues.

Apoptosis

A type of cell death in which a series of molecular steps in a cell lead to its death. This is one method the body uses to get rid of unneeded of abnormal cells. Also called programmed cell death.

Tendon

a fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone

Tensile force

Tensile force is the stretching forces acting on the material and has two components namely, tensile stress and tensile strain.

Transcription

the process of transcribing something; a written record of words or music

Transcription (gene)

the process by which a cell makes an RNA copy of a piece of DNA

Translation (gene)

the process in which information that is encoded in messenger RNA (mRNA) directs the addition of amino acids during protein synthesis

Vascular permeability

a selective mechanism that maintains the exchange between vessels, tissues, and organs

Vasodilation

widening of the lumen of blood vessels