MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY: Chapter 7

Orthopedics and Skeletal System

orthopedics

the medical specialty that studies the anatomy and physiology of the skeletal and muscular systems

orth/o

straight

ped/o

child

\-ics

knowledge; practice

skeletal system

body system that supports the body, and its structures include the connective tissues of bones, cartilage, ligaments, and joints

axial skeleton

the central structure around which other parts move; head, neck, chest, and spinal bones

appendicular skeleton

the limbs; shoulder, arm, hip, and leg bones

diaphysis

shaft of a long bone

epiphyses

ends of a long bone

cortical bone

internal structure of long bone for weight bearing

medullary cavity

internal structure of long bone that contains yellow marrow in an adult

cancellous bones

bone ends filled with red bone marrow

red bone marrow

produces blood cells

osteoma

bone tumor; benign growth

osteosarcoma

bone tumor; malignant growth of osteoblasts

ewing sarcoma

bone tumor; malignant growth in young men

sarc/o

connective tissue

chondroma

benign tumor of the cartilage

chondr/o

cartilage

\-oma

tumor

chondromalacia patellae

abnormal softening of the patella due to thinning and uneven wear; caused by pulling of the thigh bone on the patella

malac/o

softening

\-ia

condtion

fracture (FX, Fx)

broken bone caused by an accident, injury, or disease; if bone heals without treatment it may show malunion or malalignment

stress factures

caused by force or torsion during a sport or activity

pathologic fractures

caused by a disease process like osteoporosis

nondisplaced

normal alignment

displaced

pulled out of normal alignment

osteomalacia

abnormal softening of the bone due to vitamin D deficiency or lack of sun exposure; causes rickets

osteomyelitis

infection of the bone and bine marrow when bacteria enter the bone following injury or surgery

myel/o

bone marrow

osteoporosis

abnormal thinning of the bone structure; bone breakdown exceeds bone formation and calcium and phosphorus are lost

rib cage

bones of the chest

sternum

runs vertically down the center of the anterior rib cage; contains the manubrium, the body, and xiphoid process

true ribs

pairs 1-7

false ribs

pairs 8-10

floating ribs

pairs 11-12

spine

the vertical column of vertebrae

cervical vertebrae (C1-C7)

one of the five regions of the spine; in the neck

thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12)

one of the five regions of the spine; in the thorax

lumbar vertebrae (T1-T12)

one of the five regions of the spine; located in the lower back

sacrum

one of the five regions of the spine; group of five fused vertebrae

coccyx

one of the five regions of the spine; group of fused vertebrae that form the tailbone

pectus excavatum

congenital deformity in which the sternum is bent inward creating a depression in the chest

kyphosis

abnormal posterior curvature of the thoracic spine; also called a humpback

lordosis

abnormal anterior curvature of the lumbar spine; also called swaybacks

scoliosis

abnormal C or S shaped lateral curvature of the spine

dextroscoliosis

curvature of the spine to the right side

levoscoliosis

curvature of the spine to the left side

ankylosing spondylitis

chronic inflammation of the vertebrae that leads to fibrosis, fusion, and spinal motion restriction

spondylolisthesis

degenerative condition of the spine in which one vertebra moves anteriorly and slips out of alignment due to intervertebral disk degeneration, sports injury, or compression fracture of vertebraes

spondyl/o

vertebra

\-listhesis

abnormal condition of slipping

femur

thigh bone of the upper leg

tibia

the shin bone of the lower leg (medial)

fibula

the very thin lateral bone of the lower leg

patella

is anterior to the knee joint

tarsal bones

seven of these bones exist in the ankle

metatarsal bones

five of these bones exist in the midfoot

phalangeal bones

three of these bones exist in the toes

genu valgum

congenital deformity in which the knees rotate toward the midline and the legs bend away from midline; knock-knee

genu

knee

valgum

knock-kneed

genu varum

congenital deformity in which the knees are abnormally far apart of the legs bend toward the midline; bowleg

varum

straddling

hallux valgus

deformity in which the great toe angles toward the other toes and there is swelling at the base; bunion

hallux

big toe

talipes equinovarus

congenital deformity in which the foot is pulled downward and toward the midline; clubfoot

talipes

talus (ankle) and pes (foot)

equino

heel is elevates like horse’s

varus

turned inward

joint (articulations)

anywhere two bones come together

suture joints

immovable and occur between cranial and facial bones

symphysis joints

slightly moveable and occur at the symphysis pubis and vertebrae

synovial joints

fully moveable joints

cartilage

densely packed collagen fibers

articular cartilage

covers bone ends in a synovial joint

meniscus

cartilage pad contained in some synovial joints

ligaments

strong connective tissue bands that hold bones in a synovial joint

arthralgia

pain in the joint due to injury, inflammation, or infection from various causes

arthr/o

joint

alg/o

pain

\-ia

condition

\-pathy

disease

arthropathy

general term for disease of the joint from any cause

dislocation

displacement of the end of a bone from its normal position in a joint; usually caused by trauma but can occur in the hip of a newborn

gout

metabolic disorder in which high uric acid levels cause pain in the joint; most often occurs in the great toe

rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

acute and chronic inflammatory disease of the connective tissue, particularly the joints

rheuma

watery discharge

\-oid

resembling

osteoarthritis (OA)

chronic inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the joints as cartilage wears way and bone rubs on bone

sprain

overstretching or tearing of ligaments around a joint

subluxation

partial dislocation with slight displacement of bone ends from the joint

luxat/o

displacement

torn meniscus

a tear in the cartilage pad in the knee joint because of an injury

meniscus

crescent (moon)

hemarthrosis

a condition of blood in the joint cavity, usually due to blunt trauma or penetrating injury

\-osis

abnormal condition

rheumatoid factor (RF)

blood test that is usually positive in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

uric acid

blood test that shows an elevated level in patients with gout and gouty arthritis