Skeletal System Pathology & Radiologic Technology Application Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards detailing skeletal system anatomy, fractures, pathologies, and radiologic technology clinical applications.

Hip fracture

A skeletal pathology involving the weight-bearing proximal femur, commonly suspected following a fall in older adults presenting with severe hip pain.

Fracture

A pathology evaluated by X-ray to determine whether a bone is broken, identify its location, and evaluate fragment alignment.

Closed/simple fracture

A type of fracture where the bone is broken but the skin remains intact.

Open/compound fracture

A type of fracture in which the broken bone communicates with the outside environment through an open wound.

Complete fracture

A fracture pattern where the bone is completely separated into two or more pieces.

Incomplete fracture

A fracture in which the bone bends and cracks without breaking completely across its width.

Transverse fracture

A fracture pattern where the fracture line runs straight across the shaft of a long bone.

Spiral fracture

A fracture type resulting from a twisting injury, producing a fracture line that spirals around the shaft of a long bone.

Oblique fracture

A fracture caused by an angled force that produces a diagonal fracture line across the bone.

Comminuted fracture

A fracture in which the bone is broken into several fragments.

Fracture hematoma

A localized collection of blood forming around an injured bone, representing the first major stage of fracture repair.

Soft callus

A temporary connective-tissue bridge that forms between broken bone fragments during the second stage of fracture repair.

Hard/bony callus

Newly formed bone bridging a fracture, visible radiographically during the later stages of repair.

Bone remodeling

The long-term process occurring months after a fracture wherein bone gradually reorganizes and strengthens according to mechanical demands.

Humerus

The upper arm bone containing the surgical neck, which serves as a clinically important fracture site.

Coccyx

The fused terminal portion of the vertebral column that can be injured during a direct fall onto the buttocks.

Cervical spine injury

A severe neck injury requiring imaging due to its immediate risk of impacting the spinal cord.

Sprain

A joint injury caused by stretching or tearing a ligament surrounding a joint.

Dislocation

A joint injury in which a bone is forced completely out of its normal joint position.

Subluxation

A joint injury characterized by the partial displacement of a bone from its normal joint position.

Separation

An injury involving separation at a joint together with damage to supporting structures.

Osteoarthritis

A degenerative joint disease involving breakdown of articular cartilage, characterized radiographically by narrowed joint space and osteophyte formation.

Rheumatoid arthritis

An inflammatory autoimmune disorder causing progressive destruction, swelling, and joint damage across multiple joints.

Bursitis

Pain and restricted joint movement caused by inflammation of a fluid-filled bursa sac.

Shoulder joint

A highly mobile articulation formed between the glenoid cavity of the scapula and the head of the humerus.

Osteoporosis

A condition characterized by reduced bone mass and deterioration of bone structure, leading to increased risk of fractures in the vertebrae, hip, and wrist.

Bone-density assessment

A diagnostic evaluation used specifically to measure bone mineral density in patients suspected of having osteoporosis.

Osteoclasts

Bone-remodeling cells responsible for bone resorption.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

A hormone secreted when blood calcium decreases, acting to increase blood calcium levels through mechanisms such as enhanced bone resorption.

Osteogenesis imperfecta

A skeletal disorder marked by abnormal collagen-related bone formation resulting in abnormally fragile bones and repeated fractures from minor trauma.

Osteomyelitis

A bacterial bone infection, often associated with Staphylococcus aureus, that increases osteoclast activity and decreases osteoblast activity.

Surgical debridement

A surgical procedure used in the treatment of osteomyelitis to remove infected or damaged bone tissue.

Bone grafting

A surgical treatment option used to replace or restore bone tissue following severe structural damage from infection.

Herniated/ruptured intervertebral disk

A spinal pathology in which disk material protrudes into the intervertebral spaces, evaluated using imaging to assess potential nerve compression.

Occipital bone

The cranial bone situated at the back of the skull that houses the foramen magnum.

Maxilla

The facial bone that forms the upper jaw.

Mandible

The facial bone that forms the lower jaw.

Zygomatic bones

The facial bones that form the prominent structure of the cheek region.

Nasal bones

The facial bones forming the bridge of the nose.

Lacrimal bones

Small skull bones located in the medial wall of the orbit.

Vomer

The facial bone that forms the inferior and posterior portion of the nasal septum.

Frontal bone

The cranial bone that forms the forehead and the roof of the orbital cavity.

Sphenoid

The central cranial bone forming key parts of the cranial cavity floor and orbit.

Ethmoid

The cranial bone contributing to structures located between the nasal and cranial cavities.

Temporal bone

The cranial bone on the lateral aspect of the skull near the ear and mandibular articulation.

Atlas (C1)

The first cervical vertebra, which supports the head.

Axis (C2)

The second cervical vertebra featuring the dens process, which facilitates head rotation.

Thoracic vertebrae

The region of vertebrae that articulates with the ribs to form the posterior boundary of the thoracic cage.

Lumbar vertebrae

Large, strong weight-bearing vertebrae located in the lower back region.

Sacral hiatus

An anatomical opening at the inferior end of the sacrum used as a landmark for clinical injections.

Sternal angle

A prominent palpable landmark on the sternum that marks the articulation point of the second rib.

True ribs 1–7

The first seven pairs of ribs that attach directly to the sternum via costal cartilage.

False ribs 8–12

Rib pairs 8 through 12 that do not attach directly to the sternum.

Floating ribs 11–12

False rib pairs 11 and 12 that lack any anterior attachment to the sternum.

Clavicle

The collarbone connecting the scapula to the sternum, serving as the main bony attachment between the upper limb and the axial skeleton.

Radius

The lateral bone of the forearm located on the thumb side.

Ulna

The medial bone of the forearm located on the pinky/little-finger side.

Scaphoid

The carpal bone in the wrist that is most commonly fractured.

Trapezium

The distal carpal bone that articulates with the first metacarpal to enable thumb movement.

Capitate

The central and largest carpal bone in the wrist.

Hamate

A carpal bone located on the medial distal row featuring a distinctive hook-like projection.

Lunate

A carpal bone that articulates with the radius to participate directly in the wrist joint.

Acetabulum

The deep socket of the pelvis that receives the head of the femur.

Ilium

The largest component bone of the pelvis.

Ischial tuberosity

The prominent landmark on the ischium that supports body weight when sitting.

Tibia

The medial, main weight-bearing bone of the lower leg.

Tarsals

The collection of bones that form the ankle and posterior structure of the foot.