Medical Terminology - The Skeletal System

chrondr/o

chrondr/o

cartilage

oss/e, oss/i, oste/o, ost/o

bones

myel/o

bone marrow

arthr/o

joints

ligament/o

ligaments

synovi/o, synov/o

synovial membrane/fluid

burs/o

bursa

ankyl/o

crooked, bent, stiff

cost/o

rib

crani/o

skull

-desis

to bind, tie together

kyph/o

bent, hump

lord/o

curve, swayback, bent

-lysis

loosening or setting free

scoli/o

curved, bent

spondyl/o

vertebrae, vertebral column, backbone

ossification

process of cartilage and membranes becoming bone, seen in infants

periosteum

tough, fibrous tissue that forms the outermost covering of bone

compact bone (cortical bone)

compact bone, also known as cortical bone

spongy bone (cancellous bone)

lighter and not as strong as compact bone, found in the ends and inner portions of long bones

medullary cavity

central cavity located in the shaft of long bones, surrounded by compact bone, stores red and yellow marrow

endosteum

tissue that lines the medullary cavity

red bone marrow

hemopoietic tissue that manufactures red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and thrombocytes

hemopoietic (hematopoietic)

pertaining to the formation of blood cells

yellow bone marrow

fat storage area

cartilage

smooth, rubbery, blue-white connective tissue that acts as a shock absorber between bones (and for nose, ears, etc)

articular cartilage

covers the surfaces of bones at joints, makes smooth joint movement and protects bones from rubbing against each other

meniscus

curved fibrous cartilage found in some joints, such as the knee and the temporomandibular joint of the jaw

diaphysis

shaft of a long bone

epiphyses

wider ends of long bones such as the femurs (proximal and distal epiphyses)

foramen

opening in a bone through which blood vessels, nerves, and ligaments pass

process

a normal projection on the surface of a bone that most commonly serves as an attachment for a muscle or tendon

fibrous joints

inflexible layers of dense connective tissue, hold the bones tightly together (some fibrous joints are movable in infants and young children)

fontanelles

normally present on the skull of a newborn, flexible soft spots for birth and skull growth in first year, eventually close and harden with age

cartilaginous joints

allow only slight movement and consist of bones connected entirely by cartilage (ex. ribs to sternum)

synovial joint

two bones articulate to permit a variety of motions

ball-and-socket joints

type of synovial joint that allows wide range of movement (ex. hips, shoulders)

hinge joints

type of synovial joint that allows movement on one plane (ex. knees, elbows)

synovial capsule

outermost layer of strong fibrous tissue that resembles a sleeve as it surrounds the joint

synovial membrane

membrane which lines synovial joints and secretes synovial fluid

synovial fluid

lubricant to make the smooth movement of the joint

ligaments

bands of fibrous tissue that form joints by connecting one bone to another bone or by joining a bone to cartilage

bursa

a fibrous sac that acts as a cushion to ease movement in areas with friction, such as joints where a tendon passes over a bone

axial skeleton

the 80 bones responsible for protecting the major organs of the nervous, respiratory, and circulatory systems

appendicular skeleton

the 126 bones that make body movement possible and also protects the organs of digestion, excretion, and reproduction

appendage

anything that is attached to a major part of the bodyex

extremity

the terminal end of a body part (ex. arm or leg)

cranium

part of the skull that protects the brain

mandible

jawbone

thoracic cavity

rib cage

sternum

breastbone, connects the ribs at the front of the chest

manubrium

bony upper portion of the sternum

xiphoid process

lower portion of the sternum, made of cartilage

pectoral girdle

bones of the shoulder which support the arms and hands

clavicle

collarbone

scapula

shoulderblade

acromion

extension of the scapula which forms the high point of the shoulder

humerus

upper arm bone

radius

smaller forearm bone, runs up the thumb side of the arm

ulna

larger forearm bone, runs up the pinky side of the arm, forms elbow joint

olecranon process

large projection on the upper end of the ulna, forms the point of the elbow (“funny bone”)

carpals

wrist bones

metacarpals

bones of the palm

phalanges

finger/toe bones

chiropractor

specialist in the manipulative treatment of disorders originating from misalignment of the spine

orthopedic surgeon

physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders involving the bones, joints, and muscles

osteopath

doctor who uses traditional forms of medical treatment in addition to specializing in treating health problems by spinal manipulation

podiatrist

specialist in disorders of the foot

rheumatologist

specialist in conditions of inflammation in joints and connective tissues (ex. tendinitis, fibromyalgia)

ankylosis

loss or absence of mobility in a joint due to disease, injury, or a surgical procedure

arthrosclerosis

stiffness in the joints

bursitis

inflammation of a bursa

chondroma

slow-growing benign tumor derived from cartilage cells

hallux valgus

bunion, abnormal enlargement of the joint at the base of the great toe

hemarthrosis

blood within a joint

polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)

a geriatric inflammatory disorder of the muscles and joints characterized by pain and stiffness

Rheumatica

Latin word for arthritis and other disorders causing pain in the joints and supporting tissue

sprain

torn or wrenched ligament

dislocation

total displacement of a bone from its joint

subluxation

partial displacement of a bone from its joint

gouty arthritis (gout)

a type of arthritis characterized by deposits of uric acid (acid produced by kidneys) in the joints

rheumatoid arthritis

chronic autoimmune disorder in which the joints and some organs of other body systems are attacked

herniated disk

breaking apart of an intervertebral disk that results in pressure on spinal nerve roots (also called slipped or ruptured disk)

lumbago

lower back pain

spondylolisthesis

forward slipping movement of the body of one of the lower lumbar vertebrae on the vertebra or sacrum below it

spina bifida

birth defect causing the spinal column to not fully envelope the spinal cord

kyphosis

abnormal increase in the outward curvature of the thoracic spine as viewed from the side (“humpback”)

lordosis

abnormal increase in the forward curvature of the lumbar spine

scoliosis

abnormal lateral curve to the spine

rickets

defective bone growth, results from a vitamin D deficiency in children (infantile osteomalacia)

talipes

congenital deformity of the foot involving the ankle bones (clubfoot)

osteoporosis

loss of bone density and an increase in bone porosity that is frequently associated with aging

osteopenia

thinner than-average bone density, used to describe the condition of someone who does not yet have osteoporosis, but is at risk for developing it

Colles’ fracture

fracture occurs at the lower end of the radius when a person tries to stop a fall by landing on his or her hands (fractured wrist)

closed fracture

bone broken, no opening to the surface (simple fracture/complete fracture)

open fracture

bone is broken and there is an open wound in the skin (compound fracture)

comminuted fracture

bone is splintered or crushed

greenstick fracture

bone is bent and partially broken, most common in children (incomplete fracture)

oblique fracture

fracture at an angle across the bone

pathologic fracture

weakened bone breaks under normal strain