Study Notes on Musculoskeletal System

Human Skeleton

  • Divided into two parts: axial skeleton and appendicular skeleton.

Axial Skeleton

  • Comprises: Skull, Hyoid, Ribs, Sternum, Vertebrae, Sacrum.

Appendicular Skeleton

  • Comprises: Shoulder girdle, Pelvic girdle, Extremities.

Musculoskeletal System

  • Consists of muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments.
  • Functions: Movement, form, strength, and protection.

Bones

  • Composed of rigid connective tissue; functions include:
    • Forming the skeleton
    • Providing support
    • Mechanism for motion
    • Protecting vital organs
    • Production of blood cells
    • Storing minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium).
  • Classifications:
    • Long: Longer than wide (e.g., femur).
    • Short: Cube-shaped (e.g., carpal bones).
    • Sesamoid: Formed within tendons (e.g., patella).
    • Cuboidal: Short bones.
    • Flat: Spongy bone between thin compact layers (e.g., skull).
    • Irregular: Bones that don’t fit into other categories (e.g., vertebrae).

Joints

  • Cartilage: Non-vascular connective tissue.
  • Joints classified as:
    • Fibrous
    • Cartilaginous
    • Synovial (most common):
    • Characteristics include articular cartilage, joint cavity, synovial membrane, joint capsule, and ligaments.

Common Bone Fractures

  • Closed Fracture: No skin break.
  • Compound Fracture: Breaks skin, risk of infection.
  • Comminuted Fracture: More than two fragments.
  • Transverse Fracture: Breaks across the bone's longitudinal axis.
  • Greenstick Fracture: One side of bone bent, common in children.
  • Spiral Fracture: Caused by twisting stress.
  • Colles' Fracture: Occurs in wrist.
  • Compression Fracture: Vertebrae collapse.
  • Epiphyseal Fracture: When matrix calcifies, seen in children.

Muscles

  • Contractility property, provides form and heat.
  • Types of muscles:
    • Skeletal Muscle: Voluntary, attached to skeleton.
    • Cardiac Muscle: Involuntary, heart muscle.
    • Smooth Muscle: Involuntary, found in organs.

Medical Terms Related to Musculoskeletal System

  • Ankylosis: Stiffness of joint.
  • Arthralgia: Joint pain.
  • Arthritis: Joint inflammation.
  • Arthrodesis: Surgical joint fixation.
  • Arthropathy: Joint disease.
  • Bursitis: Bursa inflammation.
  • Osteoporosis: Reduction of bone mass.
  • Scoliosis: Lateral curvature of spine.
  • Tendonitis: Tendon inflammation.