Skeletal System Notes - Chapter 4 (McGraw-Hill Essentials)

LO 4.x Learning Outcomes

  • LO 4.1: Use roots, combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes to construct and analyze (deconstruct) medical terms related to the skeletal system.
  • LO 4.2: Spell and pronounce correctly medical terms related to the skeletal system to communicate them with accuracy and precision in any health care setting.
  • LO 4.3: Define accepted abbreviations related to the skeletal system.
  • LO 4.4: Relate the different types of bones and their structure to their functions.
  • LO 4.5: Describe the causes, appearances, methods of diagnosis, and treatment of bone and joint disorders and bone fractures, and their methods of healing.
  • LO 4.6: Identify the structures of the axial skeleton and their disorders and treatments.
  • LO 4.7: Describe the bones and joints of the shoulder girdle and upper limb and their disorders and treatments.
  • LO 4.8: Relate the structure of the pelvic girdle, hip joint, and thigh bone to their functions and disorders and treatments.
  • LO 4.9: Relate the structures of the knee joint, ankle, and foot to their functions and disorders and treatments.
  • LO 4.10: Specify the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and the pharmacology for treating disorders of bones.
  • LO 4.11: Apply knowledge of the medical terms of the skeletal system to documentation, medical records, and medical reports.
  • LO 4.12: Translate the medical terms of the skeletal system into everyday language in order to communicate clearly with patients and their families.

The Skeletal System: An Overview

  • The skeletal system basics:
    • Supports the body and provides a framework for movement.
    • Protects vital organs.
    • Facilitates blood formation (hematopoiesis) and mineral storage/balance.
    • Involves detoxification and endocrine regulation in a broad sense (as per course scope).
  • Key components: Bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments.
  • Major functions: Support, protection, blood formation, mineral storage/balance, detoxification, endocrine regulation.

Health Professionals Involved in Musculoskeletal Care

  • Orthopedic surgeons
  • Osteopathic physicians
  • Chiropractors
  • Physical therapists and assistants
  • Orthopedic technologists and technicians
  • Podiatrists

Skeletal System Components and Functions

  • Components:
    • Bones
    • Cartilage
    • Tendons
    • Ligaments
  • Functions:
    • Support
    • Protection
    • Blood formation (hematopoiesis)
    • Mineral storage and balance
    • Detoxification
    • Endocrine regulation

Word Analysis and Definition (General Terms)

  • Suffixes to identify and define (examples in this lesson):
    • Chiropractic
    • Chiropractor
    • Detoxification
    • Musculoskeletal
    • Orthopedist
    • Osteopathy
  • Latin-based roots to define: cartilage, ligament, muscle, tendon
  • Abbreviations to define:
    • MD, DC, DO, PT
  • Abbreviation meanings (examples from lesson):
    • MD: Doctor of Medicine
    • DC: Doctor of Chiropractic
    • DO: Doctor of Osteopathy
    • PT: Physical Therapist
  • Adjective forms (from root nouns):
    • Cortex → cortical
    • Medulla → medullary
    • Periosteum → periosteal
  • Key anatomical and directional terms:
    • Diaphysis: Greek meaning “growing between”
    • Epiphysis: epi- = upon, -physis = growth
  • Common bone root elements provided in the lesson: arthr, carp, oste/o, phalang/e
  • Abbreviations related to imaging/units:
    • C5, C5-C6, T12
    • MRI
    • TMJ

Bone Classification and Basic Osteology

  • Classification of bones:
    • Long
    • Short
    • Flat
    • Irregular
  • Common bone terms and roots:
    • Cortex (cortical), Medulla (medullary), Periosteum (periosteal)
  • Structural regions of a bone:
    • Diaphysis (shaft)
    • Epiphysis (ends)
    • Epiphyseal line (growth plate in juveniles)
  • Common diseases and terms linked by root family:
    • Osteogenesis, Osteomalacia, Osteomyelitis, Osteopenia, Osteoporosis
  • Suffixes related to bone conditions:
    • Achondroplasia (suffix -plasia)
    • Sarcoma (suffix -oma)

Axial Skeleton

  • Structure: vertebral column and skull + rib cage as main axial components (per course framing)
  • Vertebral column features:
    • Vertebrae, intervertebral discs, spinal cord
    • Regions: cervical (neck), thoracic, lumbar, sacral, coccygeal
    • Curvatures: cervical and lumbar anterior; thoracic and sacral posterior (described in slide text alternative)
  • Skull and face components:
    • Cranium bones: frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal, sphenoid, ethmoid
    • Facial bones: nasal, lacrimal, maxilla, zygomatic, mandible
  • Key terms and adjectives:
    • Sacrum (sacral)
    • Spine (spinal)
    • Vertebrae (vertebral)
    • Cranium (cranium) vs mandible, maxilla, zygoma terms
  • Additional skull terms from Latin/Greek roots:
    • Cranium, Mandible, Maxilla, Zygoma
    • Roots: Palatine, Parietal, Sphenoid, Temporal, Ethmoid
  • Common clinical terms (examples from the exam-style prompts):
    • Kyphosis, Scoliosis (related spinal curvatures)
  • Common abbreviations associated with the axial skeleton:
    • C5, C5-C6, T12, MRI, TMJ

Bones and Joints of the Shoulder Girdle and Upper Limb

  • Shoulder girdle and upper limb bones/joints overview (refer to slide visuals):
    • Clavicle, Scapula, Acromion process, Acromioclavicular joint, shoulder joint (glenohumeral)
    • Humerus (head articulates with the glenoid cavity of the scapula)
  • Common disorders of the shoulder:
    • Shoulder separation
    • Shoulder dislocation
    • Shoulder subluxation
  • Key root terms and their definitions:
    • Articulate (joint/connection)
    • Dislocation
    • Pectoral
    • Subluxation
  • Common disorders of the elbow: tennis elbow, bursitis, bone fractures
  • Forearm, wrist, and hand bones and joints: radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges (proximal, middle, distal)
  • Common disorders of the wrist/hand:
    • Ganglion cyst
    • Stenosing tenosynovitis
    • Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
    • Colles fracture
    • Osteoarthritis (OA)
    • Heberden nodes
    • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
  • Abbreviations related to wrist/hand conditions:
    • CTS, OA, RA, po (by context: post Operative), prn (as needed)
  • Root elements of interest:
    • arthr (joint), carp (carpus), oste/o (bone), phalang/e (bone of the phalanges)

Pelvic Girdle and Lower Limb

  • Pelvic girdle structure and functions:
    • Supports the axial skeleton
    • Transmits upper body weight to lower limbs
    • Attaches lower limbs; protects internal reproductive organs, urinary bladder, distal colon
  • Disorders of the pelvic girdle:
    • Sacroiliac joint strain
    • Diastasis symphysis pubis
  • Terms and adjectives:
    • Femur → femoral
    • Pelvis → pelvic
    • Pubis → pubic
    • Ischium → ischial
    • Sacrum → sacral
  • Hip joint disorders:
    • Hip pointer
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Rheumatoid arthritis
    • Avascular necrosis
    • Fractures
  • Knee joint and bones:
    • Femur, Tibia, Patella, Fibula
  • Anatomic order (head to toe) for relevant knee/leg elements:
    • Tibia, Femur, Pubis, Fibula, Patella
  • Menisci and patella terminology:
    • Meniscus → menisci (plural)
    • Patella → patellae (plural)
  • Surgical procedures of the knee:
    • Arthrocentesis
    • Arthroscopy
    • Total knee replacement
  • Knee/shoulder/ankle-related procedures and disorders terminology:
    • Arthrocentesis, Arthrodesis, Arthrography, Arthroplasty, Arthroscopy (root and suffix analysis)
  • Disorders of the ankle and foot:
    • Bunions
    • Strains and sprains
    • Pott fracture
  • Common names for bones in the foot:
    • Calcaneus (heel bone)
    • Talus
    • Tarsus
    • Metatarsus
    • Phalanges
  • Abbreviations to know:
    • CTS (carpal tunnel syndrome)
    • OA (osteoarthritis)
    • RA (rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Root and suffix analysis for generic knee/leg terms:
    • Arthrocentesis, Arthrodesis, Arthrography, Arthroplasty, Arthroscopy

Diagnostic Procedures and Pharmacology for Bone Disorders

  • Diagnostic procedures for metabolic bone disorders:
    • Bone mineral density (BMD)
    • Nuclear bone scan
    • Blood tests
    • Bone biopsy
  • Diagnostic procedures for bone cancer:
    • X-ray
    • CT scan
    • MRI
    • PET
  • Therapeutic procedures for bone disorders:
    • Surgery
    • Chemotherapy
    • Radiotherapy
    • Cryosurgery
    • Drug therapy
  • Word analysis: common pathology-related terms (examples):
    • Amputation
    • Biopsy
    • Chemotherapy
    • Radiotherapy
  • Pharmacology terms:
    • Bisphosphonate
    • Corticosteroid
  • Common abbreviations in pharmacology:
    • DMARD
    • NSAID
    • OTC
    • TNF

Final Reflections and Practical Implications

  • The skeleton is divided into axial and appendicular components:
    • Axial: vertebral column, skull, rib cage
    • Appendicular: bones and joints of the shoulder girdle, upper limb, pelvic girdle, and lower limb
  • Diagnostic and treatment procedures can be complex and expensive, and treatments may have unpleasant side effects.
  • Ability to document sites of symptoms and procedures relies on knowledge of surface anatomy and bone markings.
  • The material emphasizes translation of medical terms into everyday language for patient communication and family education.

Text Alternatives and Visual Aids (Accessibility)

  • Slides include text alternatives for images to aid accessibility and provide anatomical descriptions when visuals are unavailable.

Final Quick Reference (Key Terms and Abbreviations)

  • Abbreviations: MD, DC, DO, PT; CTS, OA, RA; DMARD, NSAID, OTC, TNF
  • Common imaging/measurement terms: BMD, DEXA, MRI
  • Bone/Joint roots and suffixes: arthr, carp, oste/o, phalang/e; -plasia, -oma, -oid, -al, -ic, -or, -ance
  • Adjectives from bone terms: cortical, medullary, periosteal, sacral, vertebral, spinal
  • Common bone types: long, short, flat, irregular
  • Hormonal/clinical implications and practical considerations: treatment choice, prognosis, and patient communication

End of Notes