MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM TERMS
I. Skeletal System
A. Composed of bones, cartilage, joints, ligaments and tendons.
1. All connective tissue.
B. Bone
1. Made from cartilage and fibrous tissue that hardens or undergoes ossification.
2. Physis = growth
3. Dia = between
4. epi = above or outside.
5. peri = around
6. osteo = bone
7. um = structure
8. endo = within
9. meta = beyond
10. cortical bone = hard layer on outside or cortex
11. cancellous bone = spongy bone found on ends of long bones
12. epiphysis = growth area at ends of long bones
13. diaphysis = shaft of long bones
14. periosteum = tough, fibrous tissue covering outside of bones.
15. endosteum = tough, fibrous tissue covering medullary cavity.
16. types of bones…….
a. long bones…..ex. femur, radius
b. short bones….ex. carpal bones
c. flat bones……ex. Pelvis
d. pneumatic bones…ex. Sinuses
e. irregular bones…ex. Vertebrae
f. sesamoid bones...ex. small bones imbedded in a tendon
1) patella
17. osteocytes = bone cells
a. osteoblasts = immature bone cells
b. osteoclasts = breakdown bone cells
18. bone marrow = located within medullary cavity
a. hematopoietic = produces RBC’s, WBC’s
C. Cartilage
1. more elastic than bone
2. articular cartilage = covers joint surfaces
3. meniscus = curved piece of cartilage in some joints that cushions joint.
4. chondro = cartilage
D. Joints or articulation
1. connections between bones
2. arthro = joint
3. joints are classified based on movement
a. synarthroses = no movement..ex. skull
1) “suture” line between bones in skull
2) Fontanelle = “soft” spot before suture line seals.
b. amphiarthroses = semi-moveable joints
1) ex…symphysis….mandibular, pelvic
c. diarthroses = moveable joints
1) synovial joints = contain fluid
a) ball & socket …..ex. hip
b) stifle or knee
c) hinge joints = elbow
2) gliding joints = vertebrae
3) saddle joint = in thumb of primates for flexibility
E. Ligaments
1. connective tissue that connects bone to bone
2. ligamento……is the combining form
F. Tendons
1. connective tissue that connects muscle to bone
2. teno or tendino is combing form
G. Bursa
1. fibrous sac that acts as a cushion in areas of friction
2. burso is the combining form
H. Axial skeleton
1. cranium = portion of skull that encloses brain
a. cranio is the combining form
b. occipital = caudal aspect or high point of skull
c. foramen = hole in a bone for passage
1) foramen magnum is large hole in back of skull
d. temporal = paired bones that form sides of cranium
e. sinuses = air or fluid filled spaces within bones
f. zygomatic = forms cheek bones
g. maxilla = upper jaw
h. mandible = lower jaw
i. palantine = hard palate
j. lacrimal = medial part of the orbit (eye socket)
k. hyoid = bones suspended to hold tongue
2. brachycephalic = canine with short, wide heads (Pugs, Bulldogs)
3. vertebral column
a. supports head & body and protects spinal cord
b. individual bones = vertebrae
c. combing forms = vertebro or spondylo
d. vertebral formulae…….
1) canine and feline….C7,T13,L7,S3
2) equine…..C7,T18,L6,(L5 in Arabs) S5,Cy15-21
3) bovine….C7,T13,L6,S5,Cy18-20
4) porcine…C7,T14-15,L6,S4,Cy20-23
5) ovine/caprine,,C7,T13,L6-7,S4,Cy16-18
6) chicken….C14,T7,LS14,Cy6
e. Ribs
1) paired bones that attach to thoracic vertebrae
2) sternum = breastbone where ribs attach ventrally
3) combining form is costo
f. Intervertebral discs
1) cartilage cushions between vertebrae
4. Bumps and grooves on bones
a. condyle = rounded projection that articulates
b. crest = high projection…ex. Tibial crest
c. protuberance = point or projecting part (occipital)
d. spine = sharp ridge or projection
I. Diagnostic procedures
1. arthrocentesis = to withdraw fluid from a joint
2. arthrography = inject a joint with a media to examine
3. arthroscopy = visual exam of a joint with a fiberoptic scope
4. radiology = study of structures after exposing to radiation
J. Pathology terms
1. ankylosis = loss of joint mobility due to trauma, disease or Sx.
2 .arthralgia = joint pain
3. arthritis = inflammation of joints
4. arthropathy = joint disease
5. bursitis = inflammation of a bursa
6. chondromalacia = abnormal cartilage softening
7. discospondylitis = inflammation of the interveterbral discs
8. exostosis = benign growth on bone surface
9. hip dysplasia = abnormal development of the pelvic joint
10. osteomyelitis = inflammation of the bone
11. osteoporosis = loss of bone density (calcium)
12. sequestrum = piece of detached dead bone
13. spondylitis = inflammation of the vertebrae
14. subluxation = partial dislocation of a joint
15. synovitis = inflammation of the synovial membrane of joints
16. valgus = turns out
17. varus = bends inward
K. Fracture terms
1. avulsion = separation of bone due to excess force from tendon
2. closed fracture = no open skin
3. comminuted fracture = broken into several pieces
4. compound fracture = open wound exposing fracture
5. greenstick fracture = only one cortex is broken
6. crepitation = cracking sensation that is felt when bone moves
7. compression fracture = broken bone produced when bones are pressed together.
8. oblique fracture = diagonal break in bone
9. epiphyseal fracture = broken at growth plate.
10. spiral fracture = broken in twisted pattern
11. transverse fracture = broken straight across
L. Bone procedural terms
1. amputation = remove all or part
2. arthrodesis = fusion of a joint
3. craniotomy = incision or opening the skull
4. laminectomy = surgical removal of dorsal arch of vertebrae
5. onychectomy = removal of claw (declaw)
6. ostectomy = removal of bone
7. osteopexy = surgical fixation of a bone to the body wall
8. trephine = cutting a hole into a bone