Musculoskeletal System: Medical Terminology Study Guide

Musculoskeletal System Overview

Introduction

The musculoskeletal system is composed of bones, joints, and muscles, providing structural support, movement, protection of internal organs, blood cell production, and mineral storage. Understanding medical terminology related to this system is essential for accurate communication in healthcare.

Skeletal System

Major Functions and Structure

• Support: Framework for the body.

• Protection: Shields vital organs (e.g., skull protects brain).

• Movement: Muscles attach to bones for movement.

• Blood Cell Production: Red bone marrow produces blood cells.

• Mineral Storage: Stores calcium and phosphorus.

Classification of Bones

Bones are classified by shape:

• Long bones: e.g., humerus, femur

• Short bones: e.g., tarsals

• Flat bones: e.g., ribs, scapula

• Irregular bones: e.g., vertebrae

Structure of a Long Bone

Long bones have distinct anatomical features:

• Diaphysis: Shaft of the bone

• Epiphysis: Ends of the bone (proximal and distal)

• Medullary cavity: Contains marrow (red in youth, yellow in adults)

• Articular cartilage: Covers epiphysis, reduces friction

• Periosteum: Membrane covering bone, contains blood vessels and nerves

• Compact (cortical) bone: Dense outer layer

• Cancellous (spongy) bone: Inner layer with spaces for marrow

Bony Projections and Depressions

Bones have various projections and depressions for muscle attachment and articulation:

• Head: Ball-shaped end (e.g., femur)

• Condyle: Rounded end (e.g., femur)

• Epicondyle: Projection above condyle

• Trochanter: Large rough process (muscle attachment)

• Tubercle/Tuberosity: Small/large rough process (muscle/tendon attachment)

• Sinus: Hollow cavity

• Foramen: Opening for nerves/vessels

• Fossa: Shallow depression

• Fissure: Slit-like opening

Axial and Appendicular Skeleton

The skeleton is divided into two main parts:

• Axial skeleton: Skull, vertebral column, rib cage, sternum

• Appendicular skeleton: Pectoral girdle, upper limbs, pelvic girdle, lower limbs

Skull Anatomy

The skull consists of cranial and facial bones:

• Cranial bones: Frontal, parietal, temporal, ethmoid, sphenoid, occipital

• Facial bones: Mandible, maxilla, zygomatic, vomer, palatine, nasal, lacrimal

Vertebral Column

The vertebral column is divided into five regions:

• Cervical (7): Neck

• Thoracic (12): Chest

• Lumbar (5): Lower back

• Sacrum: Fused vertebrae

• Coccyx: Tailbone

Rib Cage

The rib cage consists of:

• True ribs (7 pairs): Attach directly to sternum

• False ribs (3 pairs): Indirect attachment

• Floating ribs (2 pairs): No attachment to sternum

Pectoral and Pelvic Girdles

The pectoral girdle connects the upper limbs; the pelvic girdle connects the lower limbs:

• Pectoral girdle: Clavicle, scapula

• Upper extremity: Humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges

• Pelvic girdle: Ilium, ischium, pubis

• Lower extremity: Femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges

Joints

Types of Joints

Joints (articulations) are classified by movement:

• Synovial joints: Freely movable, enclosed by joint capsule, lined with synovial membrane, contains synovial fluid, articular cartilage, ligaments, sometimes bursae and menisci

• Cartilaginous joints: Slightly movable, bones joined by cartilage (e.g., pubic symphysis)

• Fibrous joints: Immovable, bones joined by fibrous tissue (e.g., skull sutures)

Medical Terminology: Skeletal System

Combining Forms, Suffixes, and Prefixes

• Combining forms: oste/o (bone), chondr/o (cartilage), arthr/o (joint), myel/o (bone marrow/spinal cord), etc.

• Suffixes: -itis (inflammation), -algia (pain), -clasia (break), -desis (fuse), -ectomy (removal), -plasty (repair), -porosis (porous), -scope (instrument for viewing), -scopy (process of viewing)

• Prefixes: a- (without), bi- (two), inter- (between), intra- (within), sub- (below), etc.

Adjective Forms

• Carpal: Pertaining to the wrist

• Cervical: Pertaining to the neck

• Femoral: Pertaining to the femur

• Vertebral: Pertaining to the vertebra

• Patellar: Pertaining to the kneecap

Pathology: Skeletal System

Fractures

Types of bone fractures include:

• Closed (simple): No open wound

• Comminuted: Bone shattered

• Compound (open): Bone protrudes through skin

• Compression: Loss of height in vertebral body

• Greenstick: Incomplete break, common in children

• Oblique: Fracture at an angle

• Spiral: Fracture line spirals around bone

• Transverse: Fracture straight across bone

Bone Pathologies

• Osteoporosis: Decreased bone mass, porous bones

• Osteomalacia: Softening of bones due to calcium deficiency

• Osteomyelitis: Inflammation of bone and marrow

• Osteogenic sarcoma: Bone cancer

• Paget disease: Metabolic bone disease

Spinal Pathologies

• Kyphosis: Excessive posterior thoracic curvature (hunchback)

• Lordosis: Excessive anterior lumbar curvature (swayback)

• Scoliosis: Lateral curvature of spine

• Herniated nucleus pulposus: Ruptured intervertebral disk

Muscular System

Overview and Functions

The muscular system works with the skeletal system to produce movement. Muscles contract to move bones, maintain posture, and generate heat.

Types of Muscle Tissue

• Skeletal muscle: Voluntary, striated, attached to bones

• Smooth muscle: Involuntary, unstriated, found in internal organs

• Cardiac muscle: Involuntary, striated, found in heart

Muscle Actions and Terminology

• Origin: Less movable bone

• Insertion: More movable bone

• Action: Type of movement produced

• Antagonistic pairs: Muscles producing opposite actions

Movement Terminology

• Abduction: Movement away from midline

• Adduction: Movement toward midline

• Flexion: Bending

• Extension: Straightening

• Dorsiflexion: Bending foot upward

• Plantar flexion: Pointing toes downward

• Eversion/Inversion: Turning foot outward/inward

• Pronation/Supination: Turning palm downward/upward

• Circumduction: Circular movement

• Opposition: Thumb touching fingers

• Rotation: Revolving around axis

Medical Terminology: Muscular System

Combining Forms, Suffixes, and Prefixes

• Combining forms: my/o (muscle), ten/o (tendon), kinesi/o (movement), fasci/o (fascia)

• Suffixes: -algia (pain), -asthenia (weakness), -kinesia (movement), -trophy (development), -itis (inflammation), -pathy (disease)

• Prefixes: a- (without), brady- (slow), dys- (abnormal), hyper- (excessive), hypo- (insufficient), poly- (many)

Pathology: Muscular System

• Fibromyalgia: Widespread muscle pain

• Muscular dystrophy: Inherited progressive muscle atrophy

• Myopathy: General muscle disease

• Necrotizing fasciitis: Infection causing tissue death

• Carpal tunnel syndrome: Compression of median nerve in wrist

• Rotator cuff injury: Strain/tear of shoulder tendons

• Tendinitis: Inflammation of tendon

Diagnostic Procedures

Skeletal System

• Arthrography: X-ray of joint with contrast

• Bone scan: Nuclear medicine imaging

• Dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA): Measures bone density

• Myelography: Imaging of spinal cord

• Radiography: X-ray imaging

• Arthroscopy: Endoscopic examination of joint

Muscular System

• Creatine kinase (CK): Blood test for muscle enzyme

• Electromyography (EMG): Measures muscle contraction

• Muscle biopsy: Removal of muscle tissue for examination

Therapeutic Procedures

Skeletal System

• Arthrocentesis: Removal of fluid from joint

• Orthotic: Brace or splint

• Prosthesis: Artificial device for missing body part

• Amputation: Removal of limb

• Arthrodesis: Joint fusion

• Arthroscopic surgery: Surgery using arthroscope

• Bone graft: Transplant of bone tissue

• Craniotomy: Cutting into skull

• Laminectomy: Removal of vertebral arch

• Meniscectomy: Removal of meniscus

• Osteotomy: Cutting into bone

• Spinal fusion: Immobilization of vertebrae

• Total hip/knee arthroplasty: Prosthetic joint implantation

Muscular System

• Carpal tunnel release: Cutting ligament to relieve pressure

• Fasciotomy: Cutting into fascia

• Myoplasty: Surgical repair of muscle

• Myorrhaphy: Suturing muscle

• Tendoplasty: Surgical repair of tendon

• Tendotomy: Cutting into tendon

• Tenodesis: Fusing tendon

• Tenorrhaphy: Suturing tendon

Pharmacology

Skeletal System

• Bone reabsorption inhibitors: Treat osteoporosis (e.g., alendronate)

• Calcium/vitamin D supplements: Maintain bone density

• Corticosteroids: Anti-inflammatory (e.g., prednisone)

• NSAIDs: Pain relief and anti-inflammatory (e.g., ibuprofen)

Muscular System

• Skeletal muscle relaxants: Reduce muscle spasm (e.g., Flexeril)

Abbreviations

• CK: Creatine kinase

• CPK: Creatine phosphokinase

• CTS: Carpal tunnel syndrome

• DTR: Deep tendon reflexes

• EMG: Electromyogram

• IM: Intramuscular

• MD: Muscular dystrophy

• NF: Necrotizing fasciitis

Additional info: This guide expands on brief lecture notes with academic context, definitions, and examples to ensure completeness and clarity for exam preparation.