Musculoskeletal Terms For Medical Terminology

Front 1

ankyl

Back 1

crooked or stiff

Front 2

arthro
articulo

Back 2

joint

Front 3

brachio

Back 3

arm

Front 4

cervico

Back 4

neck

Front 5

chondro

Back 5

cartilage (gristle)

Front 6

cost/o

Back 6

rib

Front 7

crani/o

Back 7

skull

Front 8

dactyl/o

Back 8

digit (finger or toe)

Front 9

fasci/o

Back 9

fascia (a band)

Front 10

femor/o

Back 10

femur

Front 11

fibr/o

Back 11

fiber

Front 12

kyph/o

Back 12

humped-back

Front 13

lei/o

Back 13

smooth

Front 14

lord/o

Back 14

bent

Front 15

lumb/o

Back 15

loin (lower back)

Front 16

my/o
myos/o
muscul/o

Back 16

muscle

Front 17

myel/o

Back 17

bone marrow or spinal cord

Front 18

patell/o

Back 18

knee cap

Front 19

pelv/i

Back 19

pelvis (basin) or hip bone

Front 20

radi/o

Back 20

radius

Front 21

rhabd/o

Back 21

rod-shaped or striated (skeletal)

Front 22

sarc/o

Back 22

flesh

Front 23

scoli/o

Back 23

twisted

Front 24

spondyl/o
vertebr/o

Back 24

vertebra

Front 25

ten/o
tend/o
tendin/o

Back 25

tendon (to stretch)

Front 26

stern/o

Back 26

sternum (breastbone)

Front 27

thorac/o

Back 27

chest

Front 28

ton/o

Back 28

tone or tension

Front 29

uln/o

Back 29

ulna

Front 30

appendicular skeleton

Back 30

bones of the shoulder, pelvis, and upper and lower extremities

Front 31

axial skeleton

Back 31

bones of the skull, vertebral column, chest, and hyoid bone (U-shaped bone at the base of the tongue)

Front 32

bone

Back 32

specialized connective tissue composted of osteocytes (bone cells); forms the skeleton

Front 33

compact bone

Back 33

tightly solid bone tissues that forms the exterior of bones

Front 34

spongy bone
cancellous bone

Back 34

mesh-like bone tissue found in the interior of bones, and surrounding the medullary cavity

Front 35

long bones

Back 35

bones of the arms and legs

Front 36

short bones

Back 36

bones of the wrist and ankles

Front 37

flat bones

Back 37

bones of the ribs, shoulder blades, pelvis, and skull

Front 38

irregular bones

Back 38

bones of the vertebrae and face

Front 39

sesamoid bones

Back 39

round bones found near joints (e.g. the patella)

Front 40

epiphysis

Back 40

wide ends of a long bone
(physis = growth)

Front 41

diaphysis

Back 41

shaft of a long bone

Front 42

metaphysis

Back 42

growth zone of the epiphysis and the diaphysis during development of a long bone

Front 43

endosteum

Back 43

membrane lining the medullary cavity of a bone

Front 44

medullary cavity

Back 44

cavity within the shaft of the long bones; filled with bone marrow

Front 45

bone marrow

Back 45

soft connective tissue within the medullary cavity of bones

Front 46

red bone marrow

Back 46

functions to form red blood cells, some white blood cells, and platelets; found in the cavities of most bones in infants and in the flat bones in adults

Front 47

yellow bone marrow

Back 47

gradually replaces red bone marrow in adult bones; functions as storage for fat tissue and is inactive in the formation of blood cells

Front 48

periosteum

Back 48

a fibrous, vascular membrane that covers the bone

Front 49

articular cartilage

Back 49

a gristle-like substance on bones where they articulate

Front 50

articulation

Back 50

a joint; the point where two bones come together

Front 51

bursa

Back 51

a fibrous sac between certain tendons and bones that is lined with a synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid

Front 52

disk/disc

Back 52

a flat, plate-like structure composed of fibrocatilaginous tissue between the vertebrae that reduces friction

Front 53

nucleus pulposus

Back 53

the soft, fibrocartilaginous, central portion of intervertebral disk

Front 54

ligament

Back 54

a flexible band of fibrous tissue that connects bone to bone

Front 55

synovial membrane

Back 55

membrane lining the capsule of a joint

Front 56

synovial fluid

Back 56

joint-lubricating fluid secreted by the synovial membrane

Front 57

muscle

Back 57

tissue composed of fibers that can contract, causing movement of an organ or part of the body

Front 58

striated muscle
skeletal muscle

Back 58

voluntary muscle attached to the skeleton

Front 59

smooth muscle

Back 59

involuntary muscle found in internal organs

Front 60

cardiac muscle

Back 60

muscle of the heart

Front 61

origin of a muscle

Back 61

muscle end attached to the bone that does not move when the muscle contracts

Front 62

insertion of a muscle

Back 62

muscle end attached to the bone that moves when the muscle contracts

Front 63

tendon

Back 63

a band of fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone

Front 64

fascia

Back 64

a band or sheet of fibrous connective tissue that covers, supports, and separates muscle

Front 65

anatomical position

Back 65

a term of reference that health professionals use when noting body planes, positions, or directions: the person is assumed to be standing upright (erect), facing forward, feet pointed forward and slightly apart, with arms at the sides and palms facing forward; the patient is visualized in this pose when applying any other term of reference

Front 66

body planes

Back 66

reference planes for indicating the location or direction of body parts

Front 67

coronal plane
frontal plane

Back 67

vertical division of the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) portions

Front 68

sagittal plane

Back 68

vertical division of the body into right and left portions

Front 69

transverse plane

Back 69

horizontal division of the body into upper and lower portions

Front 70

anterior (A)
Ventral

Back 70

front of the body

Front 71

Posterior (P)
dorsal

Back 71

Back of the body

Front 72

Anterior-Posterior (AP)

Back 72

from front to back, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray beam

Front 73

Posterior-Anterior (PA)

Back 73

from back to front, as in reference to the direction of an x-ray beam

Front 74

superior
cephalic

Back 74

situated above another structure, toward the head

Front 75

inferior
caudal

Back 75

situated below another structure, away from the head

Front 76

proximal

Back 76

toward the beginning or origin of a structure, for example, the proximal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area closest to where it attaches to the hip

Front 77

distal

Back 77

away from the beginning or origin of a structure; for example, the distal aspect of the femur (thigh bone) is the area at the end of the bone near the knee

Front 78

medial

Back 78

toward the middle (midline)

Front 79

lateral

Back 79

toward the side

Front 80

axis

Back 80

the imaginary line that runs through the center of the body or a body part

Front 81

erect

Back 81

normal standing position

Front 82

decubitus

Back 82

lying down, especially in a bed
(decumbo = to lie down)

Front 83

prone

Back 83

lying face down and flat

Front 84

recumbent

Back 84

lying down

Front 85

supine

Back 85

horizontal recumbent; laying lat on the back ("on the spine")

Front 86

flexion

Back 86

bending at the joint so that the angle between the bones is decreased

Front 87

extension

Back 87

straightening at the joint so that the angle between the bones is increased

Front 88

abduction

Back 88

movement away from the body

Front 89

adduction

Back 89

movement toward the body

Front 90

rotation

Back 90

circular movement around an axis

Front 91

eversion

Back 91

turning outward, i.e., of a foot

Front 92

inversion

Back 92

turning inward, i.e., of a foot

Front 93

supination

Back 93

turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) downward or backward

Front 94

pronation

Back 94

turning of the palmar surface (palm of the hand) or plantar surface (sole of the foot) downward or backward

Front 95

dorsiflexion

Back 95

bending of the foot or the toes upward

Front 96

plantar flexion

Back 96

bending of the sole of the foot by curling the toes toward the ground

Front 97

range of motion (ROM)

Back 97

total motion possible in a joint, described by the terms related to body movements

Front 98

goniometer

Back 98

instrument used to use measure joint angles
(gonio = angle)

Front 99

arthalgia

Back 99

joint pain

Front 100

atrophy

Back 100

shrinking of muscle size

Front 101

crepitation
crepitus

Back 101

grating sound sometimes made by the movement of a joint or broken bones

Front 102

exostosis

Back 102

a projection arising from a bone that develops from cartilage

Front 103

flaccid

Back 103

flabby, relaxed, or having defective or absent muscle tone

Front 104

hypertrophy

Back 104

increase in the size of tissue, such as muscle

Front 105

hypotonia

Back 105

reduced muscle tone or tension

Front 106

myalgia
myodynia

Back 106

muscle pain

Front 107

ostealgia
osteodynia

Back 107

bone pain

Front 108

rigor
rigidity

Back 108

stiffness; stiff muscle

Front 109

spasm

Back 109

drawing in; involuntary contraction of muscle

Front 110

spastic

Back 110

uncontrolled contractions of skeletal muscles, causing stiff and awkward movements (resembles spasms)

Front 111

tetany

Back 111

tension; prolonged, continuous muscle contraction

Front 112

tremor

Back 112

shaking; rhythmic muscular movement

Front 113

ankylosis

Back 113

stiff joint condition

Front 114

arthritis

Back 114

inflammation of the joints characterized by pain, swelling, redness, warmth, and limitation of motion

Front 115

osteoarthritis (OA)
degenerative arthritis
degenerative joint arthritius (DJA)

Back 115

erosion of articular cartilage (most common)

Front 116

rheumatioid arthritis (RA)

Back 116

systemic inflammation, chronic, most often affecting joints and synovial membranes and causing ankylosis and deformity

Front 117

gouty arthritis

Back 117

acute attacks of arthritis, usually in a single joint caused by hyperuricemia

Front 118

bony necrosis

Back 118

bone tissue that has died from a loss of blood supply
(sequestrum = something laid aside)

Front 119

bunion

Back 119

swelling of the joint at the base of the great toe caused by inflammation of the bursa

Front 120

bursitis

Back 120

inflammation of a bursa

Front 121

chondromalacia

Back 121

softening of cartilage

Front 122

epiphysitis

Back 122

inflammation of the epiphyseal regions of the long bone

Front 123

fracture (Fx)

Back 123

broken or cracked bone

Front 124

closed fracture

Back 124

broken bone with no open wound

Front 125

open fracture

Back 125

compound fracture; broken bone with an open wound

Front 126

simple fracture

Back 126

nondisplaced fracture with one fracture line that does not require extensive treatment to repair

Front 127

complex fracture

Back 127

displaced fracture that requires manipulation or surgery to repair

Front 128

fracture line

Back 128

the line of the break in a broken bone (e.g., oblique, spiral, or transverse)

Front 129

comminuted fracture

Back 129

broken in many small pieces

Front 130

greenstick fracture

Back 130

bending and incomplete break of a bone; most often seen in children

Front 131

herniated disk

Back 131

protrusion of a degenerated or fragmented intervertebral disk so that the nucleus pulposus protrudes, causing compression on the nerve root

Front 132

myeloma

Back 132

bone marrow tumor

Front 133

myositis

Back 133

inflammation of the muscle

Front 134

myoma

Back 134

muscle tumor

Front 135

leiomyoma

Back 135

smooth muscle tumor

Front 136

leiomyosarcoma

Back 136

malignant smooth muscle tumor

Front 137

rhabdonmyoma

Back 137

skeletal muscle tumor

Front 138

rhabdomyosarcoma

Back 138

malignant skeletal muscle tumor

Front 139

muscular dystrophy

Back 139

a category of genetically transmitted diseases characterized by progressive atrophy of skeletal muscles (Duchenne type is most common)

Front 140

osteoma

Back 140

bone tumor

Front 141

osteosarcoma

Back 141

type of malignant bone tumor

Front 142

osteomalacia

Back 142

disease marked by softening of the bone caused by calcium and vitamin D deficiency

Front 143

rickets

Back 143

osteomalacia in children; causes bone deformity

Front 144

osteomyelitis

Back 144

infection of bone and bone marrow, causing inflammation

Front 145

osteoporosis

Back 145

condition of decreased bone density and increased porosity causing bones to become brittle and to fracture more easily

Front 146

spinal curvatures

Back 146

curvatures of the spine (backbone) or spinal column (vertebral column)

Front 147

kyphosis

Back 147

abnormal posterior curvature of the horacic spine (humped-back condition)

Front 148

lordosis

Back 148

abnormal anterior curvature of the lumbar spine (sway-back condition)

Front 149

scoliosis

Back 149

abnormal lateral curvature of the spine (S-Shaped curve)

Front 150

spondyliolisthesis

Back 150

forward slipping of a lumbar verebra
(listhesis = slipping)

Front 151

spondylosis

Back 151

stiff, immobile condition of vertebrae caused by joint degeneration

Front 152

sprain

Back 152

injury to a ligament caused by joint trauma but without joint dislocation or fracture

Front 153

subluxation

Back 153

partial dislocation
(luxation = dislocation)

Front 154

tendinitis
tendonitis

Back 154

inflammation of the tendon

Front 155

electromyogram (EMG)

Back 155

a neurodiagnostic, graphic record of the electrical activity of muscle both at rest and during contraction; used to diagnose neuromuscloskeeltal disorders (muscular dystrophy)

Front 156

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Back 156

nonionizing imaging technique using magnetic fields and radiofrequency waves to visualize anatomic structures

Front 157

nuclear medicine imaging
radionuclide organ imaging

Back 157

an ionizing imaging technique using radioactive isotopes

Front 158

bone scan

Back 158

a nuclear scan (radionuclide image) of bone tissue to detect a tumor, malignancy, etc.

Front 159

radiography

Back 159

an imaging modality using x-rays (ionizing radiation); commonly used in orthopedics to visualize the extremeties, ribs, back, shoulders, and joints

Front 160

arthrogram

Back 160

a radiograph of a joint taken after the injection of a contrast medium

Front 161

computed tomography (CT)
computed axial tomography (CAT)

Back 161

specialized x-ray procedure producing a series of cross-sectional images that are processed by a computer into a 2d or 3d image

Front 162

sonography

Back 162

ultrasound imaging useful to visualize muscles, ligaments, displacements, and dislocations or to guide therapeutic intervention

Front 163

amputation

Back 163

partial or complete removal of a limb (AKA = above-knee amputation
BKA = below-knee amputation)

Front 164

arthrocentesis

Back 164

puncture for aspiration of a joint

Front 165

arthrodesis

Back 165

binding or fusing of joint surfaces

Front 166

arthroplasty

Back 166

repair or reconstruction of a joint

Front 167

arthrosopy

Back 167

procedure using an arthroscope to examine, diagnose, and repair a joint from within

Front 168

bone grafting

Back 168

transplantation of a piece of bone from one site to another to repair a skeletal defect

Front 169

bursectomy

Back 169

excision of a bursa

Front 170

myoplasty

Back 170

repair of muscle

Front 171

open reduction, internal fixation (ORIF) of a fracture

Back 171

internal surgical repair of a fracture by bringing bones back into alignment and fixing them in a place with devices such as plates, screws, and pins

Front 172

osteoplasty

Back 172

repair of bone

Front 173

osteotomy

Back 173

incision into bone

Front 174

spondylosyndesis

Back 174

spinal fusion

Front 175

tenotomy

Back 175

division of a tendon by incision to repair a deformity caused by shining of a muscle

Front 176

closed reduction, external fixation of a fracture

Back 176

external manipulation of a fracture to regain alignment along with application of an external device to protect and hold the bone in place while healing

Front 177

casting

Back 177

use of a stiff, solid dressing around a limb or other body part to immobilize it during healing

Front 178

splinting

Back 178

use of a rigid device to immobilize or restrain from a broken bone or injured body part; provides less support than a cast, but can be adjusted more easily to accommodate swelling from an injury

Front 179

traction (tx)

Back 179

application of a pulling force to a fractured bone or dislocated joint to maintain proper position during healing

Front 180

closed reduction, percutaneous fixation of a fracture

Back 180

external manipulation of a fracture to regain alignment, followed by insertion of one or more pains, through the skin oto maintain position; often includes use of an external device called a fixator to keep the fracture immobilized during healing

Front 181

orthosis

Back 181

use of an orthopedic appliance to maintain a bone's position or to provide limb support

Front 182

physical therapy (PT)

Back 182

treatment to rehabilitate patients disabled by illness or injury; involves many different modalities (methods) such as exercise, hydrotherapy, diathermy, and ultrasound

Front 183

prosthesis

Back 183

an artificial replacement for a missing body part or a device used to improve body function

Front 184

analgesic

Back 184

drug that relieves pain

Front 185

narcotic

Back 185

potent analgesic with addictive properties

Front 186

antiinflammatory

Back 186

drug that reduces inflammation

Front 187

antipyretic

Back 187

drug that relieves fever

Front 188

nonsterioidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID

Back 188

group of drugs with analgesic, antiinflammaotry, and antipyretic properties