Language of Medicine: The Musculoskeletal System

Overview

• One of the longest chapters in medical terminology.
• Focus on bones, joints, and muscles.
• Goals:
  • Define terms related to bones, joints, and muscles.
  • Describe bone formation and growth.
  • Identify major bones of the body.
  • Analyze combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes.
  • Explain musculoskeletal diseases and bone fractures.
  • Describe lab tests and clinical procedures.
  • Recognize relevant abbreviations.

Introduction to the Musculoskeletal System

• Components: Bones, muscles, and joints.
  • Bones: Provide structural support and protection.
  • Muscles: Enable internal and external movement.
  • Joints: Allow flexibility and movement.
  • Tendons: Attach muscles to bones.
  • Ligaments: Bind bones to bones.
• Terminology:
  • Sprain (ligaments) vs. Strain (muscles).

Bone Formation and Growth

• Bone Cells:
  • Osteoblasts: Produce immature bone tissue.
  • Osteocytes: Nourish and maintain bone.
  • Osteoclasts: Reabsorb and digest bone.
• Bone Health:
  • Requires calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D.
  • Parathyroid glands maintain calcium levels.

Bone Structure

• Types of Bones: Long, short, flat, sesamoid.
• Bone Parts:
  • Diaphysis: Shaft of long bone.
  • Epiphysis: End of long bone.
  • Metaphysis: Between diaphysis and epiphysis.
  • Epiphyseal Plate: Growth plate.
• Bone Composition:
  • Compact Bone: Contains blood vessels and nerves.
  • Cancellous Bone: Spongy, contains red bone marrow.
  • Articular Cartilage: Cushions joints.

Bone Processes and Structures

• Processes and Depressions:
  • Frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid, parietal, and others.
  • Serve as attachments and connection points.

Vertebral Column

• Regions:
  • Cervical (7), Thoracic (12), Lumbar (5), Sacral, Coccygeal.
• Intervertebral Discs: Between vertebral segments.

Bones of the Thoracic and Pelvic Regions

• Thoracic: Clavicle, scapula, sternum, ribs.
• Pelvic: Ilium, ischium, pubis.

Bones of the Limbs

• Arm: Humerus, ulna, radius, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges.
• Leg: Femur, tibia, fibula, tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges.

Vocabulary

• Acetabulum: Hip joint socket.
• Acromion: Shoulder blade extension.
• Bone Processes: Attachments for muscles/tendons.
• Ligaments: Connect bones.
• Tendons: Connect muscles to bones.
• Various Bone Terms: Diaphysis, epiphyseal plate, fontanel, foramina, etc.

Quick Quiz

• Knuckle-like processes at the end of a bone near a joint are called "Condyles."
• The process of bone formation is "ossification."