bone head
Rounded end of a bone separated from the body of the bone by a neck; usually covered by articular cartilage.
greater trochanter
Large process on the femur for attachment of tendons and muscle.
lesser trochanter
Smaller process on the femur for attachment of the tendons and muscle.
tubercle
Rounded process on many bones for attachment of tendons and muscles; a tuberosity is another small, rounded elevation on a bone.
condyle
Rounded, knuckle-like process at the joint; usually covered by articular cartilage.
fossa
Shallow cavity in or on a bone.
foramen
Opening for blood vessels and nerves.
fissure
Narrow, deep, slit-like opening.
sinus
Hollow cavity within a bone.
frontal bone
Forms the forehead and the roof of the bony sockets that contain the eyes.
parietal bone
The two bones that form the roof and upper part of the sides of the cranium (there is one on each side of the skull)
temporal bone
The two bones that form the lower sides and base of the cranium. Each bone encloses an ear and contains a fossa for joining with the mandible.
occipital bone
Forms the back and base of the skull and joins the parietal and temporal bones, forming a suture.
sphenoid bone
The bat-shaped bone that extends behind the eyes and forms part of the base of the skull. Because it joins with the frontal, occipital, and ethmoid bones, it serves as an anchor to hold those skull bones together.
ethmoid bone
The thin, delicate bone that supports the nasal cavity and forms part of the orbits of the eyes.
nasal bones
The two slender bones that support the bridge of the nose.
lacrimal bones
The two small, thin bones located at the corner of each eye.
maxillary bones
The two large bones that compose the massive upper jawbones. They are joined by a suture in the median plane.
mandibular bone
The lower jawbone.
zygomatic bones
The two bones, one on each side of the face, that form the high portion of the cheek.
vomer
The thin, single, flat bone that forms the lower portion of the nasal septum.
clavicle
collar bone; a slender bone, ventrally, one on each side, connecting the breastbone to each shoulder blade.
scapula
Shoulder blade; one of two flat, triangular bones on each dorsal side of the thorax.
sternum
Breastbone; a flat bone extending ventrally down the midline of the chest.
ribs
There are 12 pairs of ribs. The first 7 pairs join the sternum anteriorly through cartilaginous attachments called costal cartilages. Ribs 1 to 7 are called true ribs. Ribs 8 to 10 are called false ribs.
humerus
upper arm bone; the large head of the humerus is rounded and joins with the glenoid fossa of the scapula to form the shoulder or glenoid humeral joint.
ulna
medial lower arm (forearm) bone; the proximal bony process of the ulna at the elbow is called the olecranon (elbow bone)
radius
lateral lower arm (forearm) bone (in line with thumb).
carpals
wrist bones; there are two rows of four bones in the wrist.
metacarpals
the five bones of the palm of the hand.
phalanges
Finger bones. Each finger (except the thumb) has three phalanges: a proximal, a middle, and a distal phalanx. The thumb has only two phalanges: a proximal and a distal phalanx.
pelvic girdle
pelvis. This collection of bones supports the trunk of the body and articulates with the femur to form the hip joint. The adult pelvis is composed of three pairs of fused bones: the ilium, ischium, and pubis.
ilium
the uppermost and largest portion of the pelvis.
ischium
The posterior part of the pelvis. The ischium and the tendons and muscles attached to it are what you sit on.
pubis
The anterior part of the pelvis.
pelvic cavity
the region within the ring of bone formed by the pelvic girdle.
femur
Thigh bone; this is the longest bone in the body.
patella
Kneecap; this is a small, flat bone that lies in front of the articulation between the femur and one of the lower leg bones called the tibia.
tibia
larger of the two bones of the lower leg; the tibia runs under the skin in the front part of the leg.
fibula
Smaller of the two lower leg bones; this thin bone, well hidden under the leg muscles, runs parallel to the tibia.
tarsals
Bones of the hind part of the foot (hindfoot); these seven short bones resemble the carpal bones of the wrist but are larger.
metatarsals
Bones of the midfoot; there are five metatarsal bones, which are similar to the metacarpals of the hand.
phalanges of the toes
Bones of the forefoot; as in the digits of the hand, there are two phalanges in the big toe and three in each of the other toes.
acetabulum
hip socket
calcaneus
heel
carpals
wrist bones
clavicle
collar bone
coccyx
tailbone
cranium
skull
femur
thigh bone
fibula
smaller of the two lower leg bones
humerus
upper arm bone
ilium
upper part of the pelvic bone
ischium
posterior part of the pelvic bone
malleolus
ankle
mandible
lower jawbone
maxilla
upper jawbone
metacarpals
hand bones
metatarsals
midfoot bones
olecranon
elbow
patella
kneecap
phalanges
finger and toe bones
pubis
anterior part of the pelvic bone
radius
forearm bone-thumb side
scapula
shoulder blade
sternum
breastbone
tarsals
hindfoot bones
tibia
shin bone - larger of the two lower leg bones
ulna
forearm bone - little finger side
vertebra
backbone/spine
acetabulum
Rounded depression, or socket, in the pelvis that joins the femur, forming the hip joint
acromion
Outward extension of the shoulder blade forming the point of the shoulder. It overlies the shoulder joint and articulates with the clavicle.
articular cartilage
Thin layer of cartilage covering the bone in the joint space.
bone
Dense, hard connective tissue composing the skeleton.
calcium
One of the mineral constituents of bone.
cancellous bone
Spongy, porous, bone tissue in the inner part of a bone.
cartilage
Flexible, rubbery connective tissue.
collagen
Dense, connective tissue protein strands found in bone and other tissues.
compact bone
Hard, dense bone tissue, usually found around the outer portion of bones.
condyle
Knuckle-like process at the end of a bone near the joint.
cranial bones
Skull bones: ethmoid, frontal, occipital, parietal, sphenoid, and temporal.
diaphysis
Shaft, or mid-portion, of a long bone
disk (disc)
Flat, round, plate-like structure. An intervertebral disk is a fibrocartilaginous substance between two vertebrae.
epiphyseal plate
Cartilaginous area at the ends of long bones where lengthwise growth takes place in the immature skeleton.
epiphysis
Each end of a long bone; the area beyond the epiphyseal plate.
facial bones
Bones of the face: lacrimal, mandibular, maxillary, nasal, vomer, and zygomatic.
fissure
Narrow, slit-like opening in or between bones.
fontanelle
Soft spot (incomplete bone formation) between the skull bones of an infant.
foramen
Opening or passage in bones where blood vessels and nerves enter and leave.
fossa
Shallow cavity in a bone.
haversian canals
Minute spaces filled with blood vessels; found in compact bone.
malleolus
Round process on both sides of the ankle joint.
manubrium
Upper portion of the sternum; articulates with the medial aspect of the clavicle.
mastoid process
Round projection on the temporal bone behind the ear.
medullary cavity
Central, hollowed-out area in the shaft of a long bone.
metaphysis
Flared portion of a long bone, between the diaphysis (shaft) and the epiphyseal plate.
olecranon
Large process on the proximal end of the ulna; the point of the flexed elbow.
osseous tissue
Bone tissue
ossification
Process of bone formation
osteoblast
Bone cell that helps form bony tissue
osteoclast
Bone cell that absorbs and removes unwanted bony tissue.
periosteum
Membrane surrounding bones; rich in blood vessels and nerve tissue.
phosphorus
Mineral substance found in bones in combination with calcium
pubic symphysis
Area of confluence (coming together) of the two pubic bones in the pelvis.
red bone marrow
Found in cancellous bone; site of hematopoiesis.
ribs
Twelve pairs of curved bones that form the chest wall. True ribs are the first 7 pairs; false ribs are pairs 8 to 10; floating ribs are pairs 11 and 12.
sella turcica
Depression in the sphenoid bone where the pituitary gland is located.
sinus
Hollow air cavity within a bone.
styloid process
Pole-like process extending downward from the temporal bone on each side of the skull.
suture
Immovable joint between bones, such as the skull (cranium)
temporomandibular joint
Connection on either side of the head between the temporal bone of the skull and mandibular bone of the jaw
trabeculae
Supporting bundles of bony fibers in cancellous (spongy) bone.
trochanter
Large process at the neck of the femur; attachment site for tendons of the hip musculature.
tubercle
Rounded, small process on bone; attachment site for muscles and tendons.
tuberosity
Rounded process on bone; attachment site for muscles and tendons.
vertebra
Individual segment of the spine composed of the vertebral body, vertebral arch, spinous process, transverse process, and lamina, enclosing the neural canal.
xiphoid process
Lower, narrow portion of the sternum.
yellow bone marrow
Fatty tissue found in the medullary cavity of most adult long bones.
cal/o
calcium
calci/o
calcium
de-
less or lack of
-fication
the process of making
kyph/o
humpback, hunchback (posterior curvature in the thoracic region)
lamin/o
lamina (part of the vertebral arch)
lord/o
curve, swayback (anterior curvature in the lumbar region)
lumb/o
loins, lower back
myel/o
bone marrow
orth/o
straight
oste/o
bone
scoli/o
cooked, bent (lateral curvature)
spondyl/o (used to make words about conditions of the structure)
vertebra
vertebr/o (used to describe the structure itself)
vertebra
-blast
embryonic or immature cell
-clast
to break
-listhesis
slipping
-malacia
softening
-physis
to grow
-porosis
pore, passage
-tome
instrument to cut
acetabul/o
acetabulum (hip socket)
calcane/o
calcaneus (heel)
carp/o
carpals (wrists bones)
clavicul/o
clavicle (collar bone)
supra-
above
cost/o
ribs
crani/o
cranium (skull)
femor/o
femur (thigh bone)
fibul/o
fibula (smaller lower leg bone)
humer/o
humerus (upper arm bone)
ili/o
ilium (upper part of pelvic bone)
ischi/o
ischium (posterior part of the pelvic bone)
malleol/o
malleolus (process on each side of the ankle)
mandibul/o
mandible (lower jawbone)
maxill/o
maxilla (upper jawbone)
metacarp/o
metacarpals (hand bones)
metatars/o
metatarsals (foot bones)
olecran/o
olecranon (elbow)
patell/o
patella (kneecap)
pelv/i
pelvis (hipbone)
perone/o
fibula
phalang/o
phalanges (fingers and/or toe bones)
pub/o
pubis (anterior part of the pelvic bone)
radi/o
radius (forearm bone - thumb side)
scapul/o
scapula (shoulder blade)
stern/o
sternum (breastbone)
tars/o
tarsals (bones of the hindfoot)
tibi/o
tibia (shin bone)
uln/o
ulna (forearm bone - little finger side)
Ewing sarcoma
Rare malignant tumor arising in bone; most often occurring in children.
exostosis
Bony growth (benign) arising from the surface of bone
fracture
Traumatic breaking of a bone
Colles fracture
Occurs near the wrist joint at the distal end of the radius
comminuted fracture
Bone is splintered or crushed into several pieces.
compression fracture
Bone collapses or is compressed, as may happen to vertebrae in osteoporosis or with traumatic injury
greenstick fracture
Bone is partially broken; it breaks on one surface and only bends on the other, as when a small tree branch breaks; occurs in children.
impacted fracture
one fragment is driven firmly into the other.
osteogenic sarcoma
Common malignant tumor arising from osteoblasts.
osteomalacia
Softening of bone, with inadequate amounts of mineral (calcium) in the bone.
osteomyelitis
Inflammation of the bone and bone marrow secondary to infection.
osteoporosis
Decrease in bone density (mass); thinning and weakening of bone.
talipes
Congenital abnormality of the hindfoot (involving the talus)
articular cartilage
Smooth, glistening white tissue that covers the surface of a joint.
articulation
Any type of joint
bursa (plural: bursae)
Sac of fluid near a joint; promotes smooth sliding of one tissue against another.
ligament
Connective tissue binding bones to other bones; supports, strengthens and stabilizes the joint.
suture joint
Immovable joint, such as between the bones of the skull.
synovial cavity
Space between bones at synovial joint; contains synovial fluid produced by the synovial membrane.
synovial fluid
Viscous (sticky) fluid within the synovial cavity. Synovial fluid is similar in ciscosity to egg white; this accounts for the origin of the term (syn- = like, ov/o = egg).
synovial joint
A freely movable joint.
synovial membrane
Tissue lining the synovial cavity; it produces synovial fluid.
tendon
Connective tissue that binds muscles to bone.
ankyl/o
stiff
arthr/o
joint
articul/o
joint
burs/o
bursa
chondr/o
cartilage
ligament/o
ligament
rheumat/o
watery flow
synov/o
synovial membrane
ten/o
tendon
tendin/o
tendon
-desis
to bind, tie together
-stenosis
narrowing
arthritis
Inflammation of joints
ankylosing spondylitis
Chronic, progressive arthritis with stiffening of joints, primarily of the spine.
gouty arthritis (gout)
Inflammation and painful swelling of joints caused by excessive uric acid in the body.l
osteoarthritis (OA)
Progressive, degenerative joint disease with loss of articular cartilage and hypertrophy of bone (formation of osteophytes, or bone spurs) at articular surfaces.
rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Chronic joint condition with inflammation and pain; caused by an autoimmune reaction against joint tissue, particularly the synovial membrane.
bunion
Enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the base of the big toe (metatarsophalangeal joint)
carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
Compression of the median nerve as it passes between the ligament and the bones and tendons of the wrist.
dislocation
Displacement of a bone from its joint
ganglion
Fluid-filled cyst arising from joint capsules or tendons, typically in the hand.
herniation of an intervertebral disk (disc)
Abnormal protrusion of an intervertebral disk into the spinal canal or spinal nerves.
Lyme disease (Lyme arthritis)
Disorder marked by arthritis, myalgia, and malaise; cause is a bacterium carried by a tick.
sprain
Trauma to a joint without rupture
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease involving joints, skin, kidneys, nervous system (CNS), heart, and lungs.
abduction
Movement away from the midline of the body.
adduction
Movement toward the midline of the body
dorsiflexion
Backward (upward) bending of the foot.
extension
Straightening of a flexed limb.
fascia
Fibrous membrane separating and enveloping muscles.
flexion
Bending a limb; decreasing the angle between bones.
insertion of a muscle
Connection of the muscle to a bone that moves.
origin of a muscle
Connection of the muscle to a stationary bone.
plantar flexion
Bending the sole of the foot downward toward the ground
pronation
Turning the palm downward
rotation
Circular movement around a central point.
skeletal muscle
Muscle connected to bones; voluntary or striated muscle.
smooth muscle
Visceral muscle
striated muscle
Skeletal muscle
supination
Turning the palm upward
visceral muscle
Muscle connected to internal organs; involuntary or smooth muscle.
fasci/o
fascia (forms sheaths enveloping muscles)
fibr/o
fibrous connective tissue
leiomy/o
smooth (visceral) muscle that lines the walls of internal organs
my/o
muscle
myocardi/o
heart muscle
myos/o
muscle
plant/o
sole of the foot
rhabdomy/o
skeletal (striated) muscle connected to bones.
sarc/o
muscle and flesh
-asthenia
lack of strength
-trophy
development, nourishment
ab-
away from
ad-
toward
dorsi-
back
poly-
many
muscular dystrophy
Group of inherited disease characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of muscle fibers without involvement of the nervous system.
polymyositis
Chronic inflammatory myopathy
antinuclear antibody test (ANA)
Detects an antibody present in serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
Measures time it takes for erythrocytes to settle to the bottom of a test tube.
rheumatoid factor test (RF)
Serum is tested for the presence of an antibody found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
serum calcium (Ca)
Measurement of calcium level in serum.
serum creatine kinase (CK)
Measurement of the enzyme creatine kinase in serum
uric acid test
Measurement of uric acid in serum.
arthrocentesis
Surgical puncture to remove fluid from the joint space.
arthrography
Taking x-ray images after injection of contrast material into a joint.
arthroplasty
Surgical repair or replacement of a joint
arthroscopy
Visual examination of a joint with an arthroscope and television camera.
bone density test (bone densitometry)
Low-energy x-ray absorption in bones of the spinal column, pelvis, and wrist is used to measure bone mass.
bone scan
Uptake of a radioactive substance is measured in bone.
computed tomography (CT)
x-ray beam and computer provide cross-sectional and other images.
diskography
X-ray examination of cervicaal or lumbar intervertebral disk after injection of contrast into nucleus pulposus (interior of the disk).
electromyography (EMG)
Recording the strength of muscle contraction as a result of electrical stimulation.
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A magnetic field creates images of soft tissue.
muscle biopsy
Removal of muscle tissue for microscopic examination.