Orthopedic Clinical & Landmark Terms

ankylosis

Abnormal stiffness or fixation of a joint usually resulting from the destruction of articular cartilage as occurs in rheumatoid arthritis.

arthralgia

Pain in a joint.

arthrocentesis

Puncture of a joint with a needle to withdraw synovial fluid for diagnostic purposes or to remove excess fluid due to trauma or infection.

arthrodesis

Surgical fusion of a joint.

arthroplasty

Surgical reconstruction and/or replacement of a joint to restore movement.

artroscopy

Surgical procedure in which the interior of a joint is visualized through the use of an endoscope inserted through a small incision.

Colles' fracture

Fracture of the epiphysis of the radius approximately 1 inch from the wrist joint causing the hand to be displaced in a dorsal and lateral position.

laminectomy

Surgical removal of the posterior arch of the vertebra called the lamina to reduce pressure on a nerve root.

osteochrondritis

Inflammation of a bone and cartilage.

osteogenesis

Formation of bone.

osteogenesis imperfecta

Genetic and congenital condition that involves the defective development of connective tissue resulting in deformed and abnormally brittle bones that are easily fractured.

osteoma

Tumor of the bone.

osteomalacia

Abnormal condition characterized by softening of the bone due to a loss of calcification of the bone matrix.

ostemyelitis

Inflammation and infection of bone and bone marrow usually caused by bacteria.

osteonecrosis

Destruction and death of bone tissue.

osteoporosis

Disorder characterized by the excessive loss of calcium from bone without replacement, causing a loss in bone density.

osteotomy

Cutting or sawing of the bone.

synovectomy

Surgical removal of the synovial membrane of a joint.

appendicular skeleton

The 126 bones composing the upper and lower extremities of the body.

axial skeleton

The 80 bones composing the cranium, vertebral column, sternum, and ribs.

condyle

Rounded projection/process at the epiphysis of a bone that articulates with another bone and serves as the point of attachment for ligaments.

crest

Narrow elongated ridge/elevation of bone, such as the iliac crest.

distal

Away from the origin of the extremity.

epicondyle

Projection on the surface of a bone located above the condyle.

foramen

Opening in the bone for the passage of structures such as blood vessels, nerves, and ligaments.

fossa

Hollow or depression on the surface end of a bone.

fovea

Another name for a depression on the bone but smaller than a fossa.

head

The enlarged, rounded, proximal portion of a bone, usually a long bone.

process

Natural growth that projects from a bone.

proximal

Near the origin of the limb.

trochanter

Large process on a bone.

tubercle

Small knoblike nodule or eminence on a bone.

tuberosity

Nodule or eminence on a bone that is larger than a tubercle.