Musculoskeletal System Overview

Musculoskeletal System

• The musculoskeletal system involves muscles and the skeleton.
• It includes muscles, bones, joints, and related structures.
• Orthopedics is a branch of medicine focused on preventing and correcting musculoskeletal deformities or illnesses.

Major Bones of the Body

• Cranium - Skull
• Costa - Rib
• Sternum - Breastbone
• Spine - Backbone
• Vertebrae - Spinal bones
• Cervical - Spinal bones
• Thoracic - Spinal bones
• Lumbar - Spinal bones
• Sacrum - Spinal bones
• Coccyx - Spinal bones
• Clavicle - Collarbone
• Scapula - Shoulder blade
• Humerus - Upper arm bone
• Radius - Forearm bone
• Ulna - Forearm bone
• Carpals - Wrist bone
• Metacarpals - Bones of the hand
• Phalanges - Bones of the fingers
• Ilium - Pelvic bone
• Ischium - Pelvic bone
• Pubis - Pelvic bone
• Femur - Thigh bone
• Patella - Knee cap
• Fibula - Lower leg bone
• Tibia - Lower leg bone
• Tarsals - Ankle bones
• Calcaneus - Heel bone
• Metatarsals - Bones of the feet
• Phalanges - Bones of the toes

Additional Word Parts and Their Meanings

• chondr/o - cartilage
• -de - down, from, or reversing a change
• -meta - change or next in series
• sarcoma - malignant tumor of connective tissue
• burs/o - bursa
• ten/o,tend/o, tendin/o - tendon
• calc/i - calcium
• cellul/o - little cell or compartment

Tissues and Structures

• Cartilage is a specialized connective tissue.
• Chondral refers to cartilage.
• Muscles are made up of cells or fibers. Types include: Cardiac(heart), Smooth(internal organs), and Skeletal (voluntary).
• Fascia is a fibrous membrane that covers, supports, and separates muscles.
• Tendons are strong fibrous tissues that connect muscles to bones.
• Articulation (joint) is the point where two or more bones meet.
• Synovial joints have cavities between articulating bones.
• Synovium is a membrane that covers cartilage in synovial joints.
• Bursae are fluid-filled sacs in areas of joint friction.
• Extension straightens a limb.
• Flexion bends a limb.
• Rotation is movement around an axis.
• Circumduction is a circular movement of a limb.
• Ligaments are strong fibrous connective tissues that connect bones or cartilage and support joints.

Musculoskeletal Conditions

• Fibromyalgia is non-articular pain in the torso, extremities, and face.
• Myofibrosis is replacing tissue with fibrous tissue.
• Dislocation is the displacement of a bone from its joint.
• Fracture (fx) is the breaking of a bone.
• Sprain is an injury to a joint.
• Myocele/fascial hernia is when a muscle protrudes through its facial covering.
• Tendonitis is inflammation of tendons.

Additional Conditions

• Herniated disk are ruptured disks between the vertebrae.
• Paraplegia is paralysis of the lower body.
• Quadriplegia/tetraplegia is paralysis of both arms and legs.
• Paresis is motor weakness or partial paralysis.
• Paraparesis is partial paralysis of lower limbs.
• Quadri/tetraparesis is partial paralysis of all limbs.
• Cellulitis is acute inflammation of deep subcutaneous tissue; myocellulitis is when muscle is also involved.
• Osteitis is inflammation in a bone.
• Osteochondritis is inflammation in bone and cartilage.
• Sarcomas are cancers originating from connective tissue; chondrosarcoma is a cancer originating from cartilage, and fibrosarcoma is a cancer originating from fibrous tissue.
• Leukemias are unrestrained growth of leukocytes (and their precursors).
• Multiple myeloma is presence of multiple tumor masses within the bone and bone marrow.
• Osteitis deformans, or Paget disease, is a disorder of bone remodeling.
• Osteomalacia is abnormal softening of bones.
• Spondylomalacia is softening of vertebrae.
• Osteoporosis is thinning of bones.

Additional Conditions and Terms

• Scoliosis - curvature of spine
• Kyphosis - hunchback
• Spina Bifida - congenital deformity of spine bones
• Dys- - bad
• -trophy - nutrition
• Muscular dystrophy - muscular weakness

Cardiovascular System

• Organs: Heart, arteries, capillaries, veins
• Functions: Distributes blood to all parts of the body, delivers needed substances to cells, removes wastes.
• Heart Layers: Endocardium (lines heart chambers), Myocardium(thick muscle, responsible for contractions and pressure to pump blood), Epicardium(outer layer of pericardial sac, reduces friction as heart beats)

Cardiovascular Combining Forms

• angi/o vessel
• aort/o aorta
• arteri/o artery
• ather/o fatty substance
• atri/o atrium
• cardi/o heart
• coron/o heart
• hemangi/o blood vessel
• phleb/o vein
• sphygm/o pulse
• steth/o chest (for listening to sounds)
• thromb/o clot
• vascul/o blood vessel
• valv/o valve
• valvul/o valve
• ven/o vein
• ventricul/o ventricle

Conduction System of the Heart

• Sinoatrial (SA) node (pacemaker)
• Internodal pathway
• Atrioventricular (AV) node
• Atrioventricular bundle (bundle of His)
• Bundle branches
• Purkinje fibers

Electrocardiogram (ECG) Waves

• P wave precedes atrial systole
• QRS complex precedes ventricular systole
• T wave precedes ventricular diastole

Medical Wordbuilding: angi/o-

• angiogram - record of a vessel
• angiitis - inflammation of a vessel
• angioplasty - surgical repair of a vessel
• angiospasm - involuntary muscle contraction in a vessel
• angiostenosis - narrowing of a vessel

Medical Wordbuilding: ather/o and atri/o-

• atherectomy - surgical removal of fatty substance
• atheroma - fatty substance, tumor growth
• atrial - pertaining to the atrium
• interatrial - pertaining to between the atria

Medical Wordbuilding: cardi/o-

• cardiac - pertaining to the heart
• bradycardia - state of slow heart
• electrocardiogram - record of heart's electricity
• cardiomegaly - enlarged heart
• myocardial - pertaining to heart muscle
• cardiologist - heart specialist
• cardiorrhexis - ruptured heart
• tachycardia - state of fast heart

Medical Wordbuilding: coron/o, phleb/o, vascul/o-

• coronary - pertaining to the heart
• phlebitis - inflammation of a vein
• vascular - pertaining to a blood vessel

Medical Wordbuilding: ven/o and ventricul/o-

• venous - pertaining to veins
• venule - small vein
• venogram - record of a vein
• ventricular - pertaining to ventricles
• interventricular - pertaining to between ventricles

Cardiovascular Vocabulary

• Cardiology - branch of medicine focused on diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases.
• Ischemia - insufficient/lack of blood supply to tissue.
• Murmur - abnormal heart sounds.
• Palpitations - pounding or racing heartbeats
• Orthostatic hypotension - sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up.
• Sphygmomanometer - instrument to measure blood pressure.

Heart Pathology

• Angina pectoris - severe pain and sensation of constriction around the heart
• Arrhythmia - irregularity in heartbeat.
• Cardiac arrest - complete stopping of heart activity.
• Cardiomyopathy - heart muscle disease; may be caused by infection or conditions like drugs and alchol.
• Congestive heart failure (CHF) - left ventricle is too weak to efficiently pump blood.
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) - poor blood supply to heart due to blockage of coronary arteries.
• Endocarditis - inflammation of the interior lining membrane of the heart.
• Myocardial infarction (MI) - heart attack; insufficient blood supply to heart.
• Myocarditis - inflammation of heart muscle layer
• Pericarditis is inflammation of the pericardium.
• Hypertension - increase in blood pressure
• Hypotension - decrease in blood pressure
• Thrombophlebitis - inflammation of a vein due to blood clots
• Thrombus - blood clot within a blood vessel
• Arteriosclerosis - hardening and loss of elasticity of arterial walls

Gastrointestinal System

• Organs: Oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon
• Function: Mechanical and chemical digestion of food; absorption of nutrient molecules; elimination of solid waste products

Digestive System Combining Forms

• an/o anus
• append/o appendix
• bucc/o cheek
• cec/o cecum
• chol/e bile, gall
• col/o colon
• dent/o tooth
• duoden/o duodenum
• enter/o small intestine
• esophag/o esophagus
• gastr/o stomach
• gingiv/o gums
• gloss/o tongue
• hepat/o liver
• ile/o ileum

Digestive System Suffixes

• -emesis vomit
• -lithiasis stone
• -orexia appetite
• -pepsia digestion
• -phagia eat, swallow
• -prandial pertaining to a meal

Medical Wordbuilding: an/o and bucc/o-

• anal - pertaining to anus
• buccal - pertaining to cheek
• labiobuccal - pertaining to lips and cheeks

Medical Wordbuilding: append/o and appendic/o-

• appendectomy - surgical removal of appendix
• appendicitis - inflammation of the appendix

Medical Word Building: col/o and colon/o-

• colectomy - removal of colon
• colostomy - new opening into colon
• colorectal - pertaining to colon and rectum
• colonoscope - instrument to view colon
• colonic - pertaining to colon

Medical Word Building: duoden/o, enter/o, esophag/o-

• duodenal - pertaining to duodenum
• enteric - pertaining to small intestine
• enteritis - inflammation of the small intestine
• esophageal - pertaining to esophagus
• esophagectasis - dilation of esophagus

Medical Wordbuilding: gastr/o-

• gastralgia - stomach pain
• gastric - pertaining to stomach
• gastroenteritis - inflammation of stomach and intestines
• gastroenterologist - stomach specialist
• nasogastric - pertaining to nose and stomach
• gastroscope - instrument for viewing the stomach
• gastritis - inflammation of the stomach
• gastrectomy - surgical removal of stomach

Medical Wordbuilding: hepat/o and ile/o-

• hepatitis - liver inflammation
• hepatoma - liver tumor
• hepatic - pertaining to liver
• ile/o - pertaining to ileum

Medical Wordbuilding: jejun/o, lapar/o, and lingu/o-

• jejunal - pertaining to jejunum
• laparotomy - incision into abdomen
• laparoscope - instrument to view inside abdomen
• sublingual - pertaining to under the tongue

Medical Word Building: pancreat/o and pharyng/o-

• pancreatitis - Inflammation of the pancreas
• pancreatic - pertaining to the pancreas
• pharyngeal - pertaining to the pharynx
• pharyngoplegia - paralysis of the pharynx
• pharyngoplasty - surgical repair of the pharynx

Medical Wordbuilding: -emisis, -orexia, -prandial-

• hematemesis - vomit blood
• hyperemesis - excessive vomiting
• anorexia - lack of appetite
• dysorexia - abnormal appetite
• postprandial - pertaining to a meal after eating.

Medical Word Building: -pepsia & -phagia-

• bradypepsia - slow digestion
• dyspepsia - indigestion or difficulty with digestion
• aphagia - inability or refusal to swallow
• dysphagia - difficulty with swallowing
• polyphagia - eating too much or excessive eating

Eating Disorders

• Anorexia - morbid refusal to eat; desire for dangerously thin appearance
• Bulimia - eating excessively, then using purging behaviors like vomiting, to achieve weight loss.
• Obesity - excessive body weight, caused by overeating.

Stomach Disorders

• Achlorhydria - lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach
• Dyspepsia - difficulty with digesting food (indigestion)
• Gastritis - stomach inflammation
• Gastroenteritis - inflammation of the stomach and small intestines
• Flatulence - accumulation of gas in the stomach or intestines
• Hematemesis - vomiting blood from the stomach
• Hiatal hernia - protrusion of the stomach through an opening in the diaphragm

Liver Disorders

• Hepatomegaly - enlarged liver
• Hepatitis - inflammation of the liver

Intestine Disorders

• Duodenal ulcers - a type of peptic ulcer that may be caused by bacteria
• Ileus - blockage of the intestines
• Colitis - inflammation of the colon
• Ulcerative colitis - ulcers and inflammation of the large intestine.
• Appendicitis - inflammation of the appendix

Urinary System

• Organs: Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra
• Functions: Maintains stable internal environment by removing waste products; adjusting water and electrolyte levels; maintain correct pH levels of blood.

Urinary System Combining Forms

• cyst/o bladder
• glomerul/o glomerulus
• glycos/o sugar, glucose
• keton/o ketones
• lith/o stone
• nephr/o kidney
• pyel/o renal pelvis
• ren/o kidney
• ur/o urine
• ureter/o ureter
• urethr/o urethra
• vesic/o bladder

Urinary System Suffixes

• lith stone
• lithiasis condition of stones
• ptosis drooping
• tripsy surgical crushing
• -uria in the urine
• -emia in the blood

Medical Wordbuilding: nephr/o-

• nephrectomy - removal of kidney
• nephrogram - record of the kidneys
• nephritis - inflammation of the kidney
• nephrolith - kidney stone
• nephrologist - kidney specialist
• nephromalacia - kidney softening
• nephromegaly - kidney enlargement
• nephroma - kidney tumor
• nephrosis - abnormal condition of the kidney
• nephroptosis - drooping kidney
• nephropathy - kidney disease.

Medical Word Building: ren/o and ur/o-

• renal pertaining to the kidney
• urologist - specialist in treating urinary disorders
• uremia - urea in the blood

Medical Word Building: urethr/o-

• urethral - pertaining to urethra
• urethralgia - pain in the urethra
• urethritis - inflammation of urethra
• urethrorrhagia - rapid bleeding from urethra
• urethroscope - instrument used to view urethra
• urethrostenosis - narrowing of urethra

Medical Word Building: -uria-

• anuria - absence of urine
• bacteriuria - bacteria in urine
• dysuria - painful urination
• glycosuria - sugar in urine
• hematuria - blood in urine
• ketonuria - ketones in urine

Urinary System Vocabulary

• Anuria - complete lack of urine
• Urology - diagnosis and treatment of urinary diseases.
• Urinary retention - inability to empty bladder
• Catheter - flexible tube inserted into body, often via urethra, to drain urine.
• Diuresis - increased production and secretion of urine
• Enuresis - involuntary urination, especially at night.

This quiz explores the musculoskeletal system, including the major bones of the body and their functions. Understand the relationship between muscles and the skeleton, as well as the focus of orthopedics in managing deformities. Test your knowledge on the key components of this essential system.