Nicole's Med Terms
Nicole's
Med Terms
← All Lessons
2
Lesson 2

The Musculoskeletal System

The musculoskeletal system provides structure, protection, and movement. The skeleton contains 206 bones; muscles attach via tendons to create the leverage needed for movement. Joints are where bones meet, and ligaments hold them together. Understanding this system is crucial for interpreting orthopedic conditions, fractures, arthritis, and surgical procedures.

60 min5 sections5 objectives

Learning Objectives

  • 1Identify combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes for the musculoskeletal system
  • 2Build and analyze medical terms for bones, muscles, and joints
  • 3Describe common musculoskeletal diseases and conditions
  • 4Recognize diagnostic procedures and surgical treatments
  • 5Identify the major bones and muscle groups of the body

1Bones

206 bones make up the adult human skeleton, divided into the axial skeleton (skull, vertebral column, ribs, sternum — 80 bones) and the appendicular skeleton (limbs and girdles — 126 bones).

Bone types by shape:

Long bones: Femur, humerus, tibia — movement and weight-bearing
Short bones: Carpals, tarsals — stability
Flat bones: Skull, sternum, scapula — protection, muscle attachment
Irregular bones: Vertebrae, facial bones
Sesamoid bones: Patella (kneecap)

Key bone combining forms: *oste/o*, *osse/o*, *ossi/o*

Key Terms
osteomaosteoporosisosteomyelitisosteomalacia

2Joints (Articulations)

Joints are classified by degree of movement:

Synarthrosis: Immovable (sutures of skull)
Amphiarthrosis: Slightly movable (vertebral joints)
Diarthrosis (synovial): Freely movable (hip, knee, shoulder)

Synovial joint types: ball and socket, hinge, pivot, saddle, condyloid, gliding

Key combining forms: *arthr/o* (joint), *burs/o* (bursa), *synov/o* (synovial membrane)

Key Terms
arthritisbursitisarthroscopyarthroplastyarthrodesis

3Muscles

Three types of muscle tissue:

Skeletal (striated): Voluntary movement; attached to bones
Smooth: Involuntary; walls of organs
Cardiac: Involuntary; heart only

Key combining forms: *my/o*, *myos/o* (muscle), *rhabd/o* (striated), *lei/o* (smooth)

Muscle attachments:

Origin: The fixed end of attachment (doesn't move)
Insertion: The movable end (moves when muscle contracts)
Tendons: Fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone
Ligaments: Connect bone to bone
Key Terms
myalgiamyopathymyositisfibromyalgia

4Common Diseases and Conditions

Fractures (bone breaks):

Greenstick: Incomplete, one side bent (pediatric)
Comminuted: Multiple fragments
Stress: Repeated trauma
Pathologic: Through diseased bone
Open (compound): Bone breaks through skin

Spinal Curvatures:

Scoliosis: Lateral S-curve
Kyphosis: Exaggerated posterior curve (hunchback)
Lordosis: Exaggerated anterior curve (swayback)

Arthritis Types:

Osteoarthritis (OA): Degenerative joint disease; "wear and tear"
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Autoimmune; inflammatory
Gout: Uric acid crystal deposits in joints

5Diagnostic Procedures

X-ray (radiograph): First-line imaging for fractures, bone density
MRI: Detailed images of soft tissues, cartilage, ligaments
CT scan: Cross-sectional bone imaging
Bone scan (nuclear): Detects tumors, infection, fractures
Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA): Measures bone mineral density
Arthroscopy: Camera inserted into joint for diagnosis and treatment
Electromyography (EMG): Records electrical activity of muscles

Clinical Connections

  • ►Osteoporosis affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over age 50
  • ►Total hip replacement (arthroplasty) is one of the most successful surgical procedures
  • ►Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment
← Previous
L1: Introduction to Medical Terminology
Next →
L3: The Cardiovascular System