Basics of Musculoskeletal Flashcards
What are the axial and appendicular components?
Axial - central structures (skull, spine and thorax)
Appendicular - upper and lower limbs
What makes up the skeleton?
Cartilage - more flexible, more present in a new-born infant
Bone - rigid and stronger, more present in an adult
Both have a fibrous layer covering them for attachment of tendons and ligaments.
Give examples of how specifics of anatomy are important for function?
Skull protects the brain - rigid box with minimal movement
Thorax facilitates breathing - semi rigid box which uses attachments to muscular diaphragm to alter pressures and drive air into lungs.
Spine supports the weight of the body - transfers weight of upper body to legs.
Upper limb requires manual dexterity - small contact points with fewer direct ligament attachments (MOBILITY).
Lower limb facilitates weight bearing and locomotion - large contact points with strong ligament attachments (STABILITY).
What is the standard anatomical position?
Standing up straight with feet flat on the floor under hip joints.
Straight back and eyes facing forward, focused on the horizon.
Arms by the side with forearms and hands facing forwards.
What are the different anatomical planes?
Sagittal plane - vertical planes passing through creating left and right sides.
Coronal plane - pass body at right angles to sagittal, creating front and back parts.
Axial plane - horizontal planes creating top and bottom parts.
What anatomical terms do you use to describe relative parts of the body?
Superior - above Inferior - below Superficial - closer to the surface Deep - further from the surface Anterior - closer to the front Posterior - closer to the back Proximal - closer to the starting point Distal - further from the starting point Medial - closer to the sagittal plane Laterial - further from the sagittal plane Ipsilateral - same side of the body Contralateral - opposite side of the body Supine - person is flat on their back Prone - person lying face down
What is a joint?
A connection between two or more bones, irrespective of whether movement can occur between the two bones.
Joints can be synovial, fibrous or cartilaginous.
What are synovial joints?
Bones in a synovial joint are covered by articular cartilage and are united by a joint capsule enclosing a joint cavity.
Joint capsule is made up of an outer fibrous layer and an inner serous synovial membrane.
Joint cavity is a potential space containing lubricating synovial fluid.
Allows for free movement between bones.
What are fibrous joints?
Bones united by fibrous tissue. Amount of movement depends on length of fibres.
e.g. cranial sutures and interosseous membrane between radius and ulna.
No joint cavity.
What are cartilaginous joints?
Bones united by cartilage.
Primary: United solely by hyaline cartilage, providing some flexibility.
Secondary: United by fibrocartilage with layers of hyaline cartilage either side, providing strength.
What are the different types of synovial joints?
Subdivided based on the shape of the articular surfaces.
- Plane joints: articular surfaces are flat, tight joint capsules, sliding movements. e.g. acromoclavicular joint
- Hinge joints: permits flexion and extension only. e.g. elbow
- Saddle joints: articular surfaces are convex and concave, two axes of movement, permits flexion, extension, abduction, adduction and circumduction. e.g. carpometacarpal joint of thumb
- Condyloid joints: two axes of movement, one is restricted, permits flexion, extension, abduction, adduction and circumduction. e.g. metacarpophalangeal joints of the fingers.
- Ball and socket joints: spherical and concave articular surfaces, multiple axes of movement. Permits flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, circumduction and rotation. e.g. hip joint
- Pivot joints: rotation around a central axis
e. g. atlanto-axial joint of cervical spine
What are the main aspects of the knee joint?
Synovial joint.
Articulations between lateral and medial condyles of the femur and the lateral and medial condyles of the tibia and patella.
The medial and lateral menisci are made of fibrocartilage to help with shock absorption and hyaline cartilage to allow smooth movement.
The medial and lateral collateral ligaments are bands of fibrous connective tissue which stabilise the joint to prevent excessive opening.
The anterior cruciate ligament attaches to the back of the lateral condyle and the front of the tibial plateau. Prevents excessive forward movements of tibia.
The posterior cruciate ligament comes from back of tibial plateau and attaches to front of medial condyle of femur. Prevents excessive forward movement of femur.
How can injury occur at the knee ligaments?
- Lateral force applied to knee will open out medial angle of the knee causing a tear or strain on the medial collateral ligament.
- Medial force applied to the knee will open out lateral angle of the knee causing tear or strain on the lateral collateral ligament.
- Excessive twisting or anterior movement of tibia when fully weight-bearing causes injury to the anterior cruciate ligament.
- Excessive forward movement of the femur on the tibia (when flexed) causes injury to the posterior cruciate ligament.
What are the different types of muscle?
Skeletal
Smooth
Cardiac
What is cardiac muscle?
Makes up the heart
Unique histological and physiological features
Involuntary
Straited
