Chapter 13: Skeletal and Muscular Systems Pathology Terms

Question 1

adhesive capsulitis (ăd-HĒ-sĭv kăp-sū-LĪ-tĭs)

Answer 1

loss of range of motion in the shoulder; also called frozen shoulder

Question 2

Anterior cruciate ligament tear (ăn-TĒR-ē-ōr KROO-shē-āt LĭG-ă-mĕnt tār)

Answer 2

injury to one of the stabilizing ligaments of the knee, which originates on the anterior portion of the femur

Question 3

bursitis (bŭr-SĪ-tĭs)

Answer 3

condition of inflammation of the tiny fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions and provide lubrication to decrease friction and irritation between structures such as bones, tendons, muscles, and skin

Question 4

carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) (KĂR-păl TŬN-ĕl SĬN-drōm)

Answer 4

compression of the median nerve, causing pain or numbness in the wrist, hand, and fingers

Question 5

claw toe (klaw tō)

Answer 5

condition in which the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint flexes dorsally while the other joint or joints in the toe flex toward the sole

Question 6

contracture (kŏn-TRĂK-chūr)

Answer 6

fibrosis of connective tissue which decreases the mobility of a joint

Question 7

crepitation (krĕp-ĭ-TĀ-shŭn)

Answer 7

grating sound from broken bones, or a clicking or crackling sound from joints

Question 8

dislocation (dĭs-lō-KĀ-shŭn)

Answer 8

displacement or separation of a bone from its normal position where it articulates with another bone

Question 9

electromyography (EMG) (ē-LEK-trō-mī-og-ră-fē)

Answer 9

test used to evaluate and record the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles; used to diagnose neuromuscular disorders

Question 10

fibromyalgia (fī-brō-mī-ĂL-jē-ă)

Answer 10

chronic condition marked by pain in the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and soft tissues of the body; also called fibromyositis, fibrositis and myofibrositis

Question 11

fracture (FRĂK-chūr)

Answer 11

condition in which a bone is broken or cracked

Question 12

ganglion cyst (GĂNG-glē-ŏn sĭst)

Answer 12

condition in which one or more small benign tumors filled with a thick, colorless, gelatinous substance develop over a joint or tendon, usually on the wrist or back of the hand; sometimes called a Bible cyst after the old-fashioned treatment of bashing it with the biggest book available.

Question 13

gout (gowt)

Answer 13

hereditary form of arthritis, characterized by uric acid accumulation in the joints, especially in the great toe

Question 14

hallux rigidus (HĂL-ŭks RĬJ-ĭ-dŭs)

Answer 14

condition in which degenerative arthritis affects the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint at the base of the big toe, causing pain and stiffness

Question 15

hallux valgus (HĂL-ŭks VĂL-gŭs)

Answer 15

condition in which the big toe is improperly aligned, pointing laterally toward the second toe and creating a large bump on the inner edge of the foot at the base of the big toe; commonly called bunion

Question 16

herniated disc (HĔR-nē-ā-tĕd dĭsk)

Answer 16

herniation of the soft center of an intervertebral disc

Question 16

hammertoe (HĂM-ĕr-tō)

Answer 16

condition in which the toe is bent downward at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint

Question 17

juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) (JŪ-vĕ-nīl ROO-mă-toyd ăr-THRĪ-tĭs)

Answer 17

disorder similar to adult-onset RA, with earlier onset and more-severe symptoms

Question 18

kyphosis (kī-FŌ-sĭs)

Answer 18

abnormal increase in the curvature of the thoracic vertebrae, causing hunchback

Question 19

lordosis (lor-DŌ-sĭs)

Answer 19

abnormal increase in the curvature of the lumbar vertebrae, causing swayback

Question 20

mallet toe (MĂL-ĕt- tō)

Answer 20

condition in which the toe is bent downward at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint

Question 21

medial tibial syndrome (MĒ-dē-ăl TĬB-ē-ăl SĬN-drōm)

Answer 21

painful condition involving tiny tears in the muscles and tendons that attach to the anterior tibia (shin); commonly called shin splints

Question 22

meniscal tear (mĕn-ĬS-kăl tār)

Answer 22

tear of one of the two C-shaped cartilage structures that serve to cushion and stabilize the knee joint, usually caused by a twisting force

Question 23

muscular dystrophy (MD) (MŬS-kū-lăr DĬS-trō-fē)

Answer 23

hereditary, progressive terminal disease that causes muscle atrophy and death, usually by age 20

Question 24

myasthenia gravis (mī-ăs-THĒ-nē-ă GRĂV-ĭs)

Answer 24

autoimmune motor disorder that causes progressive muscle fatigue and weakness

Question 25

osteitis deformans (äs-tē-ĪT-ŭs dē-FŌRM-ănz)

Answer 25

chronic condition in which the process of bone destruction and regrowth occurs abnormally, causing weak, fragile, enlarged, and misshapen bones; also called Paget’s disease

Question 26

osteoarthritis (ŏs-tē-ō-ăr-THRĪ-tĭs)

Answer 26

condition of cartilage deterioration and joint inflammation marked by pain, stiffness, and decreased ROM, most commonly affecting synovial weight-bearing joints and vertebrae; also called degenerative joint disease (DJD)

Question 27

osteomalacia (ŏs-tē-ō-măl-Ā-shē-ă)

Answer 27

condition of softening and weakening of the bones; when it occurs in children, it is called rickets

Question 28

osteomyelitis (ŏs-tē-ō-mī-ĕl-Ī-tĭs)

Answer 28

acute or chronic infection within the bone, most commonly affecting the legs, arms, pelvis, and spine

Question 29

osteoporosis (ŏs-tē-ō-pōr-Ō-sĭs)

Answer 29

condition characterized by loss of bone mass throughout the skeleton

Question 30

pathological fracture (păth-ō-LŎJ-ĭk-ăl FRĂK-chūr)

Answer 30

breaking of diseased, weakened bone from the stress of normal everyday activities

Question 31

plantar fasciitis (PLĂN-tăr făs-ē-Ī-tĭs)

Answer 31

painful condition of the supporting structures of the arch of the foot, primarily the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that connects the heel with the toes

Question 32

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (ROO-mă-toyd ăr-THRĪ-tĭs)

Answer 32

autoimmune arthritis that causes progressive joint pain and deformity and may affect organ systems

Question 33

rotator cuff tear (RŌ-tā-tōr kŭf tār)

Answer 33

traumatic rip of one or more of the muscles or tendons within the rotator cuff of the shoulder

Question 34

scoliosis (sko-lē-Ō-sĭs)

Answer 34

abnormal S-shaped lateral curvature of the vertebrae

Question 35

sprain (sprān)

Answer 35

complete or incomplete tear in the ligaments around a joint

sprain = ligaments

Question 36

strain (strān)

Answer 36

trauma to a muscle, and sometimes a tendon, due to violent contraction or excessive forcible stretching

strain = muscles/tendon

Question 37

thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) (thō-RĂS-ĭk OWT-lĕt SĬN-drōm)

Answer 37

group of painful disorders involving compression of the nerves or vessels in the neck and arms