Chapter 4 Medical Terms

Question 1

abduction

Answer 1

movement of a limb away from the midline

Question 2

adduction

Answer 2

movement of a limb toward the midline

Question 3

adhesion

Answer 3

band of fibrous tissue that holds structures together abnormally

Question 4

ataxia

Answer 4

lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movement

Question 5

atonic

Answer 5

lacking normal muscle tone or strength

Question 6

atrophy

Answer 6

weakness or wearing away of body tissues and structures

Question 7

bradykinesia

Answer 7

extreme slowness in movement

Question 8

carpal tunnel syndrome

Answer 8

inflammation and swelling of the tendons that pass through the carpal tunnel which create pressure on the median nerve

Question 9

chronic fatigue syndrome

Answer 9

debilitating and complex disorder characterized by profound fatigue that’s not improved by bed rest, made worse with physical or mental activity

Question 10

circumduction

Answer 10

circular movement at the far end of a limb

Question 11

contracture

Answer 11

permanent tightening of fascia, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or skin occurring when normally elastic connective tissues are replace with non-elastic fibrous tissues

Question 12

dorsiflexion

Answer 12

movement that bends the foot upward at the ankle

Question 13

dyskinesia

Answer 13

distortion of impairment of voluntary movement resulting in fragmented or jerky movement

Question 14

dystomia

Answer 14

condition of abnormal muscle tone that causes the impairment of voluntary muscle movement

Question 15

electromyography

Answer 15

diagnostic test measuring the electrical activity within muscle fibers in response to nerve stimulation

Question 16

epicondylitis

Answer 16

inflammation of the tissues surrounding the elbow

Question 17

ergonomics

Answer 17

study of human factors that affect the design and operation of tools and work environment

Question 18

exercise physiologist

Answer 18

specialist working under physician’s supervision to develop, implement, and coordinate exercise programs and administer medical tests to promote fitness

Question 19

fasciitis

Answer 19

inflammation of a fascia

Question 20

fibromyalgia

Answer 20

debilitating chronic condition characterized by fatigue; diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain

Question 21

ganglion cyst

Answer 21

harmless fluid-filled swelling that occurs mostly on the outer surface of the wrist

Question 22

heel spur

Answer 22

calcium deposit in the plantar fascia near its attachment to the heel bone

Question 23

hemiparesis

Answer 23

slight paralysis or weakness affecting one side of the body

Question 24

hemiplegia

Answer 24

total paralysis affecting only one side of the body

Question 25

hernia

Answer 25

protrusion of a part of a structure through the tissues normally containing it

Question 26

hyperkinesia

Answer 26

abnormally increased motor function or activity; hyperactivity

Question 27

hypotonia

Answer 27

condition of diminished tone of skeletal muscles

Question 28

impingement syndrome

Answer 28

inflamed and swollen tendons caught in the narrow space between the bones within the shoulder joint

Question 29

insertion

Answer 29

the point where the muscle ends by attaching to a bone or tendon

Question 30

intermittent claudication

Answer 30

pain in the leg muscles that occurs during exercise and is relieved by rest

Question 31

muscular dystrophy

Answer 31

group of more than 30 genetic disorders characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement, without affecting the nervous system

Question 32

myasthenia gravis

Answer 32

chronic autoimmune disease that affects the neuromuscular junction and produces serious weakness of voluntary muscles

Question 33

myocele

Answer 33

herniation of muscle substance through a tear in the fascia surrounding it

Question 34

myoclonus

Answer 34

quick involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles

Question 35

myofascial release

Answer 35

specialized soft-tissue manipulation technique used to ease the pain of conditions such as fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, movement restrictions, TMJ disorders, and carpal tunnel

Question 36

myolysis

Answer 36

degeneration of muscle tissue

Question 37

myoparesis

Answer 37

weakness or slight muscular paralysis

Question 38

myorrhaphy

Answer 38

surgical suturing of a muscle

Question 39

neuromuscular

Answer 39

pertaining to the relationship between a nerve and muscle

Question 40

oblique

Answer 40

slanted or at an angle

Question 41

origin

Answer 41

point where the muscle begins, located nearest the midline of the body or on a less movable part of the skeleton

Question 42

paralysis

Answer 42

loss of sensation and voluntary muscle movements in a muscle through disease or injury to its nerve supply

Question 43

paraplegia

Answer 43

paralysis of both legs and lower part of the body

Question 44

physiatrist

Answer 44

physician who specializes in medicine and rehab with the focus on restoring function

Question 45

plantar fasciitis

Answer 45

inflammation of the plantar fascia on the sole of the foot

Question 46

polymyositis

Answer 46

muscle disease characterized by the simultaneous inflammation and weakening of voluntary muscles in many parts of the body

Question 47

pronation

Answer 47

act of rotating the arm of leg so the palm of hand or sole of foot is turned downward or backward

Question 48

quadriplegia

Answer 48

paralysis of all four extremities

Question 49

sarcopenia

Answer 49

loss of muscle mass, strength, and function that comes with aging

Question 50

shin splint

Answer 50

painful condition caused by the tibialis anterior muscle tearing away from the tibia

Question 51

singultus

Answer 51

myoclonus of the diaphragm that causes the characteristic hiccup sound with each spasm

Question 52

sphincter

Answer 52

ring-like muscle that tightly constricts the opening of a passageway

Question 53

sprain

Answer 53

injury to a joint which usually occurs when a ligament is wrenched or torn

Question 54

tenodesis

Answer 54

suturing of the end of a tendon to a bone

Question 55

tenolysis

Answer 55

release of a tendon from adhesions

Question 56

tenorrhaphy

Answer 56

surgical suturing together of the divided ends of a tendon

Question 57

tenosynovitis

Answer 57

inflammation of the sheath surrounding a tendon

Question 58

tenotomy

Answer 58

surgical incision into a tendon

Question 59

torticollis

Answer 59

stiff neck due to spasmodic contraction of the neck muscles that pull the head toward the affected side; wryneck

Question 60

transverse

Answer 60

in a crosswise direction