Intro to musculoskeletal anatomy

Question 1

What is the epiphysis of a bone?

Answer 1

End point of a long bone where articulation takes place

Question 2

What is the metaphysis of a bone?

Answer 2

Neck of long bone

Question 3

What is the diaphysis of a bone?

Answer 3

Shaft (middle) of long bone

Question 4

What is a sesamoid bone?

Answer 4

Found within tendons to reduce wear and improve muscle efficiency
[e.g. patella]

Question 5

What are flat bones?

Answer 5

Large surface areas for muscle attachment
Region for weight/ force transfer and protection
[e.g. scapular]

Question 6

What is Wolff’s Law?

Answer 6

Bone is deposited and reabsorbed in accordance with the stresses placed upon it (e.g. it is able to remodel itself)
Therefore less stress = less bone
Explains why ends of bone are trabecular compared to shaft which is cortical (more dense)

Question 7

What makes up the axial skeleton?

Answer 7

Centre of body including skull, ribs, sternum, vertebrae, sacrum and coccyx

Question 8

What is the appendicular skeleton?

Answer 8

Hip bones, pectoral girdle and limbs

Question 9

How do limbs form embryologically?

Answer 9

Grow as a bud out of the developing embryo at approx. 4/5 weeks
Digits and overall limb shape present at approx. 8 weeks
Pre-programmed cell death (apoptosis) forms digits by separation

Question 10

What can cause limb abnormalities?

Answer 10

Exposure to teratogens (e.g. thalidomide, retinoids such as vitamin A) 
Genetic causes
Mechanical causes (e.g. amniotic bands)

Question 11

What is an amelia?

Answer 11

Limb defect in which a limb does not develop at all

Question 12

What is meromelia?

Answer 12

Limb defect in which a limb partially develops

Question 13

What is phocomelia?

Answer 13

Limb defect in which a ‘flipper’ like limb develops (e.g. no long bones develop but short bones may develop)

Question 14

What is polydactyly?

Answer 14

Additional digits

Question 15

What is syndactyly?

Answer 15

Webbing of digits

Question 16

How does limb function differ between upper and lower?

Answer 16

Upper limbs = range of movement over strength

Lower limbs = strength over range of movement

Question 17

What is the basic layout of limbs?

Answer 17

1. Girdle attaching limb to axial skeleton
2. Single long bone
3. Paired long bones
4. Arrangement of short and long bones

Question 18

What makes up a synovial joint?

Answer 18

Hyaline cartilage covers end surface of 2 bones
Joint capsule surrounds joint/ synovial cavity
Synovium (serous membrane) lines the joint capsule and produces synovial fluid to lubricate joint

Question 19

What are the differences between the pectoral and the pelvic girdle?

Answer 19

Increased stability in hip joint due to deeper socket making up synovial joint.
Increased mobility in as only one joint with axial skeleton (clavicle with sternum).

Question 20

What are bursae?

Answer 20

Pockets of synovium and synovial fluid found in regions of friction/ wear

Question 21

What surrounds tendons?

Answer 21

Sheaths of synovial fluid at points of friction or direction change

Question 22

What is synovitis?

Answer 22

Synovium inflammation

Question 23

What is tenosynovitis?

Answer 23

Inflammation of tendon and surrounding synovial sheath

Question 24

What are the symptoms of tenosynovitis?

Answer 24

Pain on use

Possible tendon rupture

Question 25

What is a nerve plexi?

Answer 25

Regions where the ventral rami of spinal nerves join and exchange neurons

Question 26

What is a dermatome?

Answer 26

Area of skin innervated by a single spinal nerve

Neurons from a spinal nerve can travel to the dermatome via multiple routes/ nerves (in limbs due to plexi)

Question 27

What is a cutaneous nerve area?

Answer 27

Area of skin innervated by a named cutaneous nerve

Can innervate all of a dermatome, part of one or all of a dermatome plus parts of another

Question 28

What is compartment syndrome?

Answer 28

Anything that causes the pressure in a specific compartment to rise
Medical emergency
Commonly caused by a bleed

Question 29

What are retinacula?

Answer 29

Thick bands of fascia (connective tissue)

Prevent bowstringing and keep tendons in proximity of a joint enabling functioning through range of joint motion