Module 2: General Physical Diagnosis/Musculoskeletal Terminology

Question 1

Symptoms

Answer 1

What patient complains of

Question 2

Signs

Answer 2

What physician finds upon physical examination

Ex: erythematous posterior pharynx

Question 3

Differential diagnosis

Answer 3

The physician’s hypotheses of what the disease
is (what the diagnostic possibilities are) based upon the patient’s symptoms and physical upon the patient’s symptoms and physical findings
Ex: Viral Pharyngitis, Streptococcal Pharyngitis, Viral Upper respiratory infection (note: viral upper respiratory infection is commonly referred to as a Viral URI)

Question 4

Diagnosis

Answer 4

Physician’s determination of the nature of the patient’s disease
Ex: streptococcal pharyngitis

Question 5

Body orientation

Circum-

Answer 5

Around

Question 6

Endo-

Answer 6

Within, inner

Question 7

Ecto- or exo-

Answer 7

Outer side

Question 8

Epi-

Answer 8

Outer, surrounding

Question 9

Hypo-

Answer 9

Below, under

Question 10

Meso-

Answer 10

Middle

Question 11

Sub-

Answer 11

Below, under

Question 12

Supra-

Answer 12

Above, over

Question 13

Superior

Answer 13

Upper, i.e. Upper surface of organ

Question 14

Inferior

Answer 14

Lower, i.e. Lower surface of organ

Question 15

Dorsal

Answer 15

Back (opposite of ventral)

Question 16

Ventral

Answer 16

Front (opposite of dorsal)

Question 17

Cranial

Answer 17

Head, superior aspect

Question 18

Caudal

Answer 18

Tail of body, inferior aspect

Question 19

Proximal

Answer 19

Nearer to a point of reference, as in closer to the root of a limb, i.e. Closer to the trunk (opposite of distal)

Question 20

Distal

Answer 20

Farther from the root of a limb or some reference point (opposite of proximal)

Question 21

Medial

Answer 21

Near the midline

Question 22

Lateral

Answer 22

Farther from the midline

Question 23

Cervical spine

Answer 23

7 vertebrae

Question 24

Thoracic spine

Answer 24

12 vertebrae

Question 25

Lumbar vertebrae

Answer 25

5 bones

Question 26

Sacrum

Answer 26

5 fused bones

Question 27

Coccyx

Answer 27

4 fused bones

Question 28

Kyphosis

Answer 28

Increased convexity of the thorax E.g. Osteoporosis causes wedge-shaped deformity of the vertebrae ("kuphosis" from greek --> "hunchback, bent")

Question 29

Gibbus

Answer 29

An acutely angled kyphotic deformity | E.g. Collapsed thoracic vertebrae (osteoporosis, metastatic disease, tuberculosis of the spine)

Question 30

Lordosis

Answer 30

Abnormal increase in the concavity of the lumbar spine as viewed from patient's side Can occur due to muscle spasm

Question 31

Scoliosis

Answer 31

Lateral curvature of the spine | E.g. Fairly common among young girls, worsens during growth spurts

Question 32

List

Answer 32

Lateral tilt of the spine | E.g. Herniated disc, muscle spasm

Question 33

Flexion

Answer 33

Act of bending or making an angle

Question 34

Extension

Answer 34

Act of straightening

Question 35

dorsiflexion

Answer 35

further flexing of foot

Question 36

plantar flexion

Answer 36

extension of foot

Question 37

Medial Rotation

Answer 37

rotation of anterior surface toward midplane of body

Question 38

Lateral Rotation

Answer 38

Rotation of anterior surface away from midplane of body

Question 39

Lateral Bending/Tilt

Answer 39

bending/tilting away from mid-line | e.g. neck and back

Question 40

Pronation

Answer 40

rotation of forearm and hand to turn the palm downward

Question 41

Supination

Answer 41

rotation of forearm and hand to turn the palm upward

Question 42

Inversion

Answer 42

rotation of the foot so the plantar aspect (sole) turns inward

Question 43

Eversion

Answer 43

rotation of foot so plantar aspect (sole) turns outward

Question 44

Adduction

Answer 44

Movement toward central axis of body

Question 45

Abduction

Answer 45

Movement away from central axis of body

Question 46

Circumduction

Answer 46

Active or passive circular movement of a limb or the eye

Question 47

Genu Varum

Answer 47

Bow legs - whether normal or abnormal; depends on age e.g. normal from birth up to about 3 years of age "genu" - Latin - "knee"

Question 48

Genu Valgum

Answer 48

knock-knees | e.g. normal from about 2 years to 7 years of age

Question 49

Heberden's Nodes

Answer 49

Bony deformities at the DIP (distal interphalangeal) joints secondary to osteoarthritis - caused by formation of osteophytes (calcific spurs) of the articular cartilage - Named for william heberden

Question 50

Bouchard's Nodes

Answer 50

Bony deformities at the PIP (proximal interphalangeal) joints secondary to osteoarthritis - significantly less common than heberden's nodes - Named for Charles Jacques Bouchard

Question 51

Effusion

Answer 51

fluid in a joint