Musculoskeletal Flashcards
Why do the number of bones in the body reduce from childhood?
Smalls bones fuse together
How many bones in the adult human body?
206
What is the purpose of many small bones through childhood?
Allows birth and development e.g. cranial softer for birth
Fusion concludes at puberty
What are the two sections of the skeleton?
Axial for protection: skull, ribs, sternum, spine
Appendicular for movement
What is bone remodelling?
The constant breaking down of old or damaged bone and replacement of new bone
What are bone building cells?
Osteoblasts (from osteogenic stem cells
They undergo complex processes to become interconnected osteocytes - bone calcification
What are bone cells called?
Osteocytes which form when osteoblasts become interconnected
They have multiple nuclei to regulate busy cell processes
What are bone destroying cells?
Osteoclasts break down old/damaged bone cells
Describe the remodelling process?
- Reabsorption: liberation of minerals from bone breakdown
- Reversal: generation of environment to allow bone formation
- Formation: new bone forms
- Mineralisation: calcium bonds and collagen matrix forms
What is hard/spongey bone?
80% Compact/cortical outer: surrounds inner bone and is dense/strong
20% Cancellous/trabecular inner: metabolic processes occur here
What is the epiphysis?
Each end of the bone
Spongey bone with hard coating
Has red bone marrow for RBC production
Cartilage lines each end
What is the diaphysis?
The middle ‘shaft’ of bone
Has yellow bone marrow
Stores fat and stem cells to help with bone cell formation
What is the metaphysis?
Point at each end of the bone where it gets wider and the diaphysis becomes the epiphysis
What is a growth plate?
Also called physis
Active fourth region of bone during childhood
Grows bone tissue to add to the epiphysis and diaphysis to lengthen bone
What is the membranous bone cover called?
Periosteum
Describe long bone
Cylinder shape, longer than wide
Functions to lever
E.g. femur, ulna
Describe short bone
Cube shape, roughly equal length/width/height
Function is stability/support, some motion
E.g. carpal, tarsal
Describe flat bone
Thin and curved
Function to protect organs
E.g. sternum, cranium
Describe irregular bone
Complex shape
Function to protects organs
E.g. vertebra, facial bones
Describe sesamoid bone
Small, round, embedded
Function to protect tendons
E.g. patella
What are sutural bones?
Extra bones in some people within joints in skull bones
What is osteoporosis?
Gradual loss of bone density as bone is lost quicker than it is replaced
SX: fractures, reduced height, stooped posture, pain
TX: lifestyle, vitD, Ca, biophosphonates, selective estrogen receptor modulators, denosumab
What is the vasculature of bone?
Highly vascular
Nutrient artery enters via foramen
Supplies central artery which runs through the medulla and branches to supply all cells
Branches converge into central sinus
Blood then exits via venous sinus to central vein and out foramen
(Periosteal arteries also supply blood via foramen)
What are the names and differences between C1 and C2?
C1 is atlas and it supports the weight of the skull
C2 is axis and it allows pivoting of the skull
What is the general structure of vertebrae?
Central vertebral body
Spinous process (posterior)
Transverse processes on each side allow muscle attachment
Vertebral foramen houses cord
Cartilage disks in-between
Where in the spine does the cord end?
L1/L2
Here it forms a group of nervous tissue called cauda equina
What is SCI?
Spinal cord injury
Not all spine fractures result in SCI
Swelling in the column can cause transient symptoms
What issues can occur with spinal discs?
Wear = bone-on-bone
Slip from position and be pinched by vertebra
What parts make up the pelvis?
Hips, pubis, ischium, ilium, sacrum, coccyx
What is the greater pelvis?
False pelvis
Holds intestines, uterus, ovaries and tubes