Musculoskeletal System Diseases

Question 0

Osteoporosis

Answer 0

Porous bone. The bane of the old, especially, women. The hard, rock-like quality of bone is dependent upon calcium. When too much calcium is dissolved from bones or not enough replaced, bones lose density and are easily fractured.

Question 1

Arthritis

Answer 1

As we age, our joint tissues become less resilient to wear and tear and start to degenerate manifesting as swelling, pain, and oftentimes, loss of mobility of joints.

Question 2

Osteomalacia

Answer 2

Soft bones. If not enough calcium is deposited during early childhood development, the bones do not become rock-hard, but rubbery.

Question 3

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Answer 3

People with job involves repeated flexing of their wrist may develop tingling and/or pain in their thumb, index and middle fingers along with weakness if movements of the thumb, especially, grasping object.

Question 4

Tendonitis

Answer 4

Repeated strain on a tendon, attachment of a muscle to bone, can inflame the tendon resulting in pain and difficulty with movement involving the muscle. Tendons have a poor blood supply; therefore, they typically take a long time to heal on the order of six weeks or more.

Question 5

Rotator cuff tear

Answer 5

Muscles surrounding the shoulder joint are involved in rotating the shoulder with upper arm and hand forward and backward, among other movements. The tendons of these muscles also contribute to the structural strength of the shoulder joint. Hard, fast movements can tear one of these tendons resulting in pain and decreased mobility of the shoulder.

Question 6

Bursitis

Answer 6

A bursa is a small, closed bag with a minimum amount of lubricatory fluid that serves as a shock absorber where bones make close contact and to minimize trauma and friction where tendons cross bones and joints. Inflammation leads to pain and immobility in a joint area.

Question 7

Muscular dystrophy

Answer 7

It is a group of inherited diseases in which the muscles that control movement progressively weaken.

Question 8

Myasthenia gravis

Answer 8

Muscular weakness, profound. This is an autoimmune disease that involves production of antibodies that interfere with nerves stimulating muscle contractions. Face and neck muscles are the most obviously affected, manifesting as dropping eyelids, double vision, difficulty swallowing and general fatigue.

Question 9

Lupus eruthrmatosus

Answer 9

An autoimmune disease wherein the body produces antibodies against a variety of organs, especially connective tissues of skin and joints. Lupus means “wolf” in Latin. Maybe a reference to the facial rash that might give a patient a wolf-like appearance.