Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
• Identify the structures of the musculoskeletal system.
• Describe the functions of muscles and joints.
• Correctly use combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes in the analysis of
musculoskeletal vocabulary.
• Correctly spell and pronounce terminology related to the musculoskeletal system.
• State the meaning of abbreviations related the musculoskeletal system.
• List and define the combining forms most commonly used to create terms
related to the musculoskeletal system.
• Name tests and treatments for musculoskeletal system abnormalities or pathologies.
• Interpret medical records that document musculoskeletal conditions and
treatments.
Translation, Please?Translation, Please?Translation, Please?
Read this excerpt from an orthopedist’s records and answer the questions that follow.
She is status post THR and is able to ambulate well after physical therapy. In terms of her juvenile
rheumatoid arthritis, she had arthroscopic surgery on the right knee, which is well healed, and she
continues her Naprosyn 500 mg p.o. b.i.d. Previous surgery on third left metatarsal has healed
completely.
1. Is THR a medication or a procedure?
2. Is arthroscopic surgery performed with a large or small incision?
3. How would metatarsals be related to tarsals?
Answers to “Translation, Please?”
1. THR is an abbreviation for total hip replacement.
2. Arthroscopic refers to a small incision. Remember the combining form arthr/o means joint and
scopic means see. Arthroscopy is the process of looking into a joint with a tiny fiber optic tube.
3. “Meta” indicates beyond, so metatarsals are beyond—distal to—the tarsals. Similarly, a carpal
is proximal to a metacarpal.
Identifying the Specialty
The System and Its Practitioners
The musculoskeletal system gives the body strength, structure, and the capability
of movement. Think of the skeleton as similar to the framework of a house. The
function of this framework is to support the internal components and to protect
the contents from outside forces. The body’s joints are the places where two pieces
of the structure (bones) meet, and the ligaments connect them. Bone also is the
site of blood cell formation and the storage place for minerals, such as calcium.
The field of medicine concerned with the musculoskeletal system is orthopedics,
and the physician is an orthopedist. Another caregiver in this specialty is the
chiropractor, who practices chiropractic, an area of medicine devoted to restoring
health by optimizing the relationship between the musculoskeletal system and body
The Musculoskeletal System
119
Figure 4.1 - Musculoskeletal System: Anterior View (A) and Posterior View (B)
120
Chapter 4
Figure 4.2 - Structure of Long
Bones
Structure of Long Bones
With the exception of any joint area, the outer surface of a long bone is covered
by a dense, fibrous membrane called the periosteum, which contains nerves, blood,
and lymph vessels. The diaphysis is the shaft of the bone, tube-shaped and made of
hard, compact bone. It is strong but light, which allows for easy movement. Within
the bone is the medullary cavity, which is lined with a fibrous membrane called the
endosteum, and which contains bone marrow—a gritty, fatty substance that produces
blood cells. (The function of bone marrow will be described further in Chapter 5.)
The epiphysis, found at either end of the bone, is the area where the bone
articulates, or meets, with another bone or bones. The epiphyses are composed of
spongy bone that is more porous than compact bone. Covering each epiphysis is a
thin layer of cartilage called the articular cartilage, which functions as a cushion at
the joint where two bones meet.
The Musculoskeletal System
123
Figure 4.5 - Diarthrotic Joint
To provide a smooth motion, diarthroses have a joint capsule made of a strong,
fibrous tissue (Figure 4.5). The capsule is lined with a synovial membrane, which
secretes synovial fluid, a smooth, slippery substance that prevents rubbing between
the bone and the joint. Areas that support the most impact contain small sacs
called bursae that are filled with synovial fluid. A joint cavity provides the
space for the motion, and the articular cartilage covers the
ends of the bones where it absorbs bumps and jolts.
There are several types of diarthroses: ball and
socket, hinge, pivot, saddle, gliding, and condyloid.
Figure 4.6 shows each type, its movement, and gives
one or more examples of that type of joint in the
body.
Tendons are like heavy cords that attach muscles
to bones. They are composed of dense regular connective
tissue that provides great strength at their attachment sites.
Ligaments are fibrous bands of dense regular connective tissue
that run from one bone to another to support and strengthen joints and to prevent
movement in the wrong direction.
COMBINING FORMS FOR THE SKELETAL SYSTEM
Table 4.1 lists the essential combining forms for the skeletal system, and Table 4.2
lists some anatomy and physiology terms related to the system. Refer to Figure 4.1
as you learn the skeletal combining forms.
Table 4.1
Combining Forms for the Skeletal System
Combining form
arthr/o
cervic/o
crani/o
dactyl/o
ili/o
lumb/o
mandibul/o
orth/o
osse/o
oste/o
pelv/o
pod/o
sacr/o
scapul/o
spondyl/o
stern/o
tars/o
tempor/o
vertebr/o
zyg/o
126
Chapter 4
Meaning
joint
neck
head
fingers or toes
ilium; hip
lower back
lower jaw
straight
bony
bone
pelvis
foot
sacrum
scapula
vertebrae
chest
tarsal bones in the foot
temporal (a skull bone)
vertebra
a yoke; a type of joining;
the cheek bone
Example
arthritis
cervical spine
craniospinal
polydactyly
iliosacral
lumbosacral
submandibular
orthopedic
osseous
osteoarthritis
pelvimetry
podiatrist
sacroiliac
scapulopexy
spondylosis
sternocostal
tarsoclasis
temporoauricular
vertebrocostal
zygomatic bone;
zygomaticofacial
Table 4.2
Anatomy and Physiology Terms Relating to the Skeleton
Term
amphiarthrosis
am-fee-ar-thrO-sis
Meaning
a fibrocartilaginous joining of two bones
articular cartilage
ar-tik-yoo-lar kar-tih-lij
articulate
ar-tik-yoo-layt
bone marrow
firm connective tissue covering the bone
surface in a synovial joint
to join or meet loosely in a way that allows
motion
gritty, fatty substance that produces red
blood cells
a closed sac containing synovial fluid found
in areas of the most friction
relating to the wrist bones
bursa
ber-sah
carpal
kar-pl
cartilage
kar-tih-lij
chiropractic
kI-rO-prak-tik
chiropractor
kI-rO-prak-tor
chondrocyte
kon-drO-sIt
diaphysis
dI-af-ih-sis
diarthrosis
dI-ar-thrO-sis
diffusion
dih-fyoo-zhun
endochondral
en-dO-kon-dral
endosteum
en-dos-tee-um
epiphyseal line
eh-ih-fiz-ee-al
epiphyseal plate
eh-ih-fiz-ee-al
epiphysis
eh-pif-eh-sis
femur
fee-mer
humerus
hyoo-mer-us
joint
joynt
128
Chapter 4
Word Analysis
amph/
on both sides;
around
arthr/o
joint
-osis
condition
articular
a forming of vines
cartilage
gristle
articulate
a forming of vines
mearh
for marrow
bursa
purse
carpus
term
a nonvascular, firm connective tissue
cartilage
gristle
medical practice that teaches manipulation
of the musculoskeletal system to restore
health to bodily functions
the professional who practices chiropractic
chir/o
practic/o
hand
efficient
a cartilage cell within the matrix of cartilage
shaft of a bone
chondr/o
-cyte
diaphysis
cartilage
cell
growing between
synovial joint
diarthrosis
articulation
movement of molecules from one area to
another to produce a uniform population in
both
within the cartilage
diffusion
moving in
different directions
end/
chondr/o
end/o
oste/o
epiphysis
linea
epiphysis
plate
epiphysis
femur
within
cartilage
within
bone
upon
growth
string
upon
growth
flat, broad
upon
growth
thigh
humerus
shoulder
joindre
point of contact
layer of cells lining the inner bone structure
an area of the long bone that remains after
bone growth has ceased and epiphyseal
plates are gone
area of the long bone where growth takes
place; it becomes the epiphyseal line after
growth has ceased
area of the long bone where growth takes
place
thigh bone
bone in the arm between the shoulder and
elbow
area where two bones meet
Exercise 1
Word Analysis
Identify the anatomical structures on the skeleton opposite. Write the letter of the correct term beside the bone;
on the line next to the bone name, write the root from which the term is formed.
A. cranium
_____________________________
B. mandible
_____________________________
C. sternum
_____________________________
D. ribs
_____________________________
E. scapula
_____________________________
F.
_____________________________
humerus
G. radius
_____________________________
H. ulna
_____________________________
I.
ilium
_____________________________
J.
femur
_____________________________
K. patella
_____________________________
L. tibia
_____________________________
M. fibula
_____________________________
N. tarsal bones
_____________________________
Exercise 2
Define the Problem
Match the list of terms in Column 1 with the definition in Column 2. Write the letter of the definition in the
space beside the term.
Column 1
Column 2
1. humerus
__________
a. outer covering of bone
2. scapula
__________
b. bone cells
3. sternum
__________
c. shaft of a long bone
4. periosteum
__________
d. cartilage changes to bone
5. osteocytes
__________
e. bone of the upper arm
6. chondrocytes
__________
f. within cartilage
7. diaphysis
__________
g. breastbone
8. ossification
__________
h. sac of synovial fluid
9. endochondral
__________
i. shoulder blade
__________
j. cartilage cells
10. bursa
130
Chapter 4
Performance 4
Assessment
Crossword Puzzle
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
15
14
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Across
3. extra fingers or toes
6. bone of the lower arm
8. inflammation of a bursa
10. bending at a joint
11. fingers and/or toes
14. pertaining to cartilage
15. physician specializing in the diagnosis and
treatment of joint disorders
20. areas where bones of a newborn’s skull meet
21. setting a broken bone
22. bones of the hand
Down
1. pertaining to the spine
2. heelbone
4. pertaining to both the lumbar and sacral
areas of the spine
5. joint
7. physical, structural body
9. range of motion
12. bowleg
13. total hip replacement
16. bone at the back of the skull
17. inflammation of bone
18. first thoracic vertebra
19. pertaining to the skeleton
The Musculoskeletal System
161
Build the Terms
In this exercise you will construct words from roots, prefixes and suffixes. Select
word parts from the lists to build a complete medical term for each definition given.
Note that not all terms will have a root or combining form, prefix, and suffix. Some
word parts may be used more than once.
Combining forms
arthr/o
tendon/o
articul/o
physi/o
oste/o
orth/o
burs/o
femur/o
chondr/o
osse/o
spondyl/o
mandibul/o
Chapter 4
Suffixes
-itis
-logy
-logist
-icle
-ous
-sis
-al
-ar
-ic
-in
-cyte
-lysis
1. study of the body’s function
___________________________
2. bony
___________________________
3. breakdown of cartilage
___________________________
4. inflammation of vertebrae
___________________________
5. pertaining to the mandible
___________________________
6. condition of straight
___________________________
7. inflammation of cartilage
___________________________
8. pertaining to inside a joint
___________________________
9. bone cell
___________________________
10. under cartilage
162
Prefixes
hyperepisubhypointradisanpredeantiperbi-
___________________________
Word Maps
Identify the anatomical structures by number on the accompanying diagram and
write the combining form on the line under each structure name.
1. cranium
_____________________________________
2. mandible
_____________________________________
3. humerus
_____________________________________
4. metacarpal bones
_____________________________________
5. vertebral column
_____________________________________
6. femur
_____________________________________
7. patella
_____________________________________
8. tibia
_____________________________________
9. tarsal bones
_____________________________________
10. metatarsal bones
_____________________________________
11. phalanges of lower extremity
_____________________________________
The Musculoskeletal System
163