Term | Definition |
Musculoskeletal System | two systems that work together to support the body and allow movement |
Ossification | the formation of bones from fibrous tissue |
Osteoblasts | immature bone cells that produce bony tissue |
Osteoclasts | phagocytic cells that eat away bony tissue from the medullary cavity of long bone |
Oste/o-, Oss/e-, Oss/i- | bone |
-blasts | immature |
-clasts | break |
Osteocytes | mature Osteoblasts |
Hematopoietic | Red bone marrow located in cancellous bone (producing red blood cells, white blood cells, and clotting cells) |
Hemat/o- | blood |
-poietic | pertaining to formation |
Medullary Cavity | the inner space of bone (containing yellow bone marrow) |
Cartilage | another form of connective tissue that is more elastic than bone |
Epi- | above |
Physis (Growth Plate or Epiphyseal Cartilage) | Growth, cartilage segment of long bone that involved growth of the bone |
Dia- | between |
Peri- | surrounding |
Oste/o- | bone |
-um | structure |
Endo- | within, or inner |
Meta- | beyond |
Cortical Bone (Compact Bone) | hard, dense, strong bone that forms the outer layer of bone |
Cancellous Bone (Spongy Bone) | lighter, lass strong bone that is found in the ends and inner portions of long bones |
Cortex | bark or shell (Latin) |
Cancellous | latticework (Latin) |
Epiphysis | wide end of long bone, covered in articular cartilage and composed of cancellous bone |
Proximal Epiphysis | located nearest the midline |
Distal Epiphysis | located farthest from the midline |
Diaphysis | shaft of long bone that is composed mainly of compact bone |
Metaphysis | wider part of long bone shaft located adjacent to the physis |
Periosteum | tough, fibrous tissue that forms the outer covering of bone |
Endosteum | tough, fibrous tissue that forms the lining of the medullary cavity |
Long Bones | bones consisting of a shaft, 2 ends, and a marrow cavity (Femur) |
Short Bones | cube-shaped bones with no marrow cavity (carpal bones) |
Flat Bones | thin, flat bones (pelvis) |
Pneumatic Bones | sinus-containing bones (frontal bone) |
Irregular Bones | Unpaired bones (vertebrae) |
Sesamoid Bones | small bones embedded in a tendon (patella) |
Articular Cartilage | a specific cartilage that covers the joint surface of bone |
Meniscus | curved fibrous cartilage found in some joints such as the stifle that cushions forces |
Chondr/o- | cartilage |
Joints (articulations) | connections between 2 bones |
Arthr/o- | joint |
Synarthroses | joints that allow no movement |
Amphiarthroses | joints that allow slight movement |
Diarthroses | joints that allow free movement |
Suture | a jagged line where bones join and from a nonmovable joint |
Fontanelle | a soft spot remaining at the junction of sutures tat usually closes after birth |
Symphysis (Cartilaginous Joint) | a joint where 2 bones join and are held firmly together so that they function as one bone (Ex. mandibular symphysis, pubic symphysis) |
Synovial Joint | free moving joints, Ball and socket joint (Enarthrosis), arthrodial or condyloid joints, trochoid joints |
Ball and Socket joints | allowing a wide range of motion in many directions (hip or shoulder joint) |
Arthrodial or Condyloid Joints | joints with an oval projection that fit into a socket (Carpal joints where radius meets carpus) |
Trochoid joint | pulley shaped joints (atlas and axis in the neck) |
Hinge joints | allow motion in one direction (canine stifle or elbow joints) |
Gliding joints | move or glide over each other (radioulnar joint, articulating process between successive vertebrae) |
Saddle joint | the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb (in humans) allowing the thumb to flex, extend, abduct, adduct, and circumduct |
Ligament (Ligament/o-) | a band of fibrous connective tissue that connects bone to another bone |
tendon (ten/o-, tend/o-, tendin/o-) | band of fibrous connective tissue that connects muscle to bone to help promote movement |
Bursa (burs/o-) | a fibrous sac that acts as a cushion to ease movement in areas of friction (a bursa where a tendon passes over bone) |
Synovial Membrane (Synovi/o-) | secretes synovial fluid which acts as a lubricant to make joint movement smooth |
Axial Skeleton | the framework of the body (skull, auditory ossicles, hyoid bones, vertebral column, ribs, sternum) |
Appendicular Skeleton | the framework of the body (extremities, shoulder, pelvic girdle) Appending meaning to hang. |
Craniaum (Crani/o-) | the portion of the skull that enclosed the brain |
Frontal | the roof of the cranial cavity |
Parietal | paired bones that form the roof of the caudal cranial cavity |
Occipital | the caudal aspect of the cranial cavity where the foramen magnum, or opening for the spinal cord |
Foramen | opening in bone through which tissue passes |
Magnum | meaning large |
Temporal | paired bones that form the sides and base of the cranium |
Sphenoid | paired bones that form part of the base of the skull and parts of the floorand sides of the bony eye socket |
Ethmoid | forms the rostral part of the cranial cavity |
Incisive | forms the rostral part of the hard palate and lower edges of nares |
Pterygoid | forms the lateral wall of the nasopharynx |
Sinuses | air or fluid filled spaces in the cranium |
Brachycephalic | animals with short, wide heads, (Pug, Pekingese) |
Dolichocephalic | animals with long and narrow heads (greyhounds, collies) |
Mesocephalic (mesaticephalic) | animals with an average size heads (Labrador Retrievers) |
Zygomatic | forms the orbit and cheekbone, projections from the temporal and zygomatic bone form the zygomatica arch |
Maxilla | forms the upper jaw |
Mandible | forms the lower jaw |
Palatine | forms parts of the hard palate |
Lacrimal | forms the medial part of the orbit |
incisive | forms the rostral part of the hard plate |
Nasal | forms the bridge of the nose |
Vomer | forms the base of the nasal septum |
Nasal septum | the cartilaginous structure that divides the two nasal cavities |
Hyoid | bone suspended between the mandible and the laryngopharynx |
Vertebral column (Spinal column, backbone) | supports the head and body and protects the spinal cord |
Vertebra (spondyl/o-, vertebr/o-) | individual bones that make up the spinal column |
Vertebral body | the portion of the vertebra ventral to the spinal cord |
Vertebral arch | the dorsal part that surrounds the spinal cord |
Lamina | the left or right dorsal half of the arch of vertebra |
vertebral process | meaning projection |
Spinous Process | a single projection from the dorsal part of the vertebral arch |
Transverse Processes | project laterally from the left and right sides of the vertebral arch |
Articular Processes | paired cranial and caudal projections located on the dorsum of the vertebral arch |
Foramen | meaning opening |
Vertebral foramen | the opening in the middle of the vertebrae through which the spinal cord passes |
Intervertebral Discs (disc/o-) | cartilage discs that cushion, and separates each vertebra |
Atlas | C1 the first vertebra |
Axis | C2 the second vertebra |
Ribs (costals, cost/o-) | paired bones that attach to the thoracic vertebrae |
Sternum (breastbone) | forms the midline ventral portion of the rib cage divided into 3 parts (manubrium, body, xiphoid process) |
Manubrium | cranial portion of the sternum |
Body (of the sternum) | the middle portion of the sternum |
Xiphoid Process | the caudal portion of the sternum |
Thoracic Cavity (rib cage) | the ribs, sternum, thoracic vertebrae |
Scapula (Shoulder blade) | large triangular on the side of the thorax |
Clavicle (Collar bone) | a slender bone that connects the sternum to the scapula |
Vestigial clavicle | rudimentary clavicle (some species have no clavicle at all) |
Humerus (Brachium) | long bone of the proximal front limb |
Antebrachium | the forearm, distal front limb (radius, ulna) |
Ante- | before |
Radius | the cranial bone of the front limb |
Ulna | the caudal bone of the front limb |
Olecranon | a proximal projection on the ulna that forms the point of the elbow |
Carpal bones | irregularly shaped bones in the area known as the wrist on humans |
Metacarpals | bones that are found distal to the carpus |
Splint bones (Canon Bone) | found in horses, are attached by an interosseous ligament to the large metacarpal, |
Phalanges (Phalanx) | bones of the digit, numbered from proximal to distal |
Digits | are the bones analogous to the human finger |
Dewclaws | Digit 1 on dogs |
Ungulates | animals with hooves |
Fetlock Joint | in livestock, the joint between metacarpal (metatarsal) III and the proximal phalanx |
Pastern Joint | the joint between P1 and P2 |
Coffin joint | the joint between P2 and P3 |
Claw (onych/o-) | P3 in non hooved animals |
Onychectomy | a declaw procedure for cats (not advised, this is painful and unnecessary) |
Sesamoid bones | small nodular bones embedded in a tendon or joint capsule |
Navicular bone | in horses, located insid ehooves of the palmar of plantar surface of P3 |
Pelvis (hip) | consists of 3 bones (ilium, ischium, pubis) |
Ilium | the largest pair of bones in the pelvis, blade shaped, articulates with the sacrum to form the sacroiliac joint |
Ischium | caudal pair of bones in the pelvis |
Pubis | the ventral pair of bones that are fused on the midline by a cartilaginous joint called Pubic Symphysis |
Acetabulum | the large socket of the pelvic bone that forms where the bones meet |
Femur (thigh bone) | the proximal long bone on the rear leg |
Trochanters | large flat broad projections on a bone |
Condyles | rounded projection on a bone |
Patella | large sesamoid bone in the rear limb (like the kneecap, only use kneecap for the front limbs) |
Stifle Joint | the joint that houses the patella |
Popliteal | sesamoid bone located on the caudal surface of the stifle |
Tibia | the larger and more weight bearing distal bone in the rear legs |
Fibula | a longer slender distal bone of the rear legs |
Crus | area of the rear limb between the stifle and the hock |
Tarsus | area of irregularly shaped bones in what would be the ankle in a human
small animals |
Hock | Tarsus or ankle area in a larger animal |
Talus | one of the tarsal bones |
Calcaneus | long lateral bone located in the proximal row of the tarsal bones |
Aperture | opening |
Canal | tunnel |
Condyle | rounded projection (articulates with another bone) |
Crest | high projection of border projection |
Crista | ridge |
Dens | Toothlike structures |
Eminence | surface projection |
Facet | smooth area |
Fissure | Deep Cleft |
Foramen | Hole |
Fossa | trench of hollow depressed area |
Fovea | small pit |
Head | Major Protrusion |
Lamina | Thin, flat plate |
Line | low projection or ridge |
Malleolus | rounded projection (distal end of tibia and fibula) |
Meatus | Passage or opening |
Process | projection |
Protuberance | projecting part |
Ramus | Branch or smaller structure given off by a larger structure |
Sinus | Space or cavity |
Spine | Sharp projection |
Sulcus | groove |
Suture | seam |
Trochanter | broad flat projection (on femur) |
Trochlea | pulley shaped structure in which other structures pass or articulate |
Tubercle | small rounded surface projection |
Tuberosity | projecting part |
Arthrocentesis | surgical puncture of a joint to remove fluid for analysis |
Arthrography | injection of a joint with contrast material for radiographic examination |
Arthroscopy | visual examination of the joint using a fiberoptic scope |
Densitometer | device that measures bone density using light and x-rays |
Goniometer (goni/o-) | instrument that measures angles or range of motion in a joint |
Radiology | study of internal body structures after exposure to ionizing radiation, used to detect fractures and diseases of bones |
Ankylosis (ankyl/o-) | loss of joint mobility caused by disease, injury, ro surgery |
Arthralgia | joint pain |
Arthritis | inflammatory condition of joints |
Arthrodynia | joint pain |
Arthropathy | joint disease |
Bursitis | inflammation of the bursa |
Chondromalacia | abnormal cartilage softening |
Chondropathy | Cartilage disease |
Discospondylitis | inflammation of the intervertebral disc and vertebrae |
Epiphysitis | Inflammation of the growth plate |
Exostosis | benign growth on the bone surface |
Gouty Arthritis | joint inflammation associated with the formation of uric acid crystals in the joint |
Hip Dysplasia | abnormal development of the pelvic joint causing the head of the femur and the acetabulum not to be aligned properly |
Intervertebral Disc Disease (herniated disc, ruptured disc, IVDD) | rupture of protrusion of the cushioning disc found between the vertebrae that results in pressure on the spinal cord nerve roots |
Kyphosis | dorsal curvature of the spine, hunchback |
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease | idiopathic necrosis of the femoral head and neck of small breed dogs, also called avascular necrosis of the femoral head and neck |
Lordosis | position in which the vertebral column is abnormally curved ventrally, seen in cats in heat, commonly called swayback |
Luxation | Dislocation of displacement of a bone from it's joint |
Myeloma | tumor composed of cells derived from hematopoietic tissues of bone marrow |
Ostealgia | bone pain |
Osteitis | inflammation of bone |
Osteoarthritis | degenerative joint disease commonly associated with aging or wear and tear on the joints, also called degenerative joint disease, or DJD |
Osteochondrosis | degeneration or necrosis of bone and cartilage followed by regeneration or recalcification |
Osteochondrosis Dissecans | degeneration or necrosis of bone and cartilage followed by regeneration or recalcification with dissecting flap or articular cartilage and some inflammatory joint changes |
Osteophytes (Joint mice) | detached pieces of articular cartilage |
Osteomalacia | abnormal softening of bone |
Osteomyelitis | inflammation of bone and bone marrow |
Osteonecrosis | death fo bone tissue |
Osteoporosis | abnormal condition of marked loss of bone density and an increase in bone porosity |
Osteosclerosis | abnormal hardening of bone |
Periostitis | inflammation of the fibrous tissue that forms the outermost covering of bone |
Rheumatoid Arthritis | Autoimmune disorder of the connective tissue and joints |
Sequestrum | piece of dead bone that is partially or fully detached from the adjacent healthy bone |
Spondylitis | inflammation of the vertebrae |
Spondylosis | any degenerative disorder of the vertebrae |
Spondylosis Deformans | chronic degeneration of the articular processes and the development of bony outgrowths around the ventral edge of the vertebrae |
Spur | bony projection growing out of a bone |
Subluxation | partial dislocation or displacement of a bone from its joint |
Synovitis | Inflammatin of the synovial membrane of joints |
Avulsion Fracture | broken bone in which the site of muscle, tendon, or ligament insertion is detached by a forceful pull |
Callus | bulging deposit around the area of a bone fracture that may eventually become bone |
Closed Fracture (simple fracture) | broken bone in which there is no open wound in the skin |
Comminuted Fracture | broken bone that is splintered or crushed into multiple pieces |
Compression Fracture | broken bone produced when the bones are pressed together |
Crepitation (Crepitus) | cracking sensation that is felt and heard when broken bones move together |
Displaced Fracture | bone fracture parts are out of line |
Fracture | broken bone |
Greenstick Fracture (Incomplete fracture) | bone that is broken only on one side and the other side si bent |
Immobilization | act of holding, suturing, or fastening a bone in a fixed position, usually with a bandage or cast |
Manipulation (reduction) | Attempted realignment of the bone involved in a fracture of dislocation, |
Oblique Fracture | broken bone that has an angular break diagonal to the long axis |
Open Fracture (Compound Fracture) | broken bone in which there id an open wound in the skin |
Pathologic Fracture | broken bone in an area of bone weakened by disease |
Physeal Fracture | bone that is broken at the epiphyseal line or growth plate, Salter-Harris I-V fractures |
Spiral Fracture | broken bone in which the bone is twisted apart or spiraled apart |
Stress Fracture | broken bone caused by repetitive, local stress on a bone |
Transverse Fracture | broken bone that is broken at right angles to it's axis or straight across the bone |
Amputation | removal of some, or all of a body part |
Arthrodesis | fusion of a joint or the spinal vertebrae by surgical means |
-desis | to bind or surgical fixation of a bone or joint |
Chemonucleolysis | process of dissolving part of the center of an intervertebral disc by injecting a foreign substance |
Craniotomy | surgical incision or opening in the skull |
External Fixation | Alignment of bone maintained by immobilizing the bone near the fracture through the use of casts, ,splints, or external fixators (rods, or pins) |
Internal Fixation | alignment of bone maintained by immobilizing the bone directly at the fracture site through the use of wires, screws, pins, or paltes |
Laminectomy | surgical removal of the dorsal arch of a vertebra |
Ostectomy | surgical removal of bone |
Osteocentesis | surgical puncture of a bone |
Osteodensis | Fusion of bones |
Osteopexy | surgical fixation of a bone to the body wall |
Osteoplasty | surgical repair of a bone |
Osteostomy | surgical creation of a permanent new opening in bone |
Osteotomy | Surgical incision or sectioning of bone |
Trephination | process of cutting a hole into a bone using trephine |
Trephine | circular sawlike instrument used to remove bone or tissue |
Adjustment (manipulation) | the application of a controlled rapid thrust of precise direction and depth delivered to a specific contact point |
Extension (chiropractic) | ventral arching or straightening of the spine |
Flexion (chiropractic) | Dorsal arching for the spine |
Lateral Flexion (chiropractic) | bowing or bending to each side (left or right) |
Rotation (chiropractic) | twisting to the left or right |
Fixation | when a joint becomes immobilized in a fixed position that may occur at rest or during a normal movement |
Malarticulations | the connections between bones that do not line up correctly |
Misalignment (subluxation) | vertebral misalignment, interfering with nerve signals from the brain |
Motion segment | basic functional unit of the spine |
Range of motion | amount of movement that occurs at a particular joint (ROM) |
Spinal Manipulation | used to restore normal motion and alignment |
Ambulation | walking, running, moving from one place to another |
My/o-, Myos/o- | muscle |
Fibr/o-, Fibros/o- | fibrous tissue |
Skeletal Muscle | striated, voluntary movement, attaches bones to the body and makes motion possible |
Smooth Muscle | Nonstriated, Unstriated, involuntary, visceral, produces slow contractions to allow unconscious function of internal organs |
Cardiac Muscle | Striated, involuntary, contraction of the heart muscle |
Fascia (Fasci/o-, Fasc/i-) | sheet of fibrous connective tissue that covers supports and separates muscles |
Tendon (tend/o-, tendin/o-) | narrow band of connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone |
Linea Alba | a fibrous band of connective tissue on the ventral abdominal wall that is the median attachment of the abdominal muscles |
Aponeurosis (aponeur/o-) | a fibrous sheet that provides attachment to muscular fibers and is a means of origin or insertion of a flat muscle |
Kinesi/o-, -kinesis | movement |
Kinesiology | study of movement |
Antagonistic | things that work opposite each other (with muscles they are a pair that produce movement in opposite directions) |
Anti- | against |
Agon- | struggle |
Synergists | things that work together (with muscles they contract at the same time to help move or support) |
Contraction | tightening of a muscle |
Relaxation | lessening tension, or release, of a muscle |
Neuromuscular Junction | point at which nerve endings come in contact with the muscle cells |
Tonus | muscle tone |
Muscle Origin | the place where the muscle begins, or originates, a more fixed attachment |
Muscle Insertion | the place there the muscle ends, or inserts and a more moveable part |
Abductor | muscle that moves away from the midline |
Adducter | Muscle that moves a part toward the midline |
Flexor | muscle that bends a limb at it's joint or decreases the joint angle |
Extensor | muscle that straightens a limb, or lessens the angle of the joint |
Levator | Muscle that raises or elevates |
Depressor | Muscle that lowers or depresses |
Rotator | Muscle that turns a body part on it's axis |
Supinator | Muscle that rotates the palmar or plantar surface upwards |
Pronator | Muscle that rotates the palmar or plantar surface downwards |
Pectoral Muscles | located on the chest
Pector = chest |
Epaxial Muscles | located above the pelvic axis
epi-above, axis- line which rotation occurs, |
Intercostal Muscles | located between the ribs |
Infraspinatus Muscles | located beneath the spine of the scapula |
Supraspinatus Muscles | located above the spine of the scapula |
Externus | outer |
Internus | Inner |
Orbicularis | muscles surrounding a structure |
Rectus | Straight direction of muscle fiber |
Oblique | slanted outward, direction of muscle fiber |
Transverse | crosswise, direction of muscle fiber |
Sphincter | tight band, direction of muscle fiber |
Biceps | muscles with 2 divisions |
Triceps | muscles with 3 divistion |
Quadriceps | muscles with 4 divisions |
Minimus | small size of muscle |
Manimus (Vastus) | large size of muscle |
Latissimus | broad size of muscle |
Longissimus (gracilis) | narrow size of muscle |
Major | describes larger parts of muscle |
Minor | describes smaller parts of muscle |
Deltoid | muscle looks like triangle (greek delta) |
Quadratus | muscles that are square or 4 sided |
Rhomboideus | muscles that are diamond shaped |
Scalenus | muscles that are unequally 3 sided |
Serratus | muscles that are saw toothed |
Teres | muscles that ae cylindrical |
Electromyography | process of recording the electrical activity fo the muscle cells |
Electromyogram | the record of the strength of muscle contraction caused by electrical stimulation |
Adhesion | band of fibers that hold structures together in an abnormal fashion |
Ataxia | lack of voluntary control of muscle movement |
Atonic | lacking muscle tone |
Atrophy | decrease size or complete wasting of an organ, tissue, or cell |
Dystrophy | defective growth |
Fascitis | inflammation on the sheet fo fibrous connective tissue that covers, supports, and separates muscle |
Fibroma | tumor composed of fully developed connective tissue (fibroid) |
Hernia | Protrusion of a body part through tissues that normally contain it. |
Laxity | looseness |
Leiomyositis | inflammation of smooth muscle |
Leomyoma | benign tumor of smooth muscle |
Myasthenia | muscle weaknes (-asthenia = weakness) |
Myoclonus | muscle spasm (clon/o- = violent action, spasm) |
Myoma | benign tumor of muscle |
Myopathy | abnormal condition or disease of muscle |
Myositis | inflammation of voluntary muscles |
Myotonia | Delayed relaxation of muscle afer contraction |
rhabdomyoma | benign tumor of striated muscle |
tendinitis | inflammation of the tendon (connecting muscle to bone) |
Tetany | muscle spasms or twitching |
Myectomy | surgical removal of muscle |
Myoplasty | Surgical repair of muscle |
Myotomy | surgical incision into muscle |
Tenectomy | surgical removal of a part of tendon |
Tenotomy | surgical division of a tendon |
DJD | degenerative joint disease |
EMG | electromyography |
Fx | fracture |
IVDD | intervertebral disc disease |
P1 | phalanx 1 |
P2 | phalanx 2 |
P3 | phalanx 3 |
RA | rheumatoid arthritis |
ROM | range of motion |
TPO | triple pelvic osteotomy |