Medical Terminology - Pathology (Skeletal System)

greenstick fracture

-fracture in which there is a incomplete break, one side of bone is broken, other side is bent >common in children

stress fracture

a slight fracture caused by repetitive low-impact forces, like running

myeloma

a tumor that forms in bone marrow tissue

osteochondroma

a tumor, usually benign, that consists of both bone and cartilage tissue

chondroma

a tumor, usually benign, that forms in cartilage

lordosis

abnormal increase in the forward curvature of the lumbar spine >a.k.a. swayback

kyphosis

abnormal increase in the outward curvature of the thoracic spin >a.k.a. hunchback, humpback

scoliosis

abnormal lateral curvature of the spine

subluxation

an incomplete dislocation, the joint alignment is disrupted, but the ends of the bones remain in contact

osteoarthritis

arthritis resulting in degeneration of the bones and joints, especially those bearing weight >results in bone rubbing against bone

ostealgia

bone pain

exostosis

bone spur

fracture (FX, fx)

broken bone

whiplash

cervical muscle and ligament sprain or strain as a result of a sudden movement forward and backward of the head and neck

rheumatoid arthritis

chronic form of arthritis with inflammation of joints, swelling, stiffness, pain, and changes in cartilage that can result in crippling deformities >considered to be an autoimmune disease

systemic lupus erythematosus

chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of connective tissue affecting many systems that may include joint pain and arthritis >may be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis

Paget's disease

common metabolic disease of the bone from unknown causes, usually attacks middle-aged and older adults >characterized by bone destruction and deformity

Colles' fracture

common type of wrist fracture

transverse fracture

complete fracture that is straight across the bone at right angles to the long axis of the bone

spina bifida

congenital anomaly occurring when a vertebra fails to fully form around the spinal cord

talipes

congenital deformity causing misalignment of the ankle joint and foot >a.k.a. clubfoot

sprain

damage to the ligaments surrounding a joint due to overstretching, but no dislocation of the joint or fracture of the bone

osteoporosis

decrease in bone mass producing a thinning and weakening of bone with resulting fractures >bone becomes porous, especially in spine and pelvis

rickets

deficiency in calcium and vitamin D during early childhood, results in bone deformities, especially bowed legs

oblique fracture

fracture at an angle to the bone

pathologic fracture

fracture caused by diseased or weakened bone

impacted fracture

fracture in which bone fragments are pushed into each other

comminuted fracture

fracture in which bone is shattered, splintered, or crushed into many small pieces

spiral fracture

fracture in which the fracture line spirals around the shaft of the bone >can be caused by twirling injury, often slow to heal

compound fracture

fracture in which the skin has been broken through to the fracture >a.k.a. open fracture

closed fracture

fracture in which there is no open skin wound >a.k.a. simple fracture

compression fracture

fracture involving loss of height of a vertebral body >may be result of trauma, but in older people, especially women, it could be cause by conditions like osteoporosis

osteopathy

general term for bone disease

herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP)

herniation or protrusion of an intervertebral disk >a.k.a. herniated disk or ruptured disk >may require surgery

bursitis

inflammation of a bursa

osteomyelitis

inflammation of bone and bone marrow

synovitis

inflammation of synovial membrane

bunion

inflammation of the bursa of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (base of big toe)

ankylosing spondylitis

inflammatory spinal condition resembling rheumatoid arthritis and results in gradual stiffening and fusion of the vertebrae >more common in men

arthralgia

joint pain

Ewing's sarcoma

malignant growth found in the shaft of long bones that spreads through the periosteum >Removal = treatment of choice because tumor will metastasize to other organs

callus

mass of bone tissue that forms at a fracture site during its healing

spinal stenosis

narrowing of the spinal canal causing pressure on the cord and nerves

crepitation

noise produced by bones or cartilage rubbing together in conditions such as arthritis >a.k.a. crepitus

dislocation

occurs when bone and joint are displaced from normal alignment and the ends of the bones are no longer in contact

osteomalacia

softening of the bones caused by a deficiency of calcium >thought to be caused by insufficient sunlight and vitamin D in children

chondromalacia

softening of the cartilage

spondylosis

specifically refers to ankylosing of the spine, commonly used in reference to any degenerative condition of the vertebral column

spondylolisthesis

the forward sliding of a lumbar vertebra over the vertebra below it

osteogenic sarcoma

the most common type of bone cancer, usually begins in osteocytes found at the ends of long bones