Chabner (2012): Medical Terminology.

A Short
250 APPENDIX 1 BODY SYSTEMS
Course
Musculoskeletal System
ANATOMY

Cranium
(crani/o)

Cervical vertebra

Clavicle
(clavicul/o)

Scapula
(scapul/o)
Sternum
(stern/o) Ribs
(cost/o)
Xiphoid process Thoracic vertebra
Humerus
Lumbar vertebra (humer/o)
Ulna
(uln/o)
Ilium Radius
Pelvis (radi/o)
Pubis
(pelv/o) Sacrum
Ischium (sacr/o)
Carpals
(carp/o)

Phalanges
Femur (phalang/o)
(femor/o)
Metacarpals
(metacarp/o)
Patella
(patell/o)

Tibia
(tibi/o)

Fibula
(fibul/o, perone/o)

Medial malleolus
Tarsals
(tars/o)
Metatarsals
(metatars/o)

Bones are connected to muscles that contract to move the body. Joints are the spaces between bones.
Near the joints are ligaments that connect bones to other bones and tendons that connect bones to
muscles. (Modified from Chabner D-E: The Language of Medicine, ed 9, Philadelphia, 2011, Saunders.)
 APPENDIX 1 BODY SYSTEMS 251

For your reference, included here are anterior and posterior views of superficial muscles in the body.

Orbicularis oculi

Orbicularis oris

Sternocleidomastoid
Platysma
Levator scapulae
and scalenes

Latissimus Trapezius
dorsi
Deltoid
Rectus
abdominis Pectoralis major

External Biceps brachii

oblique
Brachialis
Gluteus
medius Triceps brachii

Gracilis

Adductor
magnus

Sartorius

Quadriceps
femoris

Gastrocnemius
Tibialis
anterior Peroneus longus
Tibialis anterior
Peroneus
longus

Soleus

The anterior superficial muscles. (Modified from Miller-Keane: Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine,
Nursing, and Allied Health, ed 7, Philadelphia, 2003, Saunders.)
252 APPENDIX 1 BODY SYSTEMS

Orbicularis oculi

Sternocleidomastoid

Masseter Biceps
brachii
Buccinator

Trapezius

Deltoid
Brachialis
Triceps brachii
Rhomboideus
Brachioradialis major

Latissimus
dorsi

External
oblique

Gluteus
maximus

Adductor
magnus

Gracilis

Biceps
femoris

Gastrocnemius

Soleus

Achilles tendon

The posterior superficial muscles. (Modified from Miller-Keane: Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine,
Nursing, and Allied Health, ed 7, Philadelphia, 2003, Saunders.)
 APPENDIX 1 BODY SYSTEMS 253

TERMINOLOGY
Meanings for terminology are found in the Mini-Dictionary: Glossary of Medical
Terms.

COMBINING
FORM MEANING TERMINOLOGY MEANING

arthr/o joint arthroscopy _ ___________________________________

chondr/o cartilage chondroma _____________________________________

cost/o rib costochondritis _ ________________________________

crani/o skull craniotomy _____________________________________

ligament/o ligament ligamentous ____________________________________

muscul/o muscle muscular _______________________________________

my/o muscle myosarcoma ____________________________________

myos/o muscle myositis ________________________________________

myel/o bone marrow myelodysplasia _________________________________

oste/o bone osteomyelitis ___________________________________

pelv/o pelvis, hipbone pelvic __________________________________________

spondyl/o vertebra spondylosis _____________________________________

vertebr/o vertebra intervertebral _ _________________________________

ten/o tendon tenorrhaphy ____________________________________

tendin/o tendon tendinitis _ _____________________________________

254 APPENDIX 1 BODY SYSTEMS

PATHOLOGY
Definitions for additional terms in boldface are found in the Mini-Dictionary:
Glossary of Medical Terms.

Ankylosing spondylitis: Chronic, progressive arthritis with stiffening (ankylosis)

of joints, primarily of the spine and hip.
Carpal tunnel syndrome: Compression of the median nerve as it passes between the
ligament and the bones and tendons of the wrist.
Gouty arthritis: Inflammation of joints caused by excessive uric acid. Also called
gout.
Muscular dystrophy: An inherited disorder characterized by progressive weakness
and degeneration of muscle fibers.
Osteoporosis: Decrease in bone density with thinning and weakening of bone.
-POROSIS means condition of containing passages or spaces.
Rheumatoid arthritis: Chronic inflammation of joints; pain, swelling, and stiffening,
especially in the small joints of the hands and feet. RHEUMAT/O means flowing,
descriptive of the swelling in joints.

LABORATORY TESTS AND DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

Consult Appendix 2 for pronunciation of terms and additional information.

Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test: Test in which a sample of plasma is tested for the
presence of antibodies found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Arthrocentesis: Surgical puncture to remove fluid from a joint.
Arthrography: X-ray imaging of a joint.
Arthroscopy: Visual examination of a joint with an arthroscope.
Bone density test: Low-energy x-rays are used to image bones in the spinal column,
pelvis, and wrist to detect areas of bone deficiency.
Bone scan: Procedure in which a radioactive substance is injected intravenously and
its uptake in bones is measured with a special scanning device.
Calcium level: Measurement of the amount of calcium in a sample of blood (serum).
This test is important in evaluating diseases of bone.
Electromyography (EMG): Recording of the strength of muscle contraction as a
result of electrical stimulation.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): Measurement of the rate at which red
blood cells fall to the bottom of a test tube. High sedimentation rates are associated
with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Muscle biopsy: The removal of muscle tissue for microscopic examination.
Uric acid test: Measurement of the amount of uric acid in a sample of blood. High
uric acid levels are associated with gouty arthritis.
 APPENDIX 1 BODY SYSTEMS 255

TREATMENT PROCEDURES
Arthroplasty: Surgical repair of a joint. Total hip arthroplasty is the replacement of
the head of the femur (thigh bone) and acetabulum (cup-shaped portion of the hip
socket) with artificial parts (prostheses) that are cemented into the bone.
Endoscopic diskectomy: Surgical removal of a herniated intervertebral disk with an
endoscope.
Laminectomy: Surgical removal of a portion of a vertebra to allow visualization and
removal of a portion of a protruding disk.
Microscopic diskectomy: Surgical removal of a herniated intervertebral disk with an
incision that is 1 to 2 inches long and visualization of the surgical field with an
operating microscope.
Vertebroplasty: Surgical repair of vertebrae. Special cement is injected into
compressed backbones to strengthen them and to relieve pain.

USEFUL ABBREVIATIONS
ACL Anterior cruciate ligament (of the knee)
ANA Antinuclear antibody
C1-C7 Cervical vertebrae
Ca Calcium
DOMS Delayed-onset muscle soreness
EMG Electromyography
ESR Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
IM Intramuscular
L1-L5 Lumbar vertebrae
NSAID Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (prescribed to treat joint
disorders)
Ortho Orthopedics (or orthopaedics)
PT Physical therapy
ROM Range of motion
T1-T12 Thoracic vertebrae
256 APPENDIX 1 BODY SYSTEMS

MATCHING EXERCISES
The following exercises will help you review terminology related to the musculoskeletal
system. Answers begin on page 288.

A Match the term in Column I with its description in Column II.

COLUMN I COLUMN II

1. cranium _____ A. Finger bones

2. clavicle _____ B. Thigh bone

3. humerus _____ C. Kneecap

4. radius _____ D. Lower arm bone on the thumb side

5. ulna _____ E. Collarbone

6. carpals _____ F. Tailbone

7. metacarpals _____ G. Breastbone

8. phalanges _____ H. Skull

9. scapula _____ I. Ankle bones

10. sternum _____ J. Lower arm bone (little finger side)

11. tarsals _____ K. Upper arm bone

12. metatarsals _____ L. Smaller of the lower leg bones

13. fibula _____ M. Hip bone

14. tibia _____ N. Lower part of the backbone near the hip

15. patella _____ O. Bones surrounding the chest cavity

16. sacrum _____ P. Larger of the lower leg bones

17. coccyx _____ Q. Hand bones

18. pelvis _____ R. Wrist bones

19. femur _____ S. Foot bones

20. ribs _____ T. Shoulder bone

 APPENDIX 1 BODY SYSTEMS 257

B Match the combining form in Column I with its meaning in Column II.

COLUMN I COLUMN II

1. crani/o _____ A. Backbone

2. arthr/o _____ B. Cartilage

3. oste/o _____ C. Joint

4. cost/o _____ D. Skull

5. pelv/o _____ E. Rib

6. my/o _____ F. Muscle

7. ten/o _____ G. Hip bone

8. chondr/o _____ H. Bone

9. spondyl/o _____ I. Connects muscles to bones

10. ligament/o _____ J. Connects bones to other bones

C Match the medical term in Column I with its meaning in Column II.

COLUMN I COLUMN II

1. myelodysplasia _____ A. Incision of the skull

2. intervertebral _____ B. Inflammation of cartilage attached to ribs

3. osteomyelitis _____ C. Suture of a tendon

4. arthroscopy _____ D. Inflammation of bone and bone marrow

5. costochondritis _____ E. Pertaining to between the backbones

6. chondroma _____ F. Benign tumor of cartilage tissue

7. tenorrhaphy _____ G. Abnormal growth of bone marrow cells

8. myosarcoma _____ H. Malignant tumor of muscle tissue

9. craniotomy _____ I. Visual examination of a joint

258 APPENDIX 1 BODY SYSTEMS

D Match the pathologic condition in Column I with its meaning in Column II.

COLUMN I COLUMN II

1. gouty arthritis _____ A. Chronic, progressive arthritis with

stiffening of joints between the backbones
2. carpal tunnel syndrome _____
B. Compression of the median nerve in the
3. rheumatoid arthritis _____ wrist

4. osteoporosis _____ C. High levels of uric acid with inflammation

of joints
5. ankylosing spondylitis _____
D. Weakness and degeneration of muscle
6. muscular dystrophy _____ fibers; congenital condition

E. Chronic inflammation of joints, especially

small bones in the hands and feet

F. Decrease in bone density with thinning

and weakening of bone
 APPENDIX 1 BODY SYSTEMS 259

E Match the test or procedure in Column I with its description in Column II.

COLUMN I COLUMN II

1. arthrocentesis _____ A. Recording the strength of muscle

contraction
2. serum calcium _____ B. Measures sedimentation rate of red blood
cells; indicates inflammation
3. electromyography _____
C. Plasma is tested for antibodies that are
4. bone scan _____ present in patients with systemic lupus
erythematosus
5. ESR _____ D. Removal of muscle tissue for microscopic
analysis
6. ANA test _____ E. Surgical puncture to remove fluid from a
joint
7. muscle biopsy _____
F. Radioactive substance is injected
8. uric acid test _____ intravenously and uptake is measured in
bone tissue
9. arthroscopy _____ G. Measurement of an element in the blood
that is necessary for normal bone formation
10. arthrography _____ H. X-ray imaging of a joint
I. Measurement of the amount of a
substance in blood that is associated with
gouty arthritis
J. Visual examination of a joint using an
endoscope

F Match the treatment procedure in Column I with its description in Column II.

COLUMN I COLUMN II

1. laminectomy _____ A. Surgical repair of a joint

B. Surgical repair of a backbone
2. microscopic diskectomy _____
C. Removal of a herniated disk using a tiny
3. arthroplasty _____ incision and an operating microscope
D. Surgical removal of a portion of a vertebra
4. vertebroplasty _____ to allow visualization and removal of a
portion of a disk
5. endoscopic diskectomy _____ E. Surgical removal of a herniated disk with
an endoscope
 APPENDIX 1 BODY SYSTEMS 289

D 1. C 3. D 5. A 7. B
2. E 4. G 6. F
E 1. H 3. C 5. D 7. E 9. I
2. F 4. A 6. G 8. B
F 1. C 2. A 3. E 4. B 5. D
Lymphatic System
A 1. C 2. B 3. D 4. A 5. E
B 1. C 2. D 3. E 4. A 5. B
C 1. G 3. E 5. F 7. C
2. D 4. A 6. B
D 1. D 2. C 3. E 4. B 5. A
Male Reproductive System
A 1. C 2. B 3. D 4. A 5. E
B 1. B 2. E 3. D 4. F 5. C 6. A
C 1. D 3. F 5. A 7. B
2. E 4. C 6. G
D 1. E 2. F 3. C 4. D 5. B 6. A
E 1. E 2. F 3. D 4. C 5. A 6. B
Musculoskeletal System
A 1. H 5. J 9. T 13. L 17. F
2. E 6. R 10. G 14. P 18. M
3. K 7. Q 11. I 15. C 19. B
4. D 8. A 12. S 16. N 20. O
B 1. D 3. H 5. G 7. I 9. A
2. C 4. E 6. F 8. B 10. J
C 1. G 3. D 5. B 7. C 9. A
2. E 4. I 6. F 8. H
D 1. C 2. B 3. E 4. F 5. A 6. D
E 1. E 3. A 5. B 7. D 9. J
2. G 4. F 6. C 8. I 10. H
F 1. D 2. C 3. A 4. B 5. E
Nervous System
A 1. C 2. B 3. E 4. A 5. D
B 1. B 2. E 3. D 4. F 5. C 6. A
C 1. D 2. B 3. F 4. E 5. A 6. C
D 1. E 3. G 5. J 7. I 9. D
2. F 4. C 6. A 8. H 10. B
E 1. D 3. E 5. A 7. I 9. F
2. B 4. C 6. H 8. G