Copy of `Alberta Bone and Joint - Bone terms`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

Alberta Bone and Joint - Bone terms Category: Health and Medicine > Osteopathy Date & country: 04/10/2013, CA Words: 182

Lordosis
A medical condition of the spine where there is an exaggerated inward curvature of the lower back. (See other spine conditions Scoliosis and Kyphosis).

LPN
See Licensed Practical Nurse.

Lumbar
Referring to the 5 lumbar vertebrae which are situated below the thoracic vertebrae and above the sacral vertebrae in the spinal column. The lumbar vertebrae are represented by the symbols L1 through L5.

Marrow
Soft blood-forming tissue that fills the cavities of bones.

Meniscectomy
Removal of the meniscus cartilage from the knee.

Meniscus
Aa crescent-shaped structure that acts as a smooth surface for the joint to move on. From the Greek word meniskos, meaning crescent.

Metacarpals
Five bones in the hand that extend from the wrist to the fingers.

Metatarsals
Five bones in the foot extending from the heel (tarsus), to the toes.

MOA
Medical Office Assistant.

Mobile lab
Laboratory services that travel to a desired location.

MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging; the use of electromagnetic radiation to capture images of the body

MSK
Musculoskeletal; also a medical doctor who specializes in treating the muscles and skeleton.

Musculoskeletal
Of, or related to, the muscles, tendons and skeleton.

Necrosis
The death of cells in body tissue or organs caused by disease or injury.

Nurse practitioner
A registered nurse with at least a master's degree in nursing and advanced education in the primary care of particular groups of clients.

Occupational therapy
The use of daily living activities, such as dressing, bathing and preparing meals, to treat an illness or medical condition.

Operative leg
The leg on which surgery has been performed.

OR
Operating room.

Orthopaedic surgeon
A doctor who specializes in surgery on bones, joints, ligaments and muscles.

Osteo
Greek word meaning 'of the bone.'

Osteoarthritis
A condition, also called degenerative joint disease, in which there is gradual loss of cartilage of the joints. It is most common after middle age.

Osteomyelitis
A bone infection.

Osteonecrosis
Bone death, often as a result of obstruction in its blood supply.

Osteoporosis
A disease that causes the bone tissue to become porous, resulting in the loss of bone mass. It is most common in people over 50, and is more prevalent in women.

Osteotomy
Taking out part or all of a bone, or cutting into or through a bone.

OT
Occupational therapy or Occupational Therapist.

Out-patient
A patient who visits a medical facility, such as a hospital or clinic, for treatment but does not stay overnight.

Patella
The kneecap. Together, the kneecap (patella), thigh bone (femur) and shinbones (tibia and fibula) make up the knee joint.

Patient controlled analgesia (PCA)
Whereby the patient self-administers the amount of medication required to control pain.

PCA pump
The device used by the patient to self-administer medication to control pain.

PE
See pulmonary embolism.

Plantar
Sole or flexor surface of the foot.

Plantar fasciitis
Irritation of the plantar fascia; a common cause of heel pain.

Planus
Flattening of the arch of the foot.

Primary care
Assessment and treatment by a general practitioner or nurse.

Prosthesis
An artificial body part, such as a joint or limb.

PT
Physical therapy or Physical Therapist.

Pubis
Front centre portion of the pelvis.

Pulmonary embolism (PE)
A blood clot in the main artery of the lungs or one of its branches that causes low blood oxygen saturation and rapid heart rate. Symptoms of PE include difficulty breathing, chest pain and palpitations. Severe cases of PE can lead to loss of consciousness, abnormally low blood pressure and sudden death.

Quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs, both arms and both legs.

Range of motion
The distance or degree over which something

Rehabilitation
In health care, the process of improving or recovering lost function after an injury or illness that has caused functional limitations.

Rhabdomyolysis
The rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle due to injury.

Rheumatic diseases
Conditions affecting the joints, bones, muscles and skin that cause one or more of the following symptoms: inflammation, stiffness, weakness, loss of mobility and deformity.

Rheumatoid arthritis
A chronic disease of the joints characterized by inflammation, stiffness, weakness, loss of mobility and eventual deformity.

Rheumatologist
A doctor who studies, diagnoses and treats arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles and bones.

RN
See Registered Nurse.

ROM
Range of motion.

Sacral
Referring to the sacrum, the 5 vertebral bones located between the lumbar vertebrae and the coccyx.

Sacrum
One of the three bones that make up the pelvic ring.

Scapula
Shoulder blade.

Scoliosis
A medical condition where there is an exaggerated sideways curvature of the spine. (See other spine conditions Kyphosis and Lordosis).

Skeleton
Supporting framework of the human body composed of 206 bones.

Socket
A hollow in one bone into which another adjoining bone fits.

Spinal
Of or relating to the spine; also, a commonly used medical term referring to a local anaesthetic administered by injection into the area between the bones of the spine and the outer membrane covering the spinal cord.

Spinal column
Central supporting bony structure of the body.

Spine
Column of 33 vertebrae extending from the base of the skull to the tip of the coccyx.

Sports medicine
The area of medicine related to prevention, recognition, management and rehabilitation of injuries related to sport, exercise or recreational activity.

Sprain
Partial or complete tear of a ligament.

Staple
In medicine, a thin wire used to close a wound or incision in the body.

STELP
Short-Term Equipment Loan Pool; in medicine, a supply of medical equipment that is shared by patients for short-term use.

Strain
Partial tear of a muscle.

Sub-acute care
Treatment of a medical condition that develops more slowly and with less severity than an acute condition.

Subchondral cyst formation
A medical condition in which a fluid-filled sac extrudes from the joint. The sack is filled with fluid that usually serves as a lubricant for the joint. Formation of subchondral cysts typically indicates an early phase of osteoarthritis.

Suture
A material, such as a thread or wire, used to close a wound or incision in the body.

Synovial fluid
A lubricating fluid with yolk-like consistency that serves to reduce friction between the cartilage of synovial joints during movement.

Synovial joint
The most common and most moveable type of joint in the human body, synovial joints are distinguished from other types of joints by the presence of an envelope surrounding the surface of the joint that contains a lubricating fluid. Examples of synovial joints include hip, knee, shoulder and wrist joints.

Talus
Ankle bone.

Tarsus
Heel bone.

Temporal bones
The bones situated at the sides and base of the skull that support the temple.

Tendinitis or tendonitis
Inflammation of a tendon, most commonly resulting from an injury.

Tendons
Cords of fibrous connective tissue that attach muscle to bones.

Thoracic
Relating to the chest; the thoracic vertebrae are located between the cervical and lumbar vertebrae.

Tibia
The larger of the two bones in the lower leg, generally called the shin bone.

Ulna
Inner and larger bone of the forearm.

Unilateral
Affecting only one side of the body.

Valgus
A deformity marked by outward angulation of a segment of bone. See bowlegged.

Varus
A deformity marked by inward angulation of a segment of bone. See knock-kneed.

Vertebrae
One of 33 bony segments that form the spinal column. There are 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral and 4 coccygeal vertebrae.

Weight bearing restriction
The maximum amount of weight permitted on an operated limb, as established by care providers.

X-ray
A diagnostic imaging technique that uses low levels of X-radiation projected against film to define the skeletal system. X-rays are useful for diagnosing problems of the skeletal system and detecting some diseases in soft tissues.

Zygomatic bone
The part of the temporal bone of the skull that forms the prominence of the cheek.