Term | Definition |
Periosteum | The tough fibrous tissue that forms the outermost covering of bone. |
Cartilage | The smooth, rubbery blue white connective tissue that acts as a shock absorber between bones. |
Diaphysis | The shaft of the long bone. |
Epiphysis | The wide end of the long bone which is covered with cartilage. |
Articulations | Connections between bones that allows motion between parts. |
Suture | The jagged line where bones join and form a joint that does not move. |
Axial skeleton | Has 80 bones and protects the major organs of the nervous, respiratory, and circulatory systems. |
Appendicular skeleton | Has 126 bones and makes body movement possible and also protects the organs of digestion, excretion, and reproduction. |
Cranium | The portion of the skull that encloses the brain. |
Auditory ossicles | The bones of the middle ear. |
Zygomatic bones | Cheekbones. |
Mandible | The lower jawbone. |
Costals | Ribs |
Sternum | Also know as the breastbone. |
Xiphoid process | The lower portion of the sternum which is made of cartilage. |
Clavicle | Also known as the collar bone. |
Scapula | Also know as the shoulder blade. |
Humerus | The bone of the upper arm. |
Radius | The smaller bone of the forearm. Runs up the thumb side. |
Ulna | The larger bone of the forearm. It articulates with the humerus to form the elbow joint. |
Olecranon process | Commonly known as the funny bone. |
Carpals | The bones of the wrist. |
Metacarpals | The bones that form the palm of the hand. |
Phalanges | The bones of the fingers and the toes. |
Spinal column | Also known as the vertebral column. |
Cervical vertebrae | The first set of 7 vertebrae theat form the neck. |
Thoracic vertebrae | The second set of 12 vertebrae that form the outward curve of the spine. |
Lumbar vertebrae | Make up the third set of 5 vertebrae that are the largest and strongest and form the inward curve of the spine. |
Sacrum | A slightly curved triangular shaped bone near the base of the spine. |
Coccyx | Also known as the tailbone. |
Femur/femor/o | The largest bone in the body, the upper leg, also known as the thigh bone. |
Patella | The kneecap. |
Tibia | The larger weight bearing bone in the anterior of the lower leg, also known as the shin bone. |
Fibula | The smaller of the two bones in the lower leg. |
Ambi | Both |
Arthr/o | Joint |
Chondr/o | Cartilage |
Cost/o | Rib |
Inter | between |
-malacia | softening |
orth/o | straight |
oste/o | bone |
patell/o | patellar (knee cap) |
scoli/o | crooked, curve |
Arthritis | Inflammation of the joints |
Chondromalacia | Softening of the cartilage |
Osteoarthritis | Inflammation of the bones and joints |
Osteoporosis | Pertaining to the porous condition of the bones |
Scoliosis | Condition of being bent |
CXR | Chest x-ray |
FX | fractures |