1. Medical Terminology: Get Connected!
Second Edition Suzanne S. Frucht
Chapter 6
Orthopedics: Musculoskeletal System

2. Learning Objectives 6.1 DESCRIBE the medical specialty of orthopedics.
6.2 UNDERSTAND the function of the musculoskeletal system.
6.3 DEFINE orthopedic-related combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes.
6.4 IDENTIFY the organs treated in orthopedics.

3. Learning Objectives
6.5 BUILD orthopedic medical terms from word parts.
6.6 EXPLAIN orthopedic medical terms.
6.7 USE orthopedic abbreviations.

4. Introduction to Orthopedics
Musculoskeletal system consists of:
Bones
Muscles
Joints
Bones joined together by ligaments
Forms skeleton
Framework of body

5. Introduction to Orthopedics
Joints
Point where two bones meet
Provides flexibility for movement
Muscles
Attached to bones by tendons
Contract to move bones at each joint

6. Orthopedics Also called orthopedic surgery
Branch of medicine concerned with bones, muscles, and joints
Orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons
Use medical, surgical, and physical means
Correct defects and improve function of bones, joints, and muscles

7. Orthopedics Examples of conditions include:
Birth defects such as spina bifida
Trauma such as fractures
Infections such as osteomyelitis
Tumors such as osteogenic sarcoma
Inflammatory conditions such as arthritis
Muscular problems such as muscular dystrophy

8. Orthopedics Combining Forms
arthr/o joint
burs/o bursa
chondr/o cartilage
muscul/o muscle
my/o muscle
myel/o bone marrow
oste/o bone
ten/o tendon
tendin/o tendon

9. Bone Combining Forms carp/o carpus (wrist)
clavicul/o clavicle (collar bone)
coccyg/o coccyx (tailbone)
cost/o rib
crani/o skull

10. Bone Combining Forms femor/o femur (thigh bone)
fibul/o fibula (thinner lower leg bone)
humer/o humerus (upper arm bone)
ili/o ilium (part of pelvis)
ischi/o ischium (part of pelvis)
kyph/o hump
lord/o bent backwards

11. Bone Combining Forms mandibul/o mandible (lower jaw)
maxill/o maxilla (upper jaw)
metacarp/o metacarpus (hand bones)
metatars/o metatarsus (foot bones)
patell/o patella (kneecap)

12. Bone Combining Forms phalang/o phalanges (fingers and toes)
pub/o pubis (part of pelvis)
radi/o radius (part of forearm)
sacr/o sacrum (part of pelvis)
scapul/o scapula (shoulder blade)
scoli/o crooked, bent

13. Bone Combining Forms spondyl/o vertebra stern/o sternum (breast bone)
tars/o tarsals (ankle)
tibi/o tibia (shin, larger lower leg bone)
uln/o ulna (part of forearm)
vertebr/o vertebra (back bone)

14. Additional Combining Forms
cutane/o skin
electr/o electricity
fibr/o fibrous
orth/o straight
path/o disease

15. Suffix Review -ac pertaining to -al pertaining to -algia pain
-ar pertaining to
-ary pertaining to
-asthenia weakness
-centesis puncture to withdraw fluid
-clasia surgical breaking
-cyte cell
-desis surgical fusion
-dynia pain
-eal pertaining to
-ectomy surgical removal
-genic producing
-gram record
-graphy process of recording
-ic pertaining to

16. Suffix Review -plasty surgical repair -itis inflammation
-kinesia movement
-malacia abnormal softening
-metry process of measuring
-oma tumor
-osis abnormal condition
-otomy cutting into
-ous pertaining to
-pathy disease
-plasty surgical repair
-porosis porous
-rrhaphy suture
-rrhexis rupture
-scope instrument for viewing
-scopy process of visually examining
-tome instrument to cut
-trophy development

17. Prefix Review a- without brady- slow dys- difficult, painful, abnormal
inter- between
intra- within
hyper- excessive
per- through
sub- under
supra- above

18. Figure 6.1 Examples of three types of joints found in the body

19. Figure The skeleton.

20. Figure 6.3 Types of muscles in the body.

21. Building Orthopedic Terms
For each orthopedic term introduced on the next few slides, write the completed term in your textbook (pg 77).

22. -ac Suffix meaning pertaining to Build a term meaning:
pertaining to under the ilium
subiliac

23. -al Suffix meaning pertaining to Build a term meaning:
pertaining to the wrist
carpal
pertaining to between the ribs
intercostal
pertaining to between the vertebra
intervertebral

24. -ar Suffix meaning pertaining to Build a term meaning:
pertaining to the fibula fibular

25. Arthr/o Combining form meaning joint Also called an articulation
Formed when two bones meet
Most joints are freely moving synovial joints

26. Figure 6.4 Typical synovial joints.

27. Arthr/o Build a term meaning: arthr/o + -gram
process of visually examining a joint
arthroscopy
surgical fixation of a joint arthrodesis
record of a joint arthrogram
arthr/o + -gram

28. -ary Suffix meaning pertaining to Build a term meaning:
pertaining to above the maxilla
supramaxillary

29. Burs/o Combining form meaning bursa Fluid-filled sac
Found between tendon and bone
Serves to reduce friction

30. Burs/o Build a term meaning: bursa inflammation bursitis
surgical removal of a bursa bursectomy
burs/o + -ectomy

31. Chondr/o Combining form meaning cartilage
Tough, flexible connective tissue
Covers ends of bones in joint
Serves as shock absorber

32. Chondr/o Build a term meaning: cartilage softening chondromalacia
cartilage tumor chondroma

33. Crani/o Combining form meaning skull Build a term meaning:
pertaining to the skull cranial
pertaining to within the skull intracranial
surgical repair of the skull cranioplasty

34. Figure Skull.

35. -eal Suffix meaning pertaining to Build a term meaning:
pertaining to the phalanges phalangeal

36. -ic Suffix meaning pertaining to Build a term meaning:
pertaining to above the pubis suprapubic

37. -kinesia Suffix meaning movement Build a term meaning:
slow movement bradykinesia
difficult movement dyskinesia
excessive movement hyperkinesia
hyper- + -kinesia

38. Muscul/o Combining form meaning muscle Contracts to produce movement
Three types
Skeletal muscle moves skeleton
Smooth muscle produces movement in internal organs like stomach and bladder
Cardiac muscle produces heartbeat

39. Figure Muscles.

40. Muscul/o Build a term meaning: intra- + muscul/o + -ar
pertaining to within muscle intramuscular
intra- + muscul/o + -ar

41. Myel/o Combining form meaning red bone marrow Found inside bones
Produces blood cells

42. Myel/o Build a term meaning: red bone marrow tumor myeloma
producing red bone marrow myelogenic

43. My/o Another combining form meaning muscle Build a term meaning:
muscle pain myalgia
muscle weakness myasthenia
record of muscle's electricity electromyogram

44. Oste/o Combining form meaning bone Hard, calcified connective tissue
Functions
Supports and moves body
Protects internal organs like heart and lungs
Houses red bone marrow
Serves as mineral storehouse

45. Figure Bone.

46. Oste/o Build a term meaning: bone cell osteocyte
producing bone osteogenic
bone and cartilage tumor osteochondroma

47. Spondyl/o Combining form meaning vertebra Build a term meaning:
abnormal condition of a vertebra
spondylosis

48. Ten/o Combining form meaning tendon Strong bands of connective tissue
Anchors muscles to bone

49. Ten/o
Build a term meaning:
suture of a tendon tenorrhaphy

50. Tendin/o Another combining form meaning tendon Build a term meaning:
abnormal condition of a tendon tendinosis

51. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
bone graft
Surgical procedure that uses a piece of bone to replace lost bone or to fuse two bones together
bone scan
Nuclear medicine scan using radioactive dye to visualize bones; especially useful for finding stress fractures and bone cancer
carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
Repetitive motion disorder caused by pressure on
tendons and nerves as they pass through carpal tunnel of wrist
closed fracture
Broken bone with no open skin wound; also called simple fracture

52. Figure 6.8 Nerves and blood vessels enclosed by carpal tunnel formed by wrist bones and tendons.

53. Figure 6.9 A) Closed (or simple) fracture and B) Open (or compound) fracture.

54. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
comminuted fracture
Bone break where bone shatters into many small fragments
compound fracture
Broken bone with open skin wound; also called open fracture (see Figure 6.9)
compression fracture
Bone break causing loss of height of vertebral body; may result from trauma, but in
older persons, especially women, may occur in a bone weakened by osteoporosis
contracture
Abnormal shortening of muscle fibers, tendons, or connective tissue making it difficult
to stretch muscle

55. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
creatine kinase (CK)
Muscle enzyme found in skeletal and cardiac muscle; elevated blood levels associated
with heart attack, muscular dystrophy, and other skeletal muscle pathologies
deep tendon reflexes (DTR)
Involuntary muscle contraction in response
to striking muscle tendon with reflex hammer;
test used to determine whether muscles
respond properly

56. Figure 6.10 Testing patellar reflex with a reflex hammer.

57. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
dislocation
Occurs when bones in joint are displaced from normal alignment and ends of bones are no longer in contact with each other
dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA)
Test using low-dose x-ray beams to measure bone density; used to diagnose osteoporosis
fibromyalgia
Chronic condition with widespread aching and pain in muscles and fibrous soft tissue

58. Figure The large bump on the top of the shoulder is caused by the upward dislocation of the humerus.

59. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
fixation
Procedure to stabilize fractured bone while it heals; external fixation includes casts, splints, and pins inserted through skin; internal fixation includes pins, plates, rods, screws, and wires that are put into place during a surgical procedure called open reduction
fracture (FX, Fx)
Broken bone
greenstick fracture
Fracture with incomplete break; one side of the bone breaks and other side only bends; commonly seen in children because their bones are still pliable

60. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP)
Protrusion of intervertebral disk between two vertebrae, which puts pressure on spinal nerves; also called herniated disk or ruptured disk; may require surgery
impacted fracture
Fracture in which one bone fragment is pushed into another
kyphosis
Abnormal increase in normal outward curvature of thoracic spine; also called hunchback or humpback

61. Figure 6.12 Protruding intervertebral disc putting pressure on a spinal nerve.

62. Figure 6.13 Abnormal spinal curvatures: kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis.

63. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
lordosis
Abnormal increase in normal forward curvature of lumbar spine; also called swayback (see Figure 6.13)
magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI)
Diagnostic imaging technique that uses electromagnetic energy to produce an image; especially useful for viewing soft tissues, such as spinal cord and intervertebral disks
muscle atrophy
Loss of muscle bulk due to muscle disease, nervous system disease, or lack of use; also called muscle wasting
muscular dystrophy (MD)
One of a group of inherited diseases involving progressive muscle degeneration, weakness, and atrophy
nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Large group of drugs that provide mild pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits for conditions such as arthritis

64. Figure 6.14 MRI showing a sagittal view of the vertebral column and intervertebral disks

65. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
oblique fracture
Bone break where fracture line runs along an angle to shaft of the bone
orthosis
Externally applied brace or splint to prevent or correct deformities; orthotist is person skilled in making and adjusting orthoses
osteoarthritis (OA)
Arthritis caused by loss of cartilage cushion covering bones in joint; most common in bearing weight joints; results in bone rubbing against bone
osteoporosis
Condition that develops due to a decrease in bone mass; results in a thinning and weakening of the bone; may lead to pathologic fractures; most commonly seen in older women

66. Figure 6.15 A stroke patient with an orthotic brace on her right arm.

67. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
osteogenic sarcoma
Most common type of bone cancer; usually begins in osteocytes found at ends of bones; most frequently occurs in persons 10–25 years old
pathologic fracture
Broken bone caused by diseased or weakened bone, not trauma
percutaneous diskectomy
Thin catheter tube is inserted into intervertebral disk through skin to suck out pieces of herniated or ruptured disk; or laser is used to vaporize disk

68. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
prosthesis
Any artificial device used as substitute for body part that is either missing from birth or lost as the result of an accident or
disease; example: artificial leg; prosthetist is person trained in making prostheses
radiography
Diagnostic imaging procedure using X-rays to see internal structure of body; especially useful for visualizing bones and joints
reduction
Correcting fracture or dislocation by realigning bone; closed reduction moves bones externally; open reduction manipulates bones through a surgical incision; open reduction usually performed before internal fixation of bone fragments

69. Figure 6.16 X-ray of lower leg showing fractures in the tibia and fibula.

70. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
repetitive motion disorder
Group of chronic disorders with tendon, muscle, joint, and nerve damage caused by prolonged periods of pressure, vibration, or repetitive movements
rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Arthritis with swelling, stiffness, pain, and degeneration of cartilage in joints caused by chronic soft tissue inflammation; may result in crippling deformities; an autoimmune disease
scoliosis
Abnormal lateral curvature of spine (see Figure 6.13)

71. Figure 6.17 Typical hand and wrist deformities of rheumatoid arthritis.

72. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
spasm
Sudden, involuntary, strong muscle contraction
spina bifida
Birth defect when vertebra fails to fully form around spinal cord; ranges from mild to severe; if spinal cord is damaged, paralysis results
spiral fracture
Bone break in which fracture line spirals around shaft of the bone; caused by twisting injury; often slower to heal than other types of fractures
sprain
Ligament injury from overstretching, but without joint dislocation or bone fracture

73. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
strain
Damage to the muscle or tendons from overuse or overstretching
stress fracture
A slight bone break caused by repetitive low-impact forces, like running, rather than single forceful impact
total hip arthroplasty (THA)
Surgical reconstruction of hip with artificial hip joint; also called total hip replacement (THR).

74. Figure 6.18 A fractured femur (A); repaired with a total hip arthroplasty (B).

75. Orthopedics Vocabulary
Term
Explanation
total knee arthroplasty (TKA)
Surgical reconstruction of knee joint with artificial knee joint; also called total knee replacement (TKR)
transverse fracture
Bone break with fracture line straight across shaft of bone

76. Orthopedics AbbreviationsAE
above elbow
CTS
carpal tunnel syndrome AK
above knee
DTR
deep tendon reflex
BDT
bone density test
EMG
electromyogram BE
below elbow IM
intramuscular BK
below knee MD
muscular dystrophy
BMD
bone mineral density
C1, C2, etc
first cervical vertebra, second cervical vertebra, etc.

77. Orthopedics AbbreviationsCa
calcium
JRA
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
DJD
degenerative joint disease
L1, L2, etc
first lumbar vertebra, second lumbar vertebra, etc.
DXA
dual-energy absorptiometry LE
lower extremity
FX, Fx
fracture
LLE
left lower extremity
HNP
herniated nucleus pulposus
LUE
left upper extremity

78. Orthopedics Abbreviations
NSAID
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug RA
rheumatoid arthritis OA
osteoarthritis
RLE
right lower extremity
ORIF
open reduction-internal fixation
RUE
right upper extremity
Orth, ortho
orthopedics
T1, T2, etc
first thoracic vertebra, second thoracic vertebra, etc.

79. Orthopedics Abbreviations
THA
total hip arthroplasty
THR
total hip replacement
TKA
total knee arthroplasty
TKR
total knee replacement UE
upper extremity

80. Combining Forms Match Up
carp/o
chondr/o
cost/o
crani/o
my/o
rib
muscle
wrist
cartilage
skull