| 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 |
