Glossary of Terms

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Abduction – Moving a limb away from the body.

Achilles Tendon - The tendon joining the calf muscles to the bone in the heel.

Achilles Tendonitis - Inflammation of the Achilles tendon.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) - A common ligament injury to the knee, treated with surgery and rehabilitative exercises.

Acute - A condition that is temporary, but may be severe.

Adduction - Moving a limb toward the body.

Anastomosis: A junction between two vessels, or other tubular anatomical structures.

Arthritis - Inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and sometimes change in structure.

Arthroscopy - A surgical procedure used to visualize, diagnose, and treat problems inside a joint.

Articular Fracture - The articular surface is disrupted and completely separated from the diaphysis. The severity of these fractures depends on whether their articular and metaphyseal components are simple or multifragmentary.

Atrophy - Decrease in size of normally developed organ of tissue; wasting.

Bone cysts - A sac containing liquid or semisolid material on a bone.

Bone metastases - The spread of malignant cancer cells to bone.

Bursa - A sac or a saclike cavity filled with fluid located between a bone and a tendon or muscle.

Bursitis - Inflammation of the bursas.

Carpal Tunnel - The bony, narrow passage at the intersection of the hand and wrist on the same side of the palm of the hand. The median nerve and tendons pass through this tunnel to the thumb, index, and middle fingers.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A compression of the median nerve caused by swelling tendons in the carpal tunnel. Symptoms include numbness, pain, and tingling in the thumb and middle fingers, weak grip and diminished strength in the hand.

Cartilage - Connective tissue found between bones that allows joints to move smoothly. Cartilage is also important in your nose and ear.

Chondromalacia (Runner's Knee) - Softening of the chondrol (cartilagenous surface of the inner side of the patella).

Contusion – Injury of tissues caused by blunt force which did not disrupt or lacerate their surface; a bruise.

CT (Computed Tomography) - Specialized X-ray study that allows evaluation of the bone and spinal canal.

Decompressions – Return to normal environmental pressure after exposure to greatly increased pressure.

Degenerative Disc Disease - The pathological process by which an intervertebral disc becomes progressively disrupted and fails in its functions.

Degenerative Joint Disease - Changes in the joint surfaces as a result of repetitive trauma.

Diagnosis - Identification of a disease or disorder by a physician.

Diaphragm Muscle - The thin muscular partition below the lungs and heart that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.

Dorsiflexion - Bending something backward, especially the hand or foot.

Electromyogram (EMG) - Test that measures the electrical activity of a muscle or a group of muscles. An EMG can detect abnormal electrical muscle activity due to diseases and neuromuscular conditions.

Eversion - Turning outward.

Extension - Straightening a limb or a joint.

Femur – The bone that extends from the pelvis to the knee; thighbone.

Fibrositis - A condition that results in inflammation of connective tissue and muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including overuse, injury or infection.

Flexion - Bending a limb at a joint.

Flexor - A muscle that bends a limb.

Fractures - A partial or complete break in the bone.

Herniated Disc - Fibrous extrusion of semi-fluid nucleus purposes through a ruptured disk; damage results from pressure on the spinal cord or nervous roots.

Hip Dysplasia – Failure of normal bony modeling of the hip sicket.

Hyperextension - To extend so that the angle between bones of a joint is greater than normal.

Immobilize- To reduce or eliminate motion.

Joint - Where the ends of two or more bones meet.

Joint Capsule - The structure that protects a joint and allows it to move smoothly, the capsule is composed of fatty cartilage.

Kyphosis – Abnormally increased convexity in the curvature of the thoracic spine as viewed from the side.

Ligaments: Band of fibrous tissue that binds joints together and connects various bones and cartilage.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets, radiofrequencies, and a computer to construct detailed images of organs and structures within the body.

Meniscus - The crescent shaped cartilage between the femur and tibia.

Metaphysis - The segment of a long bone located between the end part (epiphysis) and the shaft (diaphysis). It consists mostly of cancellous bone within a thin cortical shell.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – A non X-ray study/evaluation of the spinal cord and nerve roots.

Multiple Sclerosis – Slow progressive disease of the nervous system in which scattered areas of degeneration of the myelin occur.

Musculoskeletal system - The complex system that include: bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves.

Nonunion – Failure of the ends of a fractured bone to unite.

Orthopaedics – The art and science of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and abnormalities of the musculoskeletal system.

Orthopaedic Physical Therapy- Rehabilitation that addresses musculoskeletal injuries and for which the desired outcome is improved function and diminished plan.

Orthopaedic Surgeon - A physician who diagnoses, treats, manages the rehabilitation process, and provides prevention protocols for patients who suffer from injury or disease in any of the components of the musculoskeletal system.

Orthotics - The science and technology of braces, especially when supporting weak or injured joints and muscles.

Osteoma - A tumor composed of bone tissue and usually developing on a bone.

Osteomyelitis - Infection of the substance of bone usually caused by any organism, usually bacteria.

Osteoporosis - Bone tissue that is normally mineralized but contains too little mass.

Osteotomy - Surgical procedure that changes the alignment of bone with or without removal of a portion of that bone.

Patella – The triangular movable bone that protects the knee joint; the knee cap.

PCL – Posterior cruciate ligament.

Plantar Fasciitis - A painful condition that results from a tear in the connective tissue on the bottom of the foot. Walkers and runners often complain of pain just under the heel bone.

Primary Care - Family health services provided by family doctors, dentists, pharmacists, optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners.

Pronation - Rotating your forearm so the palm is down or your body is lying face down and when your foot is rotated inward.

Prosthetics – The science that deals with functional and/or cosmetic restoration for all or part of missing limb.

Radiotherapy - Treatment of pathological conditions, usually malignant, with ionizing radiation. It has been recommended in low dosage to discourage heterotopic bone formation.

Rotator Cuff Tear – Tear of the rotator cuff tendons.

Rupture - Tearing apart of a tissue.

Scoliosis – Lateral curvature between tow bones that allows motion of one upon the other.

Spasm - An involuntary and abnormal contraction of a muscle.

Splinting - Reducing the mobility at a fracture locus by coupling a stiff body to the main bone fragments. The splint may be external (plaster, external fixators) or internal.

Spondylolisthesis – Forward displacement of a vertebra over a lower segment, usually of the fourth and fifth lumbar.

Sprain – A partial of complete tear of a ligament.

Strain – A partial or complete tear of a muscle tendon.

Stress Fractures – Bone injury caused by overuse.

Synovium – A synovial membrane; fibrous envelop that produces a fluid to help reduce friction and wear in a joint.

Synovial Fluid - a clear, sticky fluid that is released by the synovial membrane and acts as a lubricant for joints and tendons.

Synovial Membrane - A tissue that lines and seals the joint.

Talus - The ankle bone that articulates with the tibia and fibula to form the ankle joint.

Tendon – A fibrous cord of connective tissue continues with the fibers of a muscle and attaching the muscle to bone or cartilage.

Tendonitis – Inflammation of a tendon.

Tennis Elbow – Stress tendinitis of the lateral epicondyle.

Tibia - The shin bone.

Tibial Torsion - An inward twist of the shin bones, the bones that are located between the knee and the ankle.

Tomograph: A special type of x-ray apparatus that demonstrates an organ or tissue at a particular depth.

Trauma - A wound or injury to living tissue.