articular cartilage

Smooth, glistening white tissue that covers the surface of a joint.

articulation

Any type of joint.

bursa

Sac of fluid near a joint; promotes smooth sliding of one tissue against another.

ligament

Connective tissue binding bones to other bones; supports, strengthens, and stabalizes the joint.

meniscus

Crescent shaped fibrocartilaginous structure found in the knee.

suture joint

Immovable joint, such as between the bones of the skull.

synovial joint

Space between bones at a synovial joint; contains synovial fluid produced by the synovial membrane.

synovial fluid

Viscous (sticky) fluid within the synovial cavity. Similar to an egg white.

synovial joint

A freely movable joint.

synovial membrane

Tissue lining the synovial cavity; produces synovial fluid.

tendon

Connective tissue that binds muscles to bones.

abduction

Movement away from the midline of the body.

adduction

Movement toward the midline of the body.

dorsiflexion

Backward (upward) bending of the foot.

extension

Straightening of a flexed limb.

fascia

Fibrous membrane seperating and enveloping muscles.

flexion

Bending a limb; decreasing the angle between bones.

insertion of a muscle

Connection of the muscle to a bone that moves.

origin of a muscle

Connection of the muscle to a stationary bone.

plantar flexion

Bending the sole of the foot downward toward the ground.

pronation

Turning the palm downward.

rotation

Circular movement around a centeral point. 

internal rotation

Toward the center of the body.

external rotation

Away from the center of the body.

striated muscle

Muscle connected to bones; voluntary or skeletal muscle.

supination

Turning the palm upward.

visceral muscle

Muscle connected to internal organs; involuntary or smooth muscle.

dorsiflexion

Bending foot upward.

muscular dystrophy

Group of inherited diseases characterized by progressive weakness or degeneration of muscle fibers without involvment of the nervous system.

polymyositis

Chronic inflammatory myopathy.

antinuclear antibody test

Detects an antibody present in serum with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

erythrocyte sedimentation(ESR).

Measure time it takes for erythrocytes to settle to the bottom of a test tube.

rheumatoid factor test(RF)

Serum is tested for the presence of an antiobody found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

serum calcium(Ca)

Measurment of calcium level in serum.

serum creatine kinase(CK)

Measurment of the enzyme creatine kinase in serum.

uric acid test

Measurment of uric acid in serum.

arthrocentesis

Surgical puncture to remove fluid from the joint space.

arthrography

Taking x-ray images after injection of a contrast material into joint.

arthroplasty

Surgical repair of a joint.

arthroscopy

Visual examination of a joint with an arthroscope and television camera

bone density test

Low- energy x-ray absorption in bones of the spinal column, pelvis, and wrist to measure bone mass.

bone scan

Uptake of a radioactive substance is measured in a bone.

computed tomography(CT)

x-ray beam and computer provide cross-sectional and other images.

diskography

x-ray examination of a cervical or lumbar intervertebral disk after injection of a contrast into nucleus pulposus.

electromyography(EMG)

Recording the strength of a muscle contraction s a result of electrical stimulation.

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Magnetic field creates images of soft tissue.

muscle biopsy

Removal of a muscle tissue for microscopic examination.