Introduction

Welcome to the musculoskeletal module!

This module presents an introduction to the skeletal system itself, concentrating on its
two main parts; the central ―anchor‖ of the axial skeleton and the peripheral limbs of
the appendicular skeleton. You will learn about joints that make the skeleton
potentially movable, and bones that provide a basic system of levers. The delivery
force, the power behind movement is muscle tissue.

This module include mainly the gross anatomy of the upper and lower limbs including
bones, muscles, nerves, arteries, veins, and joints. You will have fair length of time
for dissection of the upper limb and lower limbs in groups. Please make every effort
to do so as this would enable you to understand the three dimensional structure of the
relevant area.

We have endeavored to make this module as interesting as possible utilizing the IT,
clinical skills and Language lab and depicting examples with real life situations.

The staff of the department of Anatomy will be ever willing to assist you for any
problem which you may come across during this module. Please do not hesitate to
clarify any doubts with them.

Relevant books and their chapters have been included in your handout. Please peruse
through them so that it would give you the theoretical knowledge required to
supplement the lectures and the practicals.

We have included some aspects of relevant clinical and applied anatomy to give you a
taste of some clinical applications which you would encounter in your future years.

Kind regards,

The module committee.

 Committee
Chairperson -Dr. Harsha Dissanayake Anatomy
Former Chairperson -Dr Deepaka Werasekera Surgery
Convener -Dr M.S.M Rizny Anatomy
Member -Dr Surangi Yasawardena Anatomy
Member -Dr M.R.P.H Liyanage Anatomy
Member -Dr D.C Hewage Physiology
Member -Dr P.P.R Perera Biochemistry
Member -Dr A.M.M.C Abeysekera Anatomy
Member -Dr J.S.M Wijesinghe Parasitology
Member -Dr B.C Akurana IRQUE

Cover page by Dr.M.H.P Dissanayake-Demonstrator, Dept of Anatomy

Phase 01 module.
Locomotor system.

Objectives Broad content area Learning strategy Learning materials Duration Department
At the end of the
course students
must be able to
Describe the bone as tissue Histology Lecture Wheater’s functional 1 hours Anatomy
Skeletal Macroscopic structure. histology (4th
connective tissue. Microscopic structure. Histology edition) chapter 10. 3 hours Anatomy
(cells & matrix) practical.
Microscopic
organization of bone.
Blood vessels & nerves
of the bone.
Formation of bone.
Further development &
remodeling of bone
(response of bone to
injury). A

Structure of Cartilage
Hyaline cartilage
Fibro cartilage
Elastic cartilage A
Describe the Main varieties of joints. Lecture. Cunningham’s 1hour Anatomy
Arthrology Synovial joints. volume 01(15th
Cartilaginous joints. edition) general
introduction.
Fibrous joints A

4
Describe the Axial Vertebral column Lecture Last’s anatomy (10th 1 hours Anatomy
skeleton General vertebral edition) chapter 06
features. Model room part 19 & 20. 1 ½ hour Anatomy
Joints of the vertebral demonstration.
bodies and archers.
Cervical vertebrae. AVP ½ hour Anatomy
Craniovertebral joints.
Thoracic vertebrae.
Lumbar vertebrae.
Sacrum.
Lumbo sacral joints.
Coccyx.
Vertebral column as
whole.
Primary and secondary
curvatures of the
vertebral column. A

Skeletal connective tissue, SGD 2 hours Anatomy.

Arthrology.
Vertebral column.
Appendicular skeleton of the UL
A
Describe the Development of upper and lower Lecture. Langman’s medical 1 hour Anatomy.
development of the limb buds. A embryology(
upper & lower edition)chapter 09
limb.
Describe the Scapula. Model room Last’s anatomy(10th 1 ½ hours Anatomy
Appendicular Clavicle. demonstrations. edition )chapter 02
skeleton. Humerus. AVP Part 12 ½ hour Anatomy

5
Upper limb. Radius and ulnar.
Wrist and hand.
 Carpus.
 Metacarpus.
 Phalanges of the hand. A
Describe the Pelvis. Self study Last’s anatomy(10th 1 hour Anatomy
Lower limb. Femur. edition )chapter 03
Tibia fibula and patella. Model room Part 2 hours Anatomy
Foot. demonstrations.
Tarsals. AVP 1 hour Anatomy
Metatarsals.
Phalanges.
Comparison of the bones of hand
and foot. A

Describe the Introduction. Recall. Wheater’s functional Anatomy

Skeletal muscles. Light microscopic appearance. histology (4th
Basic ultra structure. edition) chapter 06.
A
Describe the Deep muscles of the back, their Dissection 3 hours Anatomy
muscles of the action.
back. A
Describe the Axilla. Lectures Cunningham’s 1 hour Anatomy
Axilla. Boundaries. Dissection volume 01(15th 7 hours Anatomy
Contents. A.V presentation edition ) ½ hour Anatomy
Lymphatic drainage. The pectoral region
Applied anatomy. A & axilla.
Clinical anatomy
(Harold Ellis, 10th
edition) part 03.

6
Describe the nerve Comparison of the dermatomes & Skills lab practical Grays anatomy (37th 3 hours Anatomy
supply of the upper deep tendon reflexes of the upper edition ) chapter 07.
limb. limb & lower limb A

Brachial plexus and the main Lecture Cunningham’s 1 hour. Anatomy

nerves arising from it (Axillary, volume 01(15th
median, ulnar, radial and Model room edition) pectoral 2 hours. Anatomy
musculocutaneous nerves). demonstration. region & axilla.
Brachial plexus injuries. A Clinical anatomy
(Harold Ellis 10th
edition )part 03.

Course of the Axillary, median, Lecture Cunningham’s 1 hours Anatomy

ulnar, radial and musculocutaneous volume 01(15th
nerves. edition).the
Effects of their injury. A shoulder, the arm,
the fore arm & hand.
Clinical anatomy
(Harold Ellis 10th
edition) part 03.

The shoulder joint, axilla, & SGD 2 hours Anatomy.

brachial plexus, blood supply,
lymphatic drainage of the upper
limb. A

7
Describe the blood Arterial supply of the upper limb Lectures Cunningham’s 2 hours Anatomy
supply and lymph (Axillary, Brachial, Radial and volume 01(15th
drainage of the Ulnar arteries.) edition).the pectoral
upper limb. Venous drainage of upper limb. region & axilla, the
Lymph drainage of the upper limb. free upper limb, the
A arm, the forearm &
hand.
Describe the Muscles connecting the upper limb Dissection Cunningham’s 9 hours Anatomy
muscles of the with vertebral column and thoracic volume 01(15th
upper limb, their wall. edition).the pectoral
action and nerve Muscles of the scapula. A region & axilla, the
supply. dissection of the
back

Free upper limb A Dissection. Cunningham’s 2 hours Anatomy

AVP volume 01(15th ½ hour Anatomy
edition)The free
upper limb

Muscles of the upper arm. A Dissection.

Lecture Cunningham’s 7 hours Anatomy
Prosected volume 01(15th 1 hour Anatomy
specimen edition)the arm. 1 hour Anatomy
demonstration
AVP ½ hour Anatomy

Shoulder joint. Lecture. Cunningham’s 1 hours Anatomy.

Articular surfaces. volume 01(15th
Ligaments of the joint. edition) the
Bursae related to the shoulder.

8
 joint. Applied anatomy (
Relations. Harold Ellis 10th
Blood supply and nerve edition) part 03.
supply.
Stability.
Movements at the
shoulder joint.
Applied anatomy. A

Movements of the pectoral girdle. Skills lab Cunningham’s 3 hours. Anatomy

A volume 01(15th
edition) the
shoulder.

Joints of the upper limb, cubital SGD 2 hours Anatomy.

fossa, muscles of the forearm and
hand. A

Muscles of the forearm. A Lecture Cunningham’s ½ hour Anatomy

Dissection. volume 01(15th 10 hours Anatomy
AVP edition) the fore arm ½ hour Anatomy
& hand.

Sterno clavicular joint. A Lecture Cunningham’s 1 hour Anatomy

Acromio clavicular joint. A Prosected volume 01(15th 2 hours Anatomy
Elbow joint. spesiman edition) the pectoral
Articular surfaces. demonstration region & axilla, the
Ligaments. shoulder.

9
 Relations. Cunningham’s
Movements. volume 01(15th
Applied anatomy. A edition) the joints of
the upper limb.
Radioulnar joints.
Articular surfaces.
Ligaments.
Articular disk of
inferior Radioulnar
joint.
Interosseous
membrane.
Supination and
pronation. A

Radio carpel joint.

Articular surfaces.
Ligaments.
Relations.
Movements. A

Carpometacarpal joint of the

thumb.
Articular surfaces.
Ligaments.
Relations.
Movements. B
2nd to 5th Carpometacarpal joints.
B

10
Metacarpophalangial joints.
Ligaments.
Movements and
muscles producing
them. B

Interphalangial joints.
Ligaments.
Movements and
muscles producing
them. B
Cunningham’s ½ hour Anatomy
Cubital fossa. Lecture volume 01(15th
Boundaries. edition) forearm and
Roof. . hand.
Floor.
Contents A
Cunningham’s 1 hour Anatomy
Small muscles of the hand ( thenar, Lecture volume 01(15th 5 hours Anatomy
hypothenar, lymbricals and Dissection edition) forearm and 2 hours Anatomy
interosei muscles). Prosected hand.
Finger movements. A spesiman
demonstration

Applied anatomy 1 hour Anatomy

Clinically significant structure in Lecture (Harold Ellis 10th
the hand & applied anatomy. A edition) part 03
1 hour Anatomy
Imaging anatomy of the upper limb Lecture 2 hours Anatomy
A Model room
demonstration

11
Muscles of the Introduction to lower limb A Lecture 1 hour Anatomy
lower limb, their
action nerve Cunningham’s
supply. Muscles of the iliac region. Dissection. volume 01(15th 25 hours Anatomy
Muscles of the Gluteal region and Lecture edition) the hip and ½ hour Anatomy
thigh. Femoral triangle and Prosected thigh, the Gluteal 1 hour Anatomy
adductor canal. A specimen region.
demonstration Cunningham’s
Hip joint. Lecture volume 01(15th ½ hour Anatomy
Articular surfaces. Dissection. edition) The hip 3 hours Anatomy
Ligaments. joint.
Relations. Applied anatomy
Blood supply and nerve (Harold Ellis 10th
supply. edition) part 04.
Movements.
Applied anatomy
(Femoral neck fractures
with regard to the blood
supply of the head of
the Femur). A
Cunningham’s
Muscles of the leg. A Dissection. volume 01(15th 8 hours Anatomy
AVP edition) The hip and ½ hour Anatomy
thigh, The leg and
foot.

Applied anatomy
Fascial compartments and its Lecture (Harold Ellis 10th 1 hour Anatomy
clinical relevance. A edition) part 04

12
 Cunningham’s
Knee joint. Lecture volume 01(15th 1 hour Anatomy
Articular surfaces. Prosected edition) The joint of 1 hour Anatomy
Ligaments. specimen the lower limb.
Fibrous capsule. demonstration Applied anatomy
Menisci. Knee joint (Harold Ellis 10th 3 hours Anatomy
Synovial membrane. examination edition) part 04.
Bursae around the knee.
Relations.
Blood &nerve supply.
Movements.
Locking and unlocking
mechanism.
Applied anatomy.
A
.
Cunningham’s
Popliteal fossa Lecture volume 01(15th 1 hour Anatomy.
Boundaries. AVP edition) The ½ hour Anatomy
Roof. Dissection popliteal fossa. 5 hours Anatomy
Floor.
Contents (Popliteal
artery, Popliteal vain,
Tibial nerve & common
peroneal nerve). A

Bones of the lower limb & muscles SGD 2 hours Anatomy.

of the lower limb, hip joint. A

13
Tibiofibular articulation. Lecture Cunningham’s 1 hours Anatomy
th
Ankle joint. volume 01(15
Articular surfaces. edition) The joints of
Ligaments. the lower limb.
Relations. Applied anatomy
Movements and (Harold Ellis 10th
muscles producing the edition) part 04. 1 hours Anatomy
movements.
Blood supply and nerve
supply.
Applied anatomy. A

Hip, knee and ankle joint A Prosected Cunningham’s 1 hour Anatomy

specimen volume 01(15th
demonstration edition)joints of the
Fixed learning lower limb. 1 hour Anatomy
module

Popliteal fossa, knee joint & nerve SGD 2 hours Anatomy

supply of the lower limb. A

Muscles of the foot. Dissection Cunningham’s 3 hours Anatomy

Intrinsic muscles of the foot. volume 01(15th
Joints of the foot. edition) The leg and
Subtalar joint. foot.
Talocalcaneonavicular
joint.
Calcaneocuboid joint.
Transverse tarsal joints.
Smaller joints of the
foot.

14
 Metatarsophalangeal &
interphalangeal joints.
Movements of the foot.
B

Foot archers. Lecture. Applied anatomy 1 hour Anatomy.

Classification of (Harold Ellis 10th
archers. edition) part 04.
Structure of archers.
Factors responsible for
the maintenance of
archers.
Function of archers.
Applied anatomy.
Standing, walking and running. A
.
Describe the blood Arterial supply of the lower limb, Lecture Cunningham’s 1 hour Anatomy
and nerve supply their origin and distribution. volume 01(15th
of the lower limb. Venous drainage of the lower limb. edition)The hip and
Anatomical basis for the formation thigh, The popliteal
of varicose veins. fossa, The leg and
Lymphatic drainage of the lower foot.
limb. Applied anatomy
A (Harold Ellis 10th
edition) part 04.

15
Origin and cause of the main nerves Lecture Cunningham’s 1 hour Anatomy
that supply the lower limb. A volume 01(15th
edition) The hip and
thigh, The back of
the thigh, The
popliteal fossa, The
leg and foot.
Applied anatomy
(Harold Ellis 10th
edition) part 04.

Applied anatomy of the lower limb Lecture Applied anatomy 1 hour Anatomy
A (Harold Ellis 10th
edition) part 04.

Comparative anatomy of the upper Student seminar 2 hours Anatomy

and lower limbs A presentation

Question and answer session Discussion 2 hours Anatomy

A
Over view of upper limb and lower AVP 1 hour Anatomy
limb A

Imaging anatomy of the lower limb Model room 1 hour Anatomy

A demonstration

Joints of the lower limb, foot SGD 2 hours Anatomy

archers, mechanism of walking,
venous drainage & nerve supply of
the lower limb. A

16
Describe the Outline the distribution of Lecture 1 hour Physiology
calcium Ca 2+ in the body
metabolism Explain the role of plasma
Ca 2+ in physiological process
Factors affecting the plasma Ca 2+
level
Explain how these factors regulate
the plasma Ca 2+ level A

Pathophysiology of the following Lecture 1 hour Physiology

conditions
 Osteomalacia
 Rickets
 Hyperparathyroidism
 Osteoporosis A

17
Case scenario 01

Femoral neck fracture

Your 65 years old grandmother had fallen 3 days ago .she developed severe pain in the
leg and leg was swollen. She was admitted to the Colombo south teaching hospital.

After the relevant history, examination and investigations she was diagnosed as having an
intra capsular femoral neck fracture.

Treatment for her condition is Total Hip Replacement surgery.

Your relatives and parents are asking for the explanation for this kind of surgery.

Case scenario 02

Varicose veins

Your aunt who is 45 years old tells you that she is having dilated tortuous vessels in both
her legs, she has first noticed this during her first pregnancy and these vessels are getting
more prominent with time.

She is working as a supervisor in a garment factory.

She is quarrying why she got this condition and what the aggravating factors are.

Case scenario 03

Supracondylar fracture of the Humerus

Your younger brother who is 12 years old had fallen from a tree and had developed pain
and swelling just above the left elbow.
He was admitted to the Colombo south teaching hospital.

After the relevant history, the medical officer in charge examined the radial pulse,
movements of the fingers and the sensation.

After interpreting the x ray the doctor diagnosed that your brother has a supracondylar
fracture of the humerus.

18
Case scenario 04

The Knee joint injury

While your friends were playing foot ball, one of them twisted his knee. He fall down
with severe pain and the knee was locked in a partially flexed position.
He was taken to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital.

The Orthopedic Surgeon diagnosed as he is having ―Bucket handle type Meniscal tear‖.

He had undergone an Arthroscopic surgery. Your friend wants to know what had happen
to him.

Case scenario 05

Crutch palsy

Your next door uncle had a party last night, he had consumed lot of alcohol during the
party. After the party he had slept on a chair with his arm hanging over the back of the
chair.

Following morning he was admitted to the Colombo south teaching hospital because he
had inability to extend his hand and grip. Doctors informed the relatives that he is having
radial nerve palsy.

Your neighbours want to know why he got radial nerve palsy and what are the other
effects of that condition.

19
 LOCOMOTOR SYSTEM

GLOSSARY

Abduction (ab-duk’shun) The movement of a body part away from the axis or midline of
the body; movement of a digit away from the axis of the limb.

Acetabulum (as‖e-tab’yu-lum) A socket in the lateral surface of the hipbone(os

coxa)with which the head of the femur articulates.

Achilles tendon (a-kil’ez) (see tendo calcaneus)

Actin (ak’tin) A protein in muscle fibers that together with myosine is responsible for
contraction.

Adduction (ad-duk’shun) The movement of a body part toward the axis or midline of the
body; movement of a digit towards the axis of the limb.

Afferent (af’er-ent) Conveying or transmitting to.

Afferent neuron (noor’on) A sensory nerve that transmit an impulse towards the central
nervous system.

Agonist (ag’o-nist) The prime mover muscle, which is directly engaged in the
contraction that produces the desired movement.

All-or –none principle The statement of the fact that muscle fibers of a motor unit
contract to their maximum extent when exposed to a stimulus of threshold strength.

Anatomical position (an‖a-tom’i-kal) An erect body stance with the eyes directed
forward, the arms at the sides, the palms of the hands facing anterior, and the fingers
pointed straight down.

Antagonist (an-tag’-o-nist) A muscle that acts in opposition to another muscle.

Anterior (ventral) (an-tir’e-or) Toward the front; the opposite of posterior (dorsal).

Aponeurosis (ap‖o-noo-ro’sis) A fibrous or membranous sheet like tendon.

Articular cartilage (ar-tik’yu-lar kar’ti-lij) A hyaline cartilaginous covering over the

articulating surface of bones of synovial joints.

Articulation (ar-tik‖yu-la’shun) A joint.

Ball-and-socket joint The most freely movable type of synovial joint (e.g. the shoulder
or hip joint)

Belly The thickest circumference of a skeletal muscle.

20
Bipennate (bi-pen’at) Denoting muscles that have a fibre architecture coursing obliquely
on both sides of a tendon.

Bone A solid, rigid, ossified connective tissue forming the skeletal system.

Canaliculus (kan"a-lik'yu-lus) A microscopic channel in bone tissue that connects

lacunae.

Cancellous bone (kan'se-lus) Spongy bone; bone tissue with a lattice like structure.

Carpus (kar'pus) the proximal portion of the hand that contains the eight carpal bones.

Cartilage (kar'ti-lij) A type of connective tissue with a solid elastic matrix.

Cartilaginous joint (kar"ti-laj'i-nus) A joint that lacks a joint cavity, permitting little
movement between the bones held together by cartilage.

Caudal (kaw'dal) Referring to a position more toward the tail.

Central canal An elongated longitudinal channel in the centre of an osteon in bone

tissue that contains branches of the nutrient vessels and a nerve; also called a haversian
canal

Cervical (ser'vi-kal) Pertaining to the neck or a neck like portion of an organ.

Chondrocyte (kon'dro-sit) A cartilage cell.

Circumduction (ser"kum-duk'shun) A movement of a body part that outlines a cone,

such that the distal end moves in a circle while the proximal portion remain relatively
stable.

Coccygeal (kok-sij'e-al) Pertaining to the region of the coccyx; the caudal termination of
the vertibral column

Compact (dense) bone tightly packed bone, superficial to spongy bone and covered by
the periosteum.

Condyle (kon'dil) A rounded process at the end of a long bone that forms an articulation.

Costal cartilage (kos'tal) The cartilage that connects the ribs to the sternum.

Crest A thickened ridge of bone for the attachment of muscle.

Cubital (kyoo'bi-tal) Pertaining to the elbow.

The cubital fossa is the anterior aspect of the elbow joint.

Diaphysis (di-af'i-sis) The shaft of a long bone.

21
Diarthrosis (di"ar-thro'sis) A type of functionally classified joint in which the
articulating bones are freely movable; also called a synovial joint.

Diploe (dip'lo-e) The spongy layer of bone positioned between the inner and outer layers
of compact bone.

Distal (dis'tal) Away from the midline or origin; the opposite of proximal.

Dorsal (dor'sal) Pertaining to the back or posterior portion of a body part; the opposite of
ventral.

Dorsiflexion (dor"si-flek'shun) Movement at the ankle or wrist as the dorsum of the foot
or hand is elevated.

Efferent (ef'er-ent) Conveying away from the centre of an organ or structure.

Elastic fibers (e-las'tik) Protein strands found in certain connective tissue that have
contractile properties.

Elbow the synovial joint between the brachium and the antebrachium.

Endochondral bone (en"do-kon'dral) Bones that develop as hyaline cartilage models

first and then are ossified.

Endomysium (en"do-mis'e-um) The connective tissue sheath that surrounds each skeletal
muscle fiber, separating the nerve fibers one from another within a nerve.

Epicondyle (ep"i-kon'dil) A projection of bone above a condyle.

Epidural space (ep"i-door'al) A space between the spinal dura mater and the bone of
the vertebral canal.

Epimysium (ep"i-mis'e-um) A fibrous outer sheath of connective tissue surrounding a

skeletal muscle.

Epiphyseal plate (ep"i-fiz'e-al) A hyaline cartilaginous layer located between the

epiphysis and diaphysis of a long bone. It functions as a longitudinal growing region.

Epiphysis (e-pif'i-sis) The end segment of a long bone ,separated from the diaphysis
early in life by an epiphyseal plate but later becoming part of the larger bone.

Eversion (e-ver'zhun) A movement of the foot in which the sole is turned outward.

Extension (ek-sten'shun) A movement that increases the angle between parts of a joint.

Facet (fas'et) A small, smooth surface of a bone where articulation occurs.

22
Fascia (fash'e-a) A tough sheet of fibrous tissue binding the skin to underlying muscles
supporting and separating muscles.

Fibroblast (fi-bro-blast) An elongated connective tissue cell with cytoplasmic extensions

that is capable of forming collagenous fibers or elastic fibers.

Fibrous joint (fi'brus) A type of articulation bound by fibrous connective tissue that
allows little or no movement (e.g., a syndesmosis)

Flexion (flek'shun) A movement that decreases the angle between parts of a joint.

Foot The terminal portion of the lower extremity, consisting of the tarsus, metatarsus, and
digits.

Foramen (fo-ra'men) ,pl.foramina An opening in an anatomical structure ,usually in a

bone ,for the passage of a blood vessel or a nerve.

Forearm The portion of the upper extremity between the elbow and the wrist ;also
called

Fossa (fos'a) A depressed area, usually on a bone.

Gliding joint A type of synovial joint in which the articulation surfaces are flat,
permitting only side- to- side and back-and-forth movement.

Hyaline cartilage (hi'a-lin) A cartilage with a homogenous matrix. It’s the most common
type, occurring at the articular ends of bones, in the trachea, and within the nose. Most of
the bones in the body are formed from hyaline cartilage

Hyperextension (hi"per-ek-sten'shun) Extension beyond the normal anatomical position

or 180°.

Insertion The most movable attachment of a muscle, usually more distal.

Intervertebral disk (in"ter-ver'te-bral) A pad of fibrocartilage located between the bodies

of adjacent vertebrae.

Hand The terminal portion of the upper extremity , consisting of the carpus, metacarpus,
and digits.

Haversian canal (ha-ver’shan) (see centra canal)

Haversian system (see osteon)

Hiatus (hi-a’tus) An opening or fissure; a foramen.

Hinge joint A type of synovial articulation characterized by the convex surface of one
bone fitting into the concave surface of another so that movement is confined to one
plane, as in the knee or interphalangeal joint.

23
Inversion (in-ver’zhun) A movement of the foot in which the sole is turned inward

Joint capsule The fibrous tissue that encloses the joint cavity of a synovial joint.

Knee A region in the lower extremity between the thigh and the leg that contains a
synovial hinge joint.

Lamella (la-mel’a) A concentric ring of matrix surrounding the central canal in an osteon
of mature bone tissue.

Lamellated corpuscle (lam’e-la-ted kor’pus’l) A sensory receptor for pressure, found in

tendons, around joints, and in visceral organs; also called a pacinian corpuscle.

Lamina (lam’i-na) A thin plate of bone that extends superiorly from the body of a
vertebra to form both sides of the arch of a vertebra.

Lateral (lat’er-al) Pertaining to the side ; farther from the median plane.

Leg The portion of the lower extremity between the knee and the ankle.

Ligament (lig’a-ment) A tough cord or fibrous band of connective tissue that binds bone
to bone to strengthen and provide flexibility to a joint . It also may support viscera.
.
Lumbar (lum’bar) Pertaining to the region of the loins.

Membranous bone (mem’bra-nus) Bone that forms from membranous connective tissue
rather than from cartilage; also called intramembranous bone.

Metacarpus (met‖a-kar’pus) the region of the hand between the wrist and the digits,
including the five bones that support the palm of the hand.

Metatarsus (met‖a-tar’sus) The region of the foot between the ankle and the digits that
includes five bones

Myosin (mi’o-sin) A thick filament protein that together with actin causes muscle
contraction.

Origin The place of muscle attachment –usually the more stationary point or proximal
bone; opposite the insertion.

Osseous tissue (os’e-us) Bone tissue.

Ossification ( os‖i-fi-ka’shun) The process of bone tissue formation .

Osteoblast (os’te-o-blast‖) The bone forming cell.

Osteoclast (os’te-o-klast‖) A cell that causes erosion and resorption of bone tissue.

Osteocyte (os’te-o-sit‖) A mature bone cell.

24
Osteology (os‖te-ol’o—je) The study of the structure and function of bone and the entire
skeleton.

Osteon (os’te-on) A group of osteocytes and concentric lamellae surrounding the basic
unit of structure in osseous tissue; also called a haversian system.

Pedicle (ped’i-k’l) The portion of a vertebra that connects and attaches the lamina to the
body.

Perichondrium (per‖i-kon’dre-um) A toughened connective sheet that covers some kinds

of cartilage.

Perimysium (per‖i-mis’e-um) Fascia (connective tissue) surrounding a bundle of

(fascicle) of muscle fibers.

Periosteum (per‖e-os’te-um) A fibrous connective tissue covering the outer surface of

bone.

Pivot joint (piv’ut) A synovial joint in which the rounded head of one bone articulates
with the depressed cup of another to permit a rational type of movement.

Plantar (plan’tar) Pertaining to the sole of the foot.

Posterior (pos-ter’e-or) Towards the back; also called dorsal.

Rotation (ro-ta’shun) The movement of a bone around its own longitudinal axis.

Sacral (sa’kral) Pertaining to the sacrum.

Saddle joint A synovial joint in which the articular surfaces of both bones are concave in
one plane and convex ,or saddle shaped ,in the other plane, such as in the distal
carpometacarpal joint of the thumb.

Sagittal (saj’I-tal) A vertical plane through the body that divides it into right and left
sides.

Sarcolemma (sar’’ko-lem-a) The cell membrane of a muscle fiber.

Sarcomere (sar’ko-mer) The portion of a skeletal muscle fiber between the two adjacent
Z lines that is considered the functional unit of a myofibril.

Sarcoplasm the cytoplasm within a muscle fiber.

Sesamoid bone(ses,a-moid) A membranous bone found in a tendon in response to joint

stress(e.g.the patella)

Shoulder The region of the body where the humerus articulates with the scapula; also
called omo

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Sinus (si’nus) A cavity orr hollow space within a body organ ,such as a bone.

Spongy bone A type of bone that contains many porous spaces ;also called cancellous
bone.

Sutural bone A small bone positioned within a suture of certain cranial bone ;also called
wormian bone.

Suture (soo’chur) A type of fibrous joint found between bones of the skull.

Symphysis (sim’fi-sis) A type of cartilaginous joint characterized by a fibrocartilaginous

pad between the articulating bones, which provide slight movement.

Symphysis pubis (pyoo’bis) A slightly movable joint anteriorly located between the
pubic bones of the pelvic girdle.

Synarthrosis (sin‖ar-throsis) A fibrous joint, such as a syndesmosis or a suture.

Synchondrosis (sin‖kon-dro’sis) A cartilaginous joint in which the articulating bones are

separated by hyaline cartilage.

Syndesmosis (sin‖des-mo’sis) A type of fibrous joint in which two bones are united by an
interosseous ligament.

Synergist (sin’er-jist) A muscle that assists the action of the prime mover. Synovial joint
A freely movable joint in which there is a synovial cavity between the articulating bones
;also called a diarthrotic joint.

Volkmann’s canal (folk’manz) (see perforating canal)

Wormian bone (wer’me-an) (see sutural bone)

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