Musculoskeletal System 

Prefixes 

1) a- 

Absence of , without 

Ex: Atrophy- wasting away or reduction in muscle size due to lack of use, often resulting in prolonged immobility 

2) ab- 

 Away from

Ex: Abduction- movement of a limb away from the midline of the body, such as raising the arm or leg to side 

3) ad-

Toward 

Ex: Adduction- movement of a limb toward the midline of the body

4) brady-

Slow

Ex: Bradykinesia- slowness of movement, symptom of neurogical disorders.  

5) dys- 

Painful, difficult, abnormal 

Ex: Dystonia- condition by abnormal muscle tones or involuntary muscle contractions

6)  hyper- 

Above, excessive

Ex: Hypertonia- excessive muscle tone, resulting in stiffness or rigidity. like cerebral palsy or stroke

7) inter-

Between 

Ex: Interverteble disc- fibercartilagious structure located between the vertebrae of spine providing cushioning and flexibility 

8) intra-

within , in

Ex: Intramusclar injection- injection administered directly into muscle, commonly for vaccines or medical delivery 

9) poly-

Many, much

Ex: Polydactyly- congenital condition by having more than normal number of fingers or toes 

10) sub-

Below, under 

Ex: Subscapularis muscle- located below the scapula, key role in shoulder rotation and stabilzation

11) supra-

Above

Ex: Suprapatellar- area above patella associated with suparpatella bursa , reduces friction and allows smooth movement 

12) sym- 

Together, joined 

Ex: Sympysis pubis- cartilaginous joint where two pubic bones meet in pelvis , allowing slight movement for childbirth and pelvic flexiblity 

13) syn-

Together, joking 

Synarthoris- type of immovebale joint where bones are joined together like the skull 

Suffixes 

1) -al

Pertaining to 

Ex: Femoral- pertaining to the femur, largest bone in body

2) -alagia 

Pain

Ex: Myalgia- pain in a muscle, often caused by overuse, injury or systemic condtions, like fibromyalgia 

3) -ar

Pertaining to 

Ex: Patellar- pertaining to patella , small bone that protects knee joint and assistes movement 

4) -asthenia

Weakness

Ex: Myasthenia- muscle weakness , commonly associated with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder affecting nuromusclar function 

5) -centesis 

Surgical puncture to aspirate fluid

Ex: Arthrocentesis- puncture of joint to remove fluid for diagnositic purposes to relive swelling 

6) -clasia

Break

Ex: Osteoclasia- surgical breakdown of bone tissue to correct deformities or aid in healing process in severe cases

7) -clast

Break 

Ex: Osteoclast- bone cell that breaks down bone tissue during bone remodeling and repair 

8) -desis

Surgical fixation, fusion 

Ex: Arthrodesis - surgical fusion of a joint to provide stability and reduce pain , often used for severe arthritis 

9) -ectomy 

Excision, surgical removal , cutting out

Ex: Tenectomy- removal of a part of tendon , to treat chronic tendon inflammation or injury 

10) -gram

Record, radiographic image 

Ex: Myogram- record of muscle contraction activity , used to diagnose neuromuscular disorders

11) -graphy

Process of recording , radiography imaging 

Ex: Arthrography- imaging of joints using contrast due to assess joint structures such as cartliage , ligaments, and bones

12) -ic

Pertaining to

Ex: Thoracic- thorax (chest) which houses the lung , heart and other vital structures 

13) -itis

Inflammation

Ex: Myositis- inflammation of muscle tissue , which can be caused by infections , autoimmunie disorders or trauma 

14) Lysis- 

Loosing , separating, dissolution

Ex: Osteolysis- destruction or dissoluton of bone tissue , seen in condition like bone metastasis 

15) -malacia

Softening 

Ex: Chondromalacia- softening of cartliage , partically in knee , leading to pain and difficulty with movement

16) -oid

Resembling 

Ex: Myeloid- resembling bone marrow , often used to describe cells or tissue related to hematopoiesis 

17) -oma

Tumor 

Ex: Rhabdomyoma- benign tumor of muscle tissue typically found in heart or skeletal muscles 

18) -osis

Abnormal condition 

Ex: Scoliosis- abnormal curvation of the spine, which causes back pain ,reduced mobility 

19) -penia

Abnormal reduction 

Ex: Sarcopenia- loss of muscle mass and strength , often associated with aging , inactivity or poor nutrition 

20) -physis

Growth

Ex: Epiphysis- growth end of a long bone ,bone elongation

21) -plasty

Surgical repair 

Ex: Myoplasty- surgical repair of reconstruton of damaged or weakened muscle tissue 

22) -rrhaphy 

Suturing, repairing 

Ex: Tenorrphaphy- suturing of a torn or severed tendon to restore function and stability 

23) -sarcoma

Malignant tumor

Ex: Osteosarcoma- malignant bone tumor commonly affecting children and young adults , requiring surgical and medical treatment 

24) -scopy

Process of viewing, visual examination

Ex: Arthoscopy- of a joint using a specialized instrument to diagnose and treat joint conditons

25) -tomy 

Incision, cut into 

Ex: Myotomy - surgical incision into a muscle, often performed to relieve tightness or treat muscle disorders 

26) -trophy

Nourishment, develpoement

Ex: Hypertrophy - excessive devopment of tissue or an organ ,commonly referring to increased muscle size due to exercise 

Root words 

1) ankyl/o

Stiff, bent 

Ex: Ankylosis- abnormal stiffening and immoblity of a joint due to fusion of the bones 

2) Arth/o

Joint

Ex: Arthritis- Inflammation of a joint, resulting in pain , swelling or stiffness 

3) carp/o

Carpals, wrist

Ex: Carpectomy- surgical removal of carpal bone, typically performed to relieve pain or improve wrist function 

4) chondr/o

Cartilage

Ex: Chondromalacia- softening of cartliage , affecting knee and leading to pain and swelling

5) clavic/o

Clavicle , collarbone 

Ex:  Clavicectomy- excision of clavical , to treat severe fractures or chonic pain 

6) cost/o

Ribs

Ex: Costochondritis- inflammation of cartilage that connects to a rib to sternum , causing localized chest pain that can mimic heart related conditons

7) crani/o

Cranium 

Ex: Craniotomy- surgical incision into the cranium to access the brain for procdedures such as tumor removal 

8) electr/o

Electricity, activity 

Ex: Electromygraphy - diagnostic tests that records electrical activity of muscles to detect neurmosuclar disorders 

9) fasci/o

Fascia (connective tissue)

Ex: Fasciotomy- surgical incision into fascia to relieve tension or pressure 

10) fibr/o 

Fibrous connective tissue 

Ex: Fibromyalgia - condition by widespread pain in fibrous tissue and muscles , accompained by fatigue and sleep distubances 

11) kinesi/o

Movement , motion 

Ex: Kinesiolgy- study of movement and how bodys muscle bones and joints work together to produce motion 

12) kyph/o

Increased convexity of the spine 

Ex: Kyphosis- excessive outward curvarture of spine , leading to hunched posture 

13) lamin/o 

Lamina (thin , flat plate or layer) 

Ex: Laminectomy- surgical removal of portion of vertebral lamina to relieve pressure on the spinal cords or nerves

14) leiomy/o 

Smooth (visceral) muscle that lines walls of internal organs 

Ex: Leionmyoma- benign tumor of smooth muscle, often found in the uterus where its commonly referred to as fibroid 

15) Lord/o

Bent forward, increased concavity of spine 

Ex: Lordosis- excessive inward curvature of spine, commonly affecting the lower back and sometimes leading to pain 

16) lumb/o

Loin, lumbar region of spine 

Ex: Lumbodynia- pain in lumbar region , caused by muscle strain, injury

17) mandibular/o

Mandible, lower jaw bone 

Ex: Mandibular - largest and strongest bone of the face that holds lower teeth 

18) maxill/o 

Maxilla, upper jaw bone

Ex: Maxillofacial- surguries or treatment involving upper jaw and facial structure 

19) menisc/o 

Meniscus, crescent 

Ex: Meniscetomy- surgical removal of meniscus, typically done to repair damage from injury or degeneration in the knee joint

20) my/o

Muscle 

Ex: Myopathy- disease of the muscle , often resulting in weakness, pain or dysfunction

21) myel/o

Marrow bone , spinal cord

Ex: Myelitis- inflammation of the spinal cord or bone marrow, can cause nuro symptoms, weakness or immune dysfunction 

22) oste/o

Bone

Ex: Osteoporosis- condition by a decreased in bone density , leading to brittle bones and increased risk of fractures 

23) patella/o

Patella, kneecap

Ex: Patellar. pertaining to kneecap small bone that protects knee joints 

24) pelv/i

Pelvis, pelvic bone 

Ex: Pelvimetry- measurement of the dimension of the pelvis , often used in obstectics to assess feasable of vaginal birth 

25) pelv/o

Pelvis , pelvic bone

Ex: Pelvectomy- surgical removal of part or all of pelvis 

26) petr/o 

Stone 

Ex: Petrous- resembling stone or petrous part of the temporal bone 

27) phalang/o

Bones of the fingers and toes 

Ex: Phalangeal - pertaining to the bones of fingers or toes

28) plant/o 

Sole of foot

Ex: Plantar fascilits- inflammation of the fascia on the sole of foot (connective tissue)

29) pub/o

Pubis (hipbone) 

Ex: Pubofemoral - pertaining to pubis and femur , supports hip joint 

30) Ranchi/o

vertebral spine, column

Ex: Ranchiagila - pain in the vertebral column , caused by arthritis , discs, muscle strain

31) rhabd/o

rod- shaped , straired 

Ex: Rhabdomylysis- involving breakdown of striated muscle fibers 

32) sarc/o

Flesh, connective tissue

Ex: Sacorma- malignant tumor of connective tissue as bone, muscle , fat. 

33) scoli/o

Crooked, curved

Ex: Scoliosis- abnormal lateral curvation of spine, caused back pain 

34)  spondyl/o

vertebra, spine, column

Ex: Spondylitis- inflammation of vertebrea 

35) tars/o

Tarsals, ankle bones 

Ex: Tarsalgia- pain in ankle bones 

36) ten/o

Tendon

Ex: Tenosynovitis- inflammation of a tendon and surrounding synovial sheath 

37) vertebr/o

vertebrea, spine

Ex: Vertebral- vertebrea ,interlocking bones that make up spinal column , providing support and protection

Abbrevation, acronyoms,

eponymos 

1) BDT 

Bone density testing

Diagonistic test used to measure bone mineral density and deterimine strernth of bones

2) CTS

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Caused by compression of median nerve as it passes through carpal tunnel in the wrists

3) EMG

Electromyography

Procedures that mesures electrtiviy activity of muscles in response to nerve stimulation

4) MD

Muscluar dystrophy 

genetic disorders that cause progressive muscle weakness and degenration

5) MG

Myasthenia Gravis 

Autoimmune disorder that disrupts communiation between nerves and muscles 

6) 

6) OA

Osteoarthritis 

Joint desease caused by breakdown of cartliage within joints 

7) OP 

Osteopooris 

Decreased in bone density , making bones weak and brittle 

8) OT

Occupational therapy 

Focused on enabling indivuidals to perform meaningful daily activities and tasks despite injury , illness. 

9) PKR 

Partial knee replacement 

Procudrue in which only damaged part of knee joint is replaced with prosthesis

10) PMR

Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Inflammatory disorder caused by muscle pain and stiffness in shoulders , neck or hips  

11) RA

Rheumatioid arthritis 

autoimmune disease that causes inflamation in joints , leading to pain swelling and stiffness

12) ROM

Range of motion

Movement of joint or muscle can achieve in various direction 

13) RSD

Repetitive stress disorder 

Repetivie motion or overuse of muscles , tendons or nerves leading to pain 

14) THR

Total hip replacement 

Damaged hip joints is replaced with artificial prosthesis 

15) TKR

Total knee replacement 

procudeure in entire knee is replaced with prosthesis 

16) Achilles Tendon 

Greek mythology

tendons that connects calf muscles to heel bone 

17) Pagets disease of bone 

Named after sir James, surgeon 

Bone disorder causing abnormal bone remodeling 

18) Bakers cyst 

Named after William Baker , surgeon 

Fluidid sac located behind the knee , resulting in joint inflammation 

19) Erbs palsy 

Named after Whilhelm Heinrich, a neurologist 

Injury to the brachial plexus often during childbirth or trauma . leads to weakness or paralysis in shoulder or elbow muscle