Medical Terminology Simplified

10–59 Although there are various forms of arthr/itis, all of them result in an

inflammation of the joints. This condition is accompanied by pain and swelling.

Form medical words that mean

inflammation of joints:____________________ / __________

inflammation of bones and joints:

__________ / _____ / ____________________ / __________

10–60 A disease of the bones and joints is called

__________ / _____ / ____________________ / _____ / ____________________.

10–61 Select element(s) from oste/o/arthr/o/pathy to build a word that means

an abnormal condition of the bones and joints.

__________ / _____ / ____________________ / _____ / __________

Combining Forms Related to Specific Bones

The CF:

• crani/orefers to the (1) cranium (skull).


• stern/orefers to the (2) sternum (breastbone).


• cost/orefers to the (3) ribs, which are attached to the sternum.


• vertebr/orefers to the (4) vertebra (backbone). The vertebral column, also called the spinal column, is
  composed of 26 bones called vertebr/ae.


• humer/orefers to the (5) humerus (upper arm bone). The humerus articulates with the scapula at the
  shoulder and with the radius and ulna at the elbow.


• carp/orefers to the (6) carpus (wrist bones). There are eight wrist bones.


• metacarp/orefers to the (7) metacarpus (hand bone). The metacarpals (plural) radiate from the wrist like
  spokes and form the palm of the hand.


• phalang/orefers to the (8) phalanges (bones of the fingers and toes).


• pelv/i andpelv/orefer to the (9) pelvis. The pelvis, also called the pelvic girdle, is composed of three pairs of
  fused bones (the ilium, pubis, and ischium), the sacrum, and the coccyx. The pelvis provides attachment for
  the legs and supports the soft organs of the abdominal cavity.


• femor/orefers to the (10) femur (thigh bone). The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the body. It
  articulates with the hip bone and the bones of the lower leg.


• patell/orefers to the (11) patella (kneecap). The patella articulates with the femur but is, essentially, a floating
  bone. The main function of this bone is to protect the knee joint, but its exposed position makes it vulnerable
  to dislocation and fracture.


• tibi/o refers to the (12) tibia (larger bone of the lower leg). The tibia is the weight-bearing bone of the lower
  leg.


• fibul/orefers to the (13) fibula (smaller bone of the lower leg). The fibula is not a weight-bearing bone but is
  important because muscles are attached and anchored to it.


• calcane/orefers to the (14) calcaneum (heel bone).

10–62 The word roots of bones are derived from the specific anatomical names of

the bones. Learn the CFs for the bones as you label them in Figure 10–8.

Boldfaceindicates a word root or combining form. Blueindicates a suffix. Pinkindicates a prefix.

476 CHAPTER 10• Musculoskeletal System

arthr/itis

ăr-THRĪ-tĭs

oste/o/arthr/itis

ŏs-tē-ō-ăr-THRĪ-tĭs

oste/o/arthr/o/pathy

ŏs-tē-ō-ăr-THRŎP-ă-thē

oste/o/arthr/o/sis

ŏs-tē-ō-ăr-THRŌ-sĭs