Medical Terminology Simplified

Decrease in bone density with an increase in porosity, causing bones to become

brittle and increasing the risk of fractures

Skeletal disease affecting elderly people that causes chronic inflammation of bones,

resulting in thickening and softening of bones and bowing of long bones; also called

osteitis deformans

Chronic, systemic, inflammatory disease affecting the synovial membranes of multi-

ple joints, eventually resulting in crippling deformities (See Fig. 10–14.)

As RA develops, congestion and edema of the synovial membrane and joint occur, causing

formation of a thick layer of granulation tissue. This tissue invades cartilage, destroying

the joint and bone. Eventually, a fibrous immobility of joints (ankylosis) occurs, causing

visible derformities and total immobility.

Trauma to the capsule of the shoulder joint, which is reinforced by muscles and ten-

dons; also called musculotendinous rotator cuff injury

Rotator cuff injuries occur in sports in which there is a complete abduction of the shoul-

der, followed by a rapid and forceful rotation and flexion of the shoulder. This type of

injury occurs most commonly in baseball when the player throws a baseball.

Partial or complete dislocation

Additional Medical Terms • CHAPTER 10 489

osteoporosis

ŏs-tē-ō-pōr-Ō-sĭs

oste/o:bone

-porosis:porous

Paget disease

PĂJ-ĕt

rheumatoid arthritis

(RA)

ROO-mă-toyd ăr-

THRĪ-tĭs

arthr: joint

-itis: inflammation

rotator cuff injury

subluxation

sŭb-lŭk-SĀ-shŭn

Wrist bones

Metacarpophalangeal

joints

Proximal

interphalangeal

joints

Figure 10-14Rheumatoid arthritis.