Medical Terminology Simplified

Diagnostic Procedures

Puncture of a joint space with a needle to remove fluid

Arthrocentesis is performed to obtain samples of synovial fluid for diagnostic purposes.

It may also be used to instill medications and remove accumulated fluid from joints to

relieve pain.

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

density for purposes of diagnosis and management of osteoporosis; also called dual-

energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)

Nuclear medicine procedure that visualizes bone(s) after the intravenous injection of

a radiopharmaceutical

A special scanning device detects areas of increased uptake of the radiopharamaceutical

to indicate abnormalities of bone such as infection, inflamamtion, fractures, and tumors.

Blood test to detect the presence of rheumatoid factor, a substance present in pa-

tients with rheumatoid arthritis

Medical and Surgical Procedures

Surgical reconstruction or replacement of a painful, degenerated joint to restore mo-

bility in rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis or to correct a congenital deformity

Excision of a sequestrum (segment of necrosed bone)

492 CHAPTER 10• Musculoskeletal System

arthrocentesis

ăr-thrō-sĕn-TĒ-sĭs

arthr/o: joint

-centesis: surgical

puncture

bone density test (bone

densitometry)

bone scan

rheumatoid factor

ROO-mă-toyd

arthroplasty

ĂR-thrō-plăs-tē

arthr/o: joint

-plasty: surgical repair

sequestrectomy

sē-kwĕs-TRĔK-tō-mē

sequestr: separation

-ectomy: excision,

removal