42 Introduction to Medical Terminology
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
42 Introduction to Medical Terminology
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Diseases and Conditions
Because the skeletal system encompasses the bones and the joints,
in this section you will learn about pathological conditions that affect
bones, joints, or both. Rheumatoid arthritis, for example, is a chronic dis-
ease that affects both the joints and the bones. A patient with rheumatoid
arthritis experiences painful infl ammation in the lining of the joints. This
infl ammation causes deformity of the joints and erosion of bone.
Diseases and conditions common to the skeletal system are described
in the following list.
Disease/Condition Defi nition
ankylosing spondylitis
ANG-kuh-LOH-sing SPAHN-duh-
LIGH-tis
ankyl/o = crooked; bent; stiff;
fused together
spondyl/o = vertebra; backbone
-itis = infl ammation
A form of rheumatoid arthritis
characterized by infl ammation of
vertebral joints, which can become
fused and stiff; rheumatoid arthritis
of the spine.
ankylosis
ang-kuh-LOH-sis
ankyl/o = crooked; bent; stiff;
fused together
-osis = abnormal condition
A stiff joint caused by adhesion, or
abnormal fusion of two bones into
one.
arthralgia
ar-THRAL-jee-uh
arthr/o = joint
-algia = pain
Pain in a joint or joints.
arthritis
ar-THRIGH-tis
arthr/o = joint
-itis = infl ammation
Infl ammation of joints; usually
accompanied by pain and,
frequently, structural changes in
bone and cartilage.
osteoarthritis
AHS-tee-oh-ar-THRIGH-tis
oste/o = bone
arthr/o = joint
-itis = infl ammation
Joint disease that mostly affects
cartilage between the bone and
joint; also known as degenerative
joint disease (DJD).
rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
ROO-muh-toyd ar-THRIGH-tis
rheumat/o = watery fl ow
-oid = like; resembling
A chronic, systemic disease
characterized by infl ammation,
pain, and stiffness in the joints;
results in crippling deformities.
(Figure 2.11)
gout
gowt
Form of arthritis in which uric acid
builds up in the blood and causes
joint swelling and pain; gouty
arthritis.
Figure 2.11 Rheumatoid
arthritis (RA).