Bone, Joint, and Muscle Disorders
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Biology of the Musculoskeletal System
The musculoskeletal system provides form, stability, and movement to the human body. It consists of the body's bones (which make up the skeleton), muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage, and other connective tissue. The term "connective tissue" is used to describe the tissue that supports and binds tissues and organs together. Its chief components are collagen and elastic fibers, which are composed of different proteins. -
Symptoms of Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal symptoms are very common and may arise from joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, or bursas (see Introduction to the Biology of the Musculoskeletal System). -
Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Disorders
The musculoskeletal system comprises bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, and bursae (see Introduction to Biology of the Musculoskeletal System). Any of these components can be injured or affected by a number of disorders. -
Autoimmune Disorders of Connective Tissue
In an autoimmune disorder, antibodies or cells produced by the body attack the body’s own tissues. Many autoimmune disorders affect connective tissue and a variety of organs. Connective tissue is the structural tissue that gives strength to joints, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. -
Bone and Joint Infections
Artificial joints can become infected by bacteria. -
Bone and Joint Tumors
Bone tumors are growths of abnormal cells in bones. -
Foot Problems
Some foot problems start in the foot itself, for example, resulting from a foot injury. Problems can occur in any bone, joint, muscle, tendon, or ligament of the foot.- Overview of Foot Problems
- Achilles Tendon Bursitis
- Achilles Tendon Enthesopathy
- Bunion
- Corns and Calluses
- Damage to the Nerves in the Foot
- Freiberg Disease
- Hammer Toe
- Inferior Calcaneal Bursitis
- Medial and Lateral Plantar Nerve Entrapment
- Metatarsal Joint Pain
- Pain in the Ball of the Foot (Metatarsalgia)
- Plantar Fasciosis
- Plantar Fibromatosis
- Sesamoiditis
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tibialis Posterior Tendinosis and Tibialis Posterior Tenosynovitis
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Gout and Calcium Pyrophosphate Arthritis
Gout is a disorder in which deposits of uric acid crystals accumulate in the joints because of high blood levels of uric acid (hyperuricemia). The accumulations of crystals cause flare-ups (attacks) of painful inflammation in and around joints. -
Hand Disorders
Hand and finger disorders include ganglia, deformities, disorders related to nerves or blood vessels, osteoarthritis, trigger finger, Kienböck disease, and infections.- Overview of Hand Disorders
- Boutonnière Deformity
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain Syndrome
- Dupuytren Contracture
- Felon
- Ganglia
- Hand Abscess
- Hand Infections Caused By Bites
- Herpetic Whitlow
- Infection of the Tendon Sheath in the Fingers
- Kienböck Disease
- Osteoarthritis of the Hand
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome
- Swan-Neck Deformity
- Trigger Finger
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Joint Disorders
Neurogenic arthropathy is caused by progressive joint destruction, often very rapid, that develops because people cannot sense pain, continually injure joints, and thus are not aware of the early signs of joint damage. -
Low Back and Neck Pain
Low back pain and neck pain are among the most common reasons for health care visits. The pain usually results from problems with the musculoskeletal system—most notably the spine, including the bones of the spine (back bones, or vertebrae), disks, and the muscles and ligaments that support it. Occasionally, low back pain results from a disorder that does not involve the musculoskeletal system. -
Muscle, Bursa, and Tendon Disorders
The muscles, bursae, tendons, and bones must be healthy and functioning correctly for the body to move normally. Muscles, which contract to produce movement, are connected to the bones by tendons. Bursae are flat sacs containing joint (synovial) fluid. They reduce friction in areas where skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments rub over bones. (See also Biology of the Musculoskeletal System.) -
Osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis is the death of a segment of bone caused by an impaired blood supply. -
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition in which a decrease in the density of bones weakens the bones, making breaks (fractures) likely. -
Paget Disease of Bone
Paget disease of bone is a chronic disorder of the skeleton in which areas of bone undergo abnormal turnover, resulting in areas of enlarged and softened bone. -
Vasculitic Disorders
Vasculitic disorders are caused by inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis).
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