Bone, Joint, and Muscle Disorders
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Biology of the Musculoskeletal SystemThe 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.
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Symptoms of Musculoskeletal DisordersMusculoskeletal symptoms are very common and may arise from joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, or bursas (see Introduction to the Biology of the Musculoskeletal System).
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Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal DisordersThe 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.
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Autoimmune Disorders of Connective TissueIn 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.
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Bone and Joint InfectionsArtificial joints can become infected by bacteria.
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Bone and Joint TumorsBone tumors are growths of abnormal cells in bones.
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Foot ProblemsSome 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
- 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 ArthritisGout 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 flares (attacks) of painful inflammation in and around joints.
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Hand DisordersHand 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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IgG4-Related DiseaseImmunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an uncommon immune disorder that usually affects multiple tissues and organs with tumor-like masses and/or painless enlargement.
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Joint DisordersNeurogenic 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.
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Low Back and Neck PainAlong with low back pain, neck pain is a very common reason for health care visits. The pain usually results from problems with the musculoskeletal system—the spine, including the bones of the spine (backbones, or vertebrae) and the muscles and ligaments that support it. Some disorders cause only neck pain. Other disorders can cause neck and low back pain. Occasionally, neck pain results from a disorder, such as meningitis, that does not involve the musculoskeletal system.
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Muscle, Bursa, and Tendon DisordersThe 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.)
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OsteonecrosisOsteonecrosis is the death of a segment of bone caused by an impaired blood supply.
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OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a condition in which a decrease in the density of bones weakens the bones, making breaks (fractures) likely.
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Paget Disease of BonePaget 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.
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Vasculitic DisordersVasculitic disorders are caused by inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis).
