Deck 22: The Musculoskeletal System

Question 1

What is osteoporosis? Why does it develop? What symptoms and complications result from osteoporosis?

Answer 1

Osteoporosis is a condition referred to porous bones. It occurs by generalized thinning and demineralization of skeletal system. It is mostly observed in postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis is developed because of bone resorption exceeding the bone production. This is highly observed in postmenopausal women because the loss of ovarian function resulting in estrogen deficiency. Estrogen inhibits the bone resorption and loss of estrogen exhilarates the progressive thinning of bones. The condition is also observed in the older men.
The bones become fragile and are easily susceptible to fracture. The fractures to vertebral bodies may result from by the stress of weight bearing or after minor exertion. Such factors cause back pain, tenderness and collapse of anterior portion of vertebral bodies due to compression of spinal nerve roots passing through the intervertebral foramina. Osteoporosis causes fractures and restoration of bone density is difficult. Several drugs are available that may be helpful but have significant advantages and disadvantages. Estrogen supplements and calcium supplements are given to postmenopausal women.

Question 2

Indicate whether each statement is true or false by writing T or F at the end of the statement.
Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by degeneration of the articular cartilage in weight-bearing joints. ____

Answer 2

Rheumatoid arthritis affects young and middle aged women. It is a systemic disease with major effects in joints. The disease is characterized by chronic synovitis. Ingrowth of inflammatory tissue over the cartilage causes the destruction of joint space and results in deformities. The usually affected parts are small joints of hands and feet. The auto antibody targeted against gamaglobulin or rheumatoid factor is conspicuous in rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis is common in older persons and in both the men and women. The disease is characterized by "wear and tear", the degeneration of articular cartilage. The disease results in overgrowth of bone and thickening periarticular soft tissue. Osteoarthritis affects mainly major weight bearing joints.
Therefore, the given statement is false.

Question 3

What is a "slipped disk"? Why does it occur? Why does it sometimes produce pain radiating down the leg? How is it treated?

Answer 3

An intervertibral disk protrudes in the posterolateral direction due to dense posterior longitudinal ligament reinforcing the annulus in the midline to prevent the posterior protrusion. The symptoms resulted by disk protrusion are called a slipped disk. The condition consists of sudden onset of acute back pain after an episode of lifting. The pain may also be felt in leg and thigh on the side of protrusion. This is because the extruded disk material impinges on the lumbosacral nerve root causing radiating pain along the part of the nerve compression by the protruded nucleus pulposus.
The treatment is by giving bed rest and measures taken to minimize the pain. Administration of drugs like aspirin or pain relieving medication, application of heat and use of muscle relaxing drugs to relieve the spasm of the back muscles is suggested. The protruded disk materials may be resorbed and tear in the annulus can be repaired by the fibrous tissue. Sometimes, surgical removal of protruded disk may be required. CT scan and MRI scan or noninvasive radiologic examinations can detect the disk protrusion.

Question 4

What is meant by the following terms: osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, nucleus pulposus, rheumatoid factor ?

Question 5

What are the types of muscle cells?

Question 6

What is meant by the following terms: myoneural junction, acetylcholine , and myositis ?

Question 7

What is the difference between muscular atrophy and muscular dystrophy? What are the most common types of atrophic disease of the muscles? Of dystrophic disease?

Question 8

Mary Jones is a college student who has heard that the risk of osteoporosis developing later in life can be minimized by measures that promote strong bones. What should she do to promote strong bones and minimize her osteoporosis risk?

Question 9

What is myasthenia gravis? What is its relationship to the immune system? How is it treated?

Question 10

Match the type of arthritis on the right with the disease characteristic on the left.

Question 11

Describe the structure of the typical movable joint (see Figure 1).
Figure 1
Structure of a typical movable joint.

Question 12

Indicate whether each statement is true or false by writing T or F at the end of the statement.
Most patients with gout have autoantibodies directed against articular cartilage that damage the joints. _____

Question 13

John Cunningham is a middle-aged man who had an acute episode of pain and swelling at the base of his great toe. What conditions could account for the pain and swelling? What measures would help establish the cause of the condition?

Question 14

What are the three most common types of arthritis? What are their distinguishing features (see Table 1)?
Table 1
Comparison of Major Features of Common Types of Arthritis

Question 15

Indicate whether each statement is true or false by writing T or F at the end of the statement.
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease in which the autoantibody targets acetylcholine receptors at the myoneural junction. ____

Question 16

What is the difference between a simple fracture and a compound fracture? What are the complications of a compound fracture? What is a comminuted fracture? A pathologic fracture?

Question 17

Indicate whether each statement is true or false by writing T or F at the end of the statement.
Muscular dystrophy results from degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord. ____