Musculoskeletal Key

Applied Anatomy The knee is the largest synovial joint in the body. The knee joint is inherently unstable, because it is not constrained by the shape of its articulating bones….

Overview The ankles and feet are well structured for bipedal gait. Each side must be able to independently support the entire body weight for optimal ambulation. A large number of…

Applied Anatomy The low back, sacroiliac joint, and hip joints can all cause pain in a similar anatomic distribution, and each must be considered in the evaluation of a patient…

Applied Anatomy THE HAND ( ) The hand is the chief sensory organ of touch and is uniquely adapted for grasping. The radial side of the hand performs a pinch…

Applied Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Spine The vertebral column consists of 33 vertebrae—7 cervical (C), 12 thoracic (T), 5 lumbar (L), 5 sacral (S), and 4 coccygeal vertebrae—and 23…

Applied Anatomy Shoulder movements are a synthesis of motion at four articulations: sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, glenohumeral, and scapulothoracic. STERNOCLAVICULAR JOINT The sternoclavicular (SC) joint is a spheroidal joint between the medial…

Applied Anatomy The elbow joint acts as both a hinge and a swivel, providing a stable link for lifting, pushing, or gripping and for positioning the hand in space. The…

Applied Anatomy The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an articulation between the mandibular condyle and both the mandibular (glenoid) fossa and the articular eminence (tubercle) of the temporal bone ( Figure…

Applied Anatomy TYPES OF JOINTS Skeletal joints, the sites of articulation between one bone or cartilage and another, are generally of three types: fibrous joints (skull-type sutures), cartilaginous and fibrocartilaginous…