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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Self Test Musculoskeletal System: Medical Terms Quiz

Quick, free musculoskeletal terms quiz. Instant results and helpful feedback.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Arindom SharmaUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
paper art bone muscle and joint icons on coral background promoting a musculoskeletal system medical terms quiz

This quiz helps you practice musculoskeletal system medical terms, including synov/o and arthr/o, and check your recall of bones, muscles, and joints. Answer quick questions, get instant results, and see where to focus next. For more practice, try our musculoskeletal quiz, explore the skeletal system labeling quiz, or build word-part skills with a medical prefixes and suffixes quiz.

What does the combining form oste/o mean?
Tendon
Bone
Cartilage
Muscle
The combining form oste/o derives from the Greek word for bone and is used in terms like osteoporosis (porous bone). It specifically refers to bone tissue or bone structure. This root is foundational in orthopedics and related specialties. .
The combining form arthr/o refers to which anatomical structure?
Bone
Ligament
Muscle
Joint
Arthr/o comes from the Greek word arthron, meaning joint, and appears in terms like arthritis (joint inflammation). It indicates anything related to joint structures. Proper use of this root is essential in musculoskeletal terminology. .
What does the combining form my/o mean?
Nerve
Muscle
Cartilage
Bone
My/o originates from the Greek word mys, meaning muscle, and is used in terms like myopathy (muscle disease). It denotes muscle tissue in medical terminology. Recognizing this root aids in understanding many clinical terms. .
The combining form chondr/o refers to which tissue?
Muscle
Cartilage
Ligament
Bone
Chondr/o derives from the Greek chondros, meaning cartilage, and is seen in chondritis (cartilage inflammation). It specifically refers to cartilage tissue in the body. This root is critical for distinguishing cartilage-related conditions. .
What does the combining form ten/o mean?
Bone
Muscle
Ligament
Tendon
Ten/o is derived from the Greek word tenon, meaning tendon, and appears in tendinitis (tendon inflammation). It refers to the fibrous connective tissue attaching muscle to bone. Proper use assists in identifying tendon disorders. .
The combining form myel/o in musculoskeletal terms typically refers to what?
Muscle tissue
Spinal cord
Cartilage
Bone marrow
Myel/o can refer to bone marrow or spinal cord, but in a musculoskeletal context it most often denotes bone marrow, as in myeloma (a marrow tumor). Recognizing context is key to accurate interpretation. .
What does the combining form fibr/o mean?
Fiber
Cartilage
Fluid
Bone
Fibr/o comes from the Latin fibra, meaning fiber, and is used in fibrosis (excess fibrous tissue). It refers to fibrous connective tissue throughout the body. Understanding this root helps differentiate tissue types. .
The combining form burs/o refers to what structure?
Tendon
Bursa
Joint capsule
Muscle sheath
Burs/o is taken from bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that reduces friction in joints, as in bursitis (inflammation). It specifically denotes that sac structure. Identifying burs/o is important for joint pathology. .
The combining form spondyl/o refers to which part of the skeleton?
Vertebra
Pelvis
Scapula
Rib
Spondyl/o comes from the Greek spondylos, meaning vertebra, as seen in spondylitis (vertebral inflammation). It indicates structures related to the vertebral column. .
What does the combining form cost/o mean?
Pelvis
Hip
Spine
Rib
Cost/o originates from the Latin costa, meaning rib, and appears in costochondritis (rib cartilage inflammation). It specifically refers to the ribs. .
The prefix kyph/o means:
Stiffness
Curvature
Swayback
Hump or hunchback
Kyph/o refers to a hump or hunchback curvature of the spine, as in kyphosis. This distinguishes it from lordosis, which is an inward curve. .
The combining form lord/o refers to what spinal curvature?
Hunchback
Swayback (inward curve)
Side-to-side curve
Stiffness
Lord/o denotes the inward curvature of the spine, as in lordosis. It contrasts with kyphosis (outward curve) and scoliosis (lateral curve). .
The combining form scol/o means:
Straight
Inflamed
Stiff
Crooked or bent
Scol/o comes from the Greek skoliosis, meaning crooked or bent, and is used in scoliosis (lateral spinal curvature). Recognizing this root assists in spinal disorder terms. .
The combining form ankyl/o indicates:
Broken
Stiff or fused
Inflamed
Curved
Ankyl/o derives from the Greek ankylos, meaning bent or stiff, and appears in ankylosis (joint fusion). It indicates fusion or immobility of a joint. .
What does the suffix -plasty mean in medical terminology?
Surgical fusion
Incision
Surgical repair
Removal
The suffix -plasty comes from the Greek plastikos, meaning to mold or form, and refers to surgical repair or reconstruction, as seen in arthroplasty (joint repair). .
What is the term for inflammation of a bursa?
Arthritis
Tendinitis
Bursitis
Myositis
Bursitis combines burs/o (bursa) with the suffix -itis (inflammation) to denote bursa inflammation. It commonly affects joints like the shoulder and elbow. .
What does arthrodesis mean?
Surgical fixation of a joint
Joint puncture
Joint repair
Joint inflammation
Arthrodesis combines arthr/o (joint) with -desis (to bind) to describe surgical fusion or fixation of a joint, often to relieve pain. .
In medical terminology, the prefix hypo- means:
Between
Within or normal
Below or deficient
Above or excessive
Hypo- is a prefix meaning below normal or deficient, as in hypocalcemia (low blood calcium). It contrasts with hyper- (above normal). .
What is osteomalacia?
Softening of bone
Bone infection
Bone inflammation
Bone density loss
Osteomalacia combines oste/o (bone) with -malacia (softening) to describe bone softening in adults, often due to vitamin D deficiency. .
Which term refers to inflammation of bone and bone marrow?
Osteoporosis
Osteomalacia
Osteomyelitis
Osteoarthritis
Osteomyelitis combines oste/o (bone) with myel/o (marrow) and -itis (inflammation) to denote infection of bone and marrow. .
What does the term bursectomy mean?
Examination of a bursa
Repair of a bursa
Surgical removal of a bursa
Inflammation of a bursa
Bursectomy combines burs/o (bursa) with -ectomy (removal) to describe surgical removal of a bursal sac. It's used when conservative treatments fail. .
The combining form fibul/o refers to which bone?
Humerus
Femur
Tibia
Fibula
Fibul/o comes from the Latin fibula, referring to the smaller of the two lower leg bones. It distinguishes from tibi/o, which refers to the tibia. .
Which term describes the degenerative joint disease characterized by loss of cartilage?
Rheumatoid arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Osteoporosis
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis combines oste/o (bone) and arthr/o (joint) with -itis (inflammation), but it primarily denotes wear-and-tear degeneration of articular cartilage. It is distinct from autoimmune rheumatoid arthritis. .
In the term spondylolisthesis, what does -listhesis mean?
Fusion
Inflammation
Slippage
Narrowing
Listhesis comes from the Greek listhesis, meaning slipping or sliding, and describes forward displacement of a vertebra in spondylolisthesis. This term pinpoints the mechanical shift. .
What does osteoplasty refer to?
Injection into bone
Surgical repair of bone
Removal of bone
Measurement of bone density
Osteoplasty combines oste/o (bone) with -plasty (surgical repair) to denote surgical reconstruction or reshaping of bone tissue. It's used in corrective orthopedic procedures. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Core Term Components -

    Identify the prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms most frequently used in musculoskeletal system medical terms to build a strong foundation.

  2. Define Key Musculoskeletal Medical Terms -

    Define essential musculoskeletal medical terminology, including basic muscle roots and skeletal structures, for accurate comprehension.

  3. Apply Synov/O Medical Term Knowledge -

    Apply understanding of synov/o medical term components to interpret and analyze related clinical terminology in context.

  4. Differentiate Term Structures -

    Differentiate between various musculoskeletal medical term formations to distinguish their meanings and uses in healthcare settings.

  5. Recall and Match Terms -

    Recall critical musculoskeletal system medical terms and match them with their correct definitions for exam readiness and practical application.

  6. Strengthen Professional Vocabulary -

    Strengthen your healthcare vocabulary by mastering musculoskeletal medical terminology for clear, confident communication in clinical scenarios.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Core Combining Forms -

    Review the building blocks of musculoskeletal system medical terms by memorizing key combining forms: my/o (muscle), oste/o (bone), arthr/o (joint) and synov/o (synovial membrane or fluid). For example, osteoarthritis literally means "bone joint inflammation" and synovectomy means "surgical removal of the synovial membrane." A helpful mnemonic is "My Osteo Arthro Synov" to sequentially recall muscle, bone, joint and synovial roots (source: NIH Medical Terminology Database).

  2. Common Prefixes and Suffixes -

    Master prefixes like hyper- (excessive) and hypo- (deficient), and suffixes such as -itis (inflammation) and -pathy (disease) to decode terms quickly. For instance, hyperextension describes excessive straightening of a joint, while synovitis refers to inflammation of the synovial membrane. Using flashcards from university anatomy courses helps solidify these elements (source: Johns Hopkins University Anatomy Lab).

  3. Essential Synov/o Medical Terms -

    Focus on synov/o medical term variations: synovial fluid (lubricant within joints), synovitis (inflammation), and synovectomy (removal surgery). Picture "synovial oil" coating your joints to recall its function and pathologies. Refer to peer-reviewed articles in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research for definitions and clinical examples.

  4. Differentiating Muscle vs. Bone Pathologies -

    Contrast myalgia (muscle pain) with osteitis (bone inflammation) and arthropathy (joint disease) to avoid confusion in diagnosis. Remember the phrase "My Aching Bones" to differentiate myositis, arthralgia and osteoarthritis. Consult resources like the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons for case studies.

  5. Mnemonic Strategies for Rapid Recall -

    Leverage mnemonic tricks like "My Old Aunt Sings" (My-o, Oste-o, Arthr-o, Synov-o) to order combining forms in your mind. Pair each term with a simple sketch of its anatomical structure, a technique backed by cognitive science research at Harvard Medical School. This dual visual-verbal method boosts retention of complex musculoskeletal medical terminology.

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