NR 509 Week 3 Chapter 16: Musculoskeletal System

NR 509 Week 3 Chapter 16: Musculoskeletal System Prevalence for most conditions varies by gender. o EX: Osteoarthritis (OA) more common in women, especially in the knee. Approach to musculoskeletal disorders  characterize the patient’s complaint in terms of four key features. Is the joint problem: o Articular or extra-articular o Acute (usually <6 weeks) or chronic (usually >12 weeks) o Inflammatory or noninflammatory o Localized (monoarticular) or diffuse (polyarticular)  Articular structures include  joint capsule and articular cartilage, the synovium and synovial fluid, intra-articular ligaments, and juxtaarticular bone. o Articular cartilage is composed of a collagen matrix containing charged ions and water, allowing the cartilage to change shape in response to pressure or load, acting as a cushion for underlying bone. Synovial fluid provides nutrition to the adjacent relatively avascular articular cartilage. o Articular disease typically involves swelling and tenderness of the entire joint, crepitus, instability, “locking,” or deformity, and limits both active and passive range of motion due to either stiffness or pain............CONTINUED*