Skip to main content
Medicine LibreTexts

13: Musculoskeletal System

  • Page ID
    111156
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)

    • 13.0: Introduction
      The page discusses the role of the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, in protecting internal organs and facilitating body movements. It presents a scenario involving Ms. Chen, a 65-year-old female patient who underwent hip-replacement surgery after a hip fracture. The text focuses on the nurse's role in assessing Ms. Chen's musculoskeletal system and aiding in her recovery to improve mobility and daily living activities.
    • 13.1: Osteoporosis and Osteopenia
      This section provides an overview of osteoporosis and osteopenia, focusing on pathophysiology, risk factors, and clinical presentations. It discusses the diagnostic process and highlights the role of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) as a key diagnostic tool. The nursing care strategies for managing these conditions include recognizing risk factors, promoting patient independence, and encouraging lifestyle changes.
    • 13.2: Osteoarthritis
      This section outlines learning objectives related to osteoarthritis (OA), including understanding its pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostics, and nursing care. OA, a common form of arthritis affecting millions, involves joint cartilage degeneration. Risk factors include age and obesity, with symptoms like joint pain and stiffness.
    • 13.3: Bone Fractures
      This section focuses on bone fractures, providing an in-depth understanding of their pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnoses, and clinical manifestations. It explains various fracture types and emphasizes nursing care, including pain management, neurovascular assessments, and complications like compartment syndrome and fat embolism. The text outlines medical treatments such as immobilization, closed reduction, internal and external fixation, and arthroplasty.
    • 13.4: Muscular Dystrophy
      This page covers muscular dystrophy (MD), detailing its pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostics, and nursing care strategies. MD is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness, with several types including Duchenne, Becker, and myotonic dystrophies. The page discusses the role of genetics, common symptoms, and diagnostic tests such as genetic testing and electromyography.
    • 13.5: Connective Tissue Disease
      The page provides comprehensive educational objectives and information on two connective tissue diseases: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). It covers the pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostics, and nursing care strategies for each condition.
    • 13.6: Soft Tissue Injuries
      The section outlines learning objectives related to soft tissue injuries and covers aspects such as pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostics, and nursing care. It describes common types of soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, contusions, tendinitis, and bursitis, discussing their causes and clinical signs. Nursing interventions using the "RICE" method???rest, ice, compression, and elevation???are emphasized, along with evaluation methods for treatment efficacy.
    • 13.7: Summary
      This page discusses various musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, bone fractures, muscular dystrophy, connective tissue diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, and soft tissue injuries. It outlines the causes, symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies for each condition, emphasizing both pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions to manage symptoms and improve patient outcomes.
    • 13.8: Key Terms
      This page provides definitions for various medical terms related to conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory diseases. Terms included are alopecia, arthrocentesis, arthroplasty, autoimmune disorder, bone spur, bursitis, compartment syndrome, contusion, dystrophin, and many others. These definitions cover a range of medical issues such as joint diseases, muscle disorders, and inflammation impacting different parts of the body.
    • 13.9: Assessments
    • 13.10: References
      The page appears to be a collection of references and sources related to various medical and health topics, including fat embolism, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, muscular dystrophy, and lupus, among others. Research articles, systematic analyses, narrative reviews, and resources from different health organizations are cited, indicating a focus on the latest insights, statistics, and findings related to these conditions.


    This page titled 13: Musculoskeletal System is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax.

    • Was this article helpful?