{"id":999,"date":"2015-07-08T18:30:19","date_gmt":"2015-07-08T18:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/biology2xmaster\/?post_type=chapter&p=999"},"modified":"2024-04-26T02:40:29","modified_gmt":"2024-04-26T02:40:29","slug":"putting-it-together-the-musculoskeletal-system","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-biology2\/chapter\/putting-it-together-the-musculoskeletal-system\/","title":{"raw":"Putting It Together: The Musculoskeletal System","rendered":"Putting It Together: The Musculoskeletal System"},"content":{"raw":"At the beginning of this module, we briefly touched on the musculoskeletal diseases and the development of artificial joints and\u00a0prostheses.\u00a0If you find these topics interesting, you may want to look into\u00a0rheumatology.\r\n
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Rheumatologist<\/h3>\r\nRheumatologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the joints, muscles, and bones. They diagnose and treat diseases such as arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the synovial joints of the hands, feet, and cervical spine. Affected joints become swollen, stiff, and painful. Although it is known that RA is an autoimmune disease in which the body\u2019s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue, the cause of RA remains unknown. Immune cells from the blood enter joints and the synovium causing cartilage breakdown, swelling, and inflammation of the joint lining. Breakdown of cartilage causes bones to rub against each other causing pain. RA is more common in women than men and the age of onset is usually 40\u201350 years of age.\r\n\r\nRheumatologists can diagnose RA on the basis of symptoms such as joint inflammation and pain, X-ray and MRI imaging, and blood tests. Arthrography is a type of medical imaging of joints that uses a contrast agent, such as a dye, that is opaque to X-rays. This allows the soft tissue structures of joints\u2014such as cartilage, tendons, and ligaments\u2014to be visualized. An arthrogram differs from a regular X-ray by showing the surface of soft tissues lining the joint in addition to joint bones. An arthrogram allows early degenerative changes in joint cartilage to be detected before bones become affected.\r\n\r\nThere is currently no cure for RA; however, rheumatologists have a number of treatment options available. Early stages can be treated with rest of the affected joints by using a cane or by using joint splints that minimize inflammation. When inflammation has decreased, exercise can be used to strengthen the muscles that surround the joint and to maintain joint flexibility. If joint damage is more extensive, medications can be used to relieve pain and decrease inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, topical pain relievers, and corticosteroid injections may be used. Surgery may be required in cases in which joint damage is severe.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

Flashcards<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n\r\nIt is tempting to view different topics as completely separate, but in fact the ideas we cover in this course are often connected to one another. If you don\u2019t retain the vocabulary from module to module, those connections can be missed. As you continue on, remember to come back and review the terms you\u2019ve learned in order to increase your depth of knowledge.\r\n\r\n