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Arthritis Glossary

This page provides definitions for the most common arthritis-related terms.

Analgesic - A medication or treatment that relieves pain.

Ankylosing spondylitis - A rheumatic disease that causes arthritis of the spine and sacroiliac joints and, at times, inflammation of the eyes and heart valves.

Antibodies - Special proteins produced by the body’s immune system that help fight and destroy viruses, bacteria, and other foreign substances (antigens) that invade the body. Occasionally, abnormal antibodies develop that can attack a part of the body and cause autoimmune disease. These abnormal antibodies are called autoantibodies.

Antigen - A foreign substance that stimulates an immune response.

Antinuclear antibodies - Antibodies that are in the bloodstream of people who have connective tissue diseases or certain autoimmune disorders.

Arthritis - Literally means joint inflammation. It is a general term for more than 100 conditions known as rheumatic diseases. These diseases affect not only the joints but also other parts of the body, including important supporting structures such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as some internal organs.

Arthrography - An x-ray procedure that provides a detailed image of the joint when air or a contrast substance is injected into the joint space.

Arthroscopy - A procedure performed with an arthroscope (a small, flexible tube that transmits the image of the inside of a joint to a video monitor). Arthroscopy is used for diagnosis as well as treatment of some types of joint injury. The arthroscope is inserted through a small incision in the skin near the affected joint.

Bursa (plural, bursae) - A small sac of tissue located between bone and other moving structures such as muscles, skin, or tendons. The bursa contains a lubricating fluid that allows smooth gliding between these structures.

Bursitis - A condition involving inflammation of the bursae.

Cartilage - A resilient tissue that covers and cushions the ends of the bones and absorbs shock.

Collagen - The main structural protein of skin, bones, tendons, cartilage, and connective tissue.

Connective tissue - The supporting framework of the body and its internal organs.

Computed tomography (CT or CAT) - A diagnostic technique that uses a computer and an x-ray machine to take a series of images that can be transformed into a clear and detailed image of a joint.

Corticosteroids - Potent anti-inflammatory hormones that are made naturally in the body or synthetically for use as drugs. The most commonly prescribed drug of this type is prednisone.

Fibromyalgia - A chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in localized areas of the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips called "tender points."

Fibrous capsule - A tough wrapping of tendons and ligaments that surrounds the joint.

Gout - A type of arthritis resulting from deposits of needle-like crystals of uric acid in the connective tissue, joint spaces, or both.

Hydrotherapy - Therapy that takes place in water.

Immune system - The system that protects the body from infections.

Infectious arthritis - Forms of arthritis caused by infectious agents, such as bacteria or viruses.

Inflammation - A typical reaction of tissue to injury or disease. It is marked by four signs: swelling, redness, heat, and pain.

Joint - The place where two or more bones are joined. Most joints are composed of cartilage, joint space, fibrous capsule, synovium, and ligaments.

Joint space - The area enclosed within the fibrous capsule and synovium.

Juvenile arthritis - A term used to refer to the types of arthritis that affect children. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type.

Ligaments - Stretchy bands of cordlike tissues that connect bone to bone.

Lupus - A type of immune disorder known as an autoimmune disease that can lead to inflammation of and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain.

Lyme disease - A disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi in which arthritis is often a prominent symptom. Rash, heart disease, and nervous system involvement may also occur.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - A diagnostic technique that provides high-quality cross-sectional images of a structure of the body without X rays or other radiation.

Manipulation - A treatment by which health professionals use their hands to help restore normal movement to stiff joints.

Microwave therapy - A type of deep heat therapy in which electromagnetic waves pass between electrodes placed on the patient’s skin. This therapy creates heat that increases blood flow and relieves muscle and joint pain.

Mobilization therapies - A group of treatments that include traction, massage, and manipulation. When performed by a trained professional, these methods can help control a patient’s pain and increase joint and muscle motion.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) - A group of medications, including aspirin, ibuprofen, and related drugs, used to reduce inflammation that causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling.

Osteoarthritis - A type of arthritis that causes the cartilage in the joints to fray and wear. In extreme cases, the cartilage may wear away completely.

Polymyalgia rheumatica - A rheumatic disease that involves tendons, muscles, ligaments, and tissues around the joints. Pain, aching, and morning stiffness in the neck, shoulders, lower back, and hips characterize the disease. It is sometimes the first sign of giant cell arteritis (a disease of the arteries characterized by inflammation, weakness, weight loss, and fever).

Polymyositis - A rheumatic disease that causes weakness and inflammation of muscles.

Psoriatic arthritis - Joint inflammation that occurs in about 5 to 10 percent of people with psoriasis (a common skin disorder).

Range of motion - A measurement of the extent to which a joint can go through all of its normal movements.

Reactive arthritis - A form of arthritis that develops after an infection involving the lower urinary tract, bowel, or other organs.

Rheumatoid arthritis - An inflammatory disease of the synovium, or lining of the joint, that results in pain, stiffness, swelling, deformity, and loss of function in the joints.

Rheumatologist - A doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders that affect the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones.

Risk factor - Something that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease, such as age, gender, ethnicity, and genetics (family history).

Scleroderma - A disease of the connective tissues and blood vessels that leads to hardening of the skin. Scleroderma can also damage internal organs such as the kidneys, lungs, heart, or gastrointestinal tract.

Synovial fluid - Fluid released into movable joints by surrounding membranes. The fluid lubricates the joint and reduces friction.

Synovium - A thin membrane that lines a joint and releases a fluid that allows the joint to move easily.

Tendinitis (tendonitis) - Inflammation of tendons caused by overuse, injury, or related rheumatic conditions.

Tendon - Tough, fibrous cords of tissue that connect muscle to bone.

Transcutaneous - Through the skin.

Ultrasound - A treatment that uses sound waves to provide deep heat and relieve pain.

Information and definitions of the medical conditions and diseases have been taken from various reliable government publications and we have done our best to verify their accuracy. If you feel any of the definitions are incorrect or needs to be updated please contact us and we will look into it.

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