8.0 Glossary

Bone Formation

Callus: A mass of bone tissue, usually of woven bone, formed in response to a need to support the bone or joint, e.g. after a fracture.
Enthesophytes: Projections or spicules of bone at sites of tendinous or ligamentous attachment.
Fusion: The unification of two or more bones into a single entity by the growth of new bone across a joint.
Increased Density: Bone density is the amount of bone tissue in a certain volume of bone. Increased density indicates that this level is higher than is normal for bones from that site, something usually indicated by the bone appearing heavier and/or thicker than normal.
Nodule: A small, discrete mass of bone tissue.
Osteophyte: A small abnormal bony outgrowth or protuberance around the joint margin.
Periostosis: The reaction of the periosteal layer to form new bone in response to some pathological condition.

Articular Depression: A smooth circular or ovoid pit located on the articular surface of a bone.
Articular Groove: A smooth linear feature located on the articular surface of a bone.
Cavity: A hollow area within a bone.
Cloaca: A cavity or sinus through which pus drains, such as in osteomyelitis (the inflammation of the marrow cavity of a bone).
Cyst: An abnormal sac in the body, filled with a fluid or semi-solid and enclosed in a membrane.
Myeloma: A tumour of the bone marrow and related cells, which can produce multiple spongy growths of bone simultaneously in a number of sites.
Necrosis: Bone death resulting from the loss of blood supply to a bone or region of bone.
Osteopenia: A decrease in bone matrix formation, used to describe thin bones in radiographs; a general term to describe a loss in the amount of bone.
Porosity: An area of bone surface that possesses numerous small pits or pores created by pathological activity.
Sclerosis: Pathological hardening or thickening of tissue, revealed as areas of dense white material on X-rays.

Enlarged: A bone, or part of a bone, that is significantly larger in size than is normal for that site.
Reduced: A bone, or part of a bone, that is significantly smaller in size than is normal for that site.

Articular Extension: The extension or widening of the articular surface of a bone.
Bowing: Curvature of the bone shaft due to a pathological disorder or deficiency.
Displacement: Removal of a bone or segment of bone from its normal position.
Expansion of Shaft: An abnormal increase in the dimensions of the bone shaft.
Thickening of Epiphyseal Plates: An abnormal increase in the dimensions of the bone around the junction of the epiphysis and metaphysis in which growth of a juvenile bone takes place.

Failure to form bone: The failure of bone, due to congenital or other reasons, to develop, thus leaving 'normal' features absent.
Eburnation: Degeneration of bone into a hard, polished, ivory-like mass, such as occurs at articular surfaces of bones in osteoarthritis.

Enamel Hypoplasia: Defects in the teeth observed as lines, pits or grooves on the enamel surface, that form as a result of arrests in the growth process.
Calculus: The calcified remains of dental plaque, one of the commonest types of ectopic concretions affecting teeth.
Alveolar Recession: Reduction of the bone of the jaw section containing the tooth sockets, the alveolar ridge.
Abscess: A collection of pus or other matter contained in a localised area of the body. Acute or chronic forms may occur.
Caries: Decay of teeth resulting in the softening, discoloration and destruction of the original material.
Supernumerary: Exceeding the normal amount.
Malocclusion: The lack of occlusion, or abnormal occlusion, existing between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws.

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Last updated: Wednesday 8th November 2006