Bones, joints and muscles

Conditions (19)

Ankylosing Spondylitis — Espondilitis Anquilosante

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the spine and sacroiliac joints, causing pain and stiffness in the lower back and buttocks that is typically worse in the morning or after inactivity.

Bursitis — Bursitis

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa—a small, fluid-filled sac that cushions bones, tendons, and muscles near joints.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) — Síndrome de Fatiga Crónica (EM/SFC)

Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex, long-term condition characterized by extreme fatigue that is not improved by rest and worsens significantly with physical or mental activity—a hallmark called post-exertional malaise.

Fibromyalgia — Fibromialgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and cognitive difficulties often called "fibro fog." The nervous system amplifies pain signals, making normal sensations feel intensely painful.

Gout — Gota

Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints.

Herniated Disc — Disco Herniado

A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner gel of a spinal disc pushes through a tear in its tougher outer layer, pressing on nearby nerves.

Hypermobility Syndrome — Síndrome de Hiperlaxitud Articular

Hypermobility syndrome occurs when joints move beyond their normal range of motion due to lax connective tissue, causing pain, instability, and frequent injuries such as sprains and dislocations.

Kyphosis — Cifosis

Kyphosis is an exaggerated forward rounding of the upper back, commonly called a hunchback or hump.

Muscular Dystrophy — Distrofia Muscular

Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of inherited genetic diseases that cause progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles used for movement.

Osteoarthritis — Osteoartritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, caused by the gradual breakdown of cartilage—the cushioning tissue inside joints.

Osteoporosis — Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and brittle due to loss of bone density, increasing the risk of fractures from minor falls or even everyday activities.

Plantar Fasciitis — Fascitis Plantar

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain, caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia—a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes along the bottom of the foot.

Polymyalgia Rheumatica — Polimialgia Reumática

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory condition causing aching and stiffness in the shoulders, neck, upper arms, hips, and thighs, typically in adults over 50.

Rheumatoid Arthritis — Artritis Reumatoide

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the joints, causing chronic inflammation, pain, and swelling.

Rotator Cuff Tear — Desgarro del Manguito Rotador

A rotator cuff tear is a partial or complete tear of one or more of the four tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint and enable arm movement.

Scoliosis — Escoliosis

Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, often appearing as an S or C shape when viewed from the back.

Spinal Stenosis — Estenosis Espinal

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Tendinitis — Tendinitis

Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon—the thick fibrous cords that attach muscle to bone.

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) — Epicondilitis Lateral (Codo de Tenista)

Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, is an overuse injury causing pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow where the forearm tendons attach to the bony bump.

Anatomy (18)

Cartilage — Cartílago

Cartilage is a firm but flexible tissue found throughout the body that cushions joints and provides structure.

Cervical Vertebrae — Vértebras cervicales

The cervical vertebrae are the seven bones that make up the neck portion of your spine, labeled C1 through C7.

Femur — Fémur

The femur is your thigh bone — the longest and strongest bone in the human body.

Fibula — Peroné

The fibula is the thinner bone on the outer side of your lower leg, running alongside the tibia from the knee to the ankle.

Humerus — Húmero

The humerus is the long bone in your upper arm, running from your shoulder down to your elbow.

Intervertebral Disc — Disco intervertebral

Intervertebral discs are the cushion-like pads that sit between each of the bones in your spine.

Ligament — Ligamento

Ligaments are strong bands of fibrous tissue that connect bones to other bones at a joint, holding the skeleton together and keeping joints stable.

Lumbar Vertebrae — Vértebras lumbares

The lumbar vertebrae are the five large bones that make up the lower portion of your spine, labeled L1 through L5.

Meniscus — Menisco

The meniscus refers to two C-shaped pieces of rubbery cartilage in your knee — the medial meniscus on the inner side and the lateral meniscus on the outer side.

Patella — Rótula

The patella, commonly called the kneecap, is the small, triangular bone that sits at the front of your knee.

Pelvis — Pelvis

The pelvis is the bowl-shaped ring of bones at the base of your spine, connecting your spine to your legs.

Radius — Radio

The radius is one of the two bones in your forearm, located on the thumb side.

Rotator Cuff — Manguito rotador

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their tendons that surround and stabilize the shoulder joint.

Scapula — Escápula

The scapula, commonly called the shoulder blade, is a flat, triangular bone located on the upper back on each side of your body.

Tendon — Tendón

Tendons are the strong, flexible cords of tissue that connect your muscles to your bones.

Thoracic Vertebrae — Vértebras torácicas

The thoracic vertebrae are the twelve bones in the middle portion of your spine, labeled T1 through T12.

Tibia — Tibia

The tibia is your shinbone — the larger of the two bones in your lower leg.

Ulna — Cúbito

The ulna is one of the two bones in your forearm, running along the pinky-finger side from your elbow to your wrist.

Symptoms (11)

Claudication — Claudicación

Claudication is cramping, aching, or fatigue in the leg muscles — most often the calf — that occurs during walking or exercise and is relieved by a few minutes of rest.

Cold Extremities — Extremidades frías

Cold extremities — persistently cold hands, feet, fingers, or toes — occur when blood flow to the outer parts of the body is reduced.

Cramping — Calambres

Cramping is a sudden, involuntary, and often painful muscle contraction or tightening.

Hip Pain — Dolor de cadera

Hip pain is discomfort in or around the hip joint, which connects the thigh bone to the pelvis.

Joint Pain — Dolor articular

Joint pain refers to discomfort, aching, or soreness in any of the body's joints, such as the knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, or wrists.

Joint Swelling — Hinchazón articular

Joint swelling refers to visible or palpable enlargement of one or more joints, often accompanied by warmth, redness, and pain.

Knee Pain — Dolor de rodilla

Knee pain is any ache, soreness, or discomfort in or around the knee joint.

Malaise — Malestar general

Malaise is a vague feeling of discomfort, illness, or not feeling well that is difficult to describe.

Neck Pain — Dolor de cuello

Neck pain is discomfort in any of the structures in the neck, including muscles, nerves, bones, or discs between vertebrae.

Shoulder Pain — Dolor de hombro

Shoulder pain is discomfort in or around the shoulder joint, which is one of the most mobile joints in the body.

Stiffness — Rigidez

Stiffness is a feeling of tightness, reduced flexibility, or difficulty moving a joint or muscle, especially after rest or in the morning.

Procedures (6)

Amputation — Amputación

Amputation is surgery to remove a limb or part of a limb, such as a finger, toe, foot, leg, arm, or hand.

Hip Replacement — Reemplazo de cadera

Hip replacement is surgery to replace a damaged or worn hip joint with an artificial implant made of metal, ceramic, or plastic.

Joint Injection — Inyección articular

A joint injection is an outpatient procedure in which medication is injected directly into a joint space to relieve pain and inflammation.

Knee Replacement — Reemplazo de rodilla

Knee replacement surgery removes damaged cartilage and bone from the knee joint and replaces them with artificial components made of metal and plastic.

Laminectomy — Laminectomía

A laminectomy is surgery that removes part or all of the lamina, the back portion of a vertebra, to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.

Spinal Fusion — Fusión espinal

Spinal fusion is surgery that permanently joins two or more vertebrae in the spine so they heal into a single solid bone.

Tests (3)

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) — Proteína C reactiva

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein your liver releases into the blood in response to inflammation or infection.

Cardiac Stress Test — Prueba de Esfuerzo Cardíaco

A cardiac stress test evaluates how well your heart works during physical activity.

EMG (Electromyography) — Electromiografía (EMG)

An EMG records the electrical activity produced by your muscles at rest and during contraction.

Medications (1)

Biologic Medication — Medicamento Biológico

Biologic medications are complex drugs derived from living cells — such as bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells — rather than manufactured through chemical synthesis.

Other areas of the glossary

• Heart and circulation — Corazón y circulación
• Lungs and breathing — Pulmones y respiración
• Digestive system — Sistema digestivo
• Brain and nerves — Cerebro y nervios
• Mental health — Salud mental
• Reproductive health and pregnancy — Salud reproductiva y embarazo
• Blood and immune system — Sangre y sistema inmunitario
• Hormones, diabetes and metabolism — Hormonas, diabetes y metabolismo
• Skin, hair and nails — Piel, cabello y uñas
• General care: tests, procedures and medicines — Atención general: pruebas, procedimientos y medicamentos