|
THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: OUR BODY'S FRAMEWORK FOR LIFE |
|||
| Overview | |||
|
How important is the musculoskeletal system? As the framework for the human body, the musculoskeletal system is the foundation of both support and movement. But it is much more than that. Not a single bodily function-whether breathing, talking, eating, or excreting-can take place without some part of the system coming into play. As the largest system in the body, it is an amazing synchronization of movement when working properly; and the system's normal functioning is an essential prerequisite to health in all the other bodily systems. Failure of a single component-whether it be the joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that allow movement or the nervous system that coordinates these activities-can wreak havoc. Diseases associated with the musculoskeletal system represent some of the most common causes of chronic illness in the U.S. Musculoskeletal injuries and symptoms are second only to respiratory illness as the most prevalent reason people seek medical care, and they are the leading cause of time lost from work. In fact, one or more of the diseases associated with the system affects almost every household in America in some way. For example, 40 million Americans suffer from arthritis, 10 million have osteoporosis (18 million more have low bone mass that places them at risk for the disease), and eight out of ten Americans have had a low back pain problem at some time. In addition to the individual suffering, the estimated economic costs of these ailments exceed $100 billion a year. In "The Musculoskeletal System: Our Body's Framework for Life," mini-med students will learn a lot more than the knee bone's connected to the thigh bone; the thigh bone's connected to the hip bone; the hip bone's connected to the….well, you get the idea. This evening's presentation will provide mini-med students with an insider's look at this complex and vital infrastructure and the multidisciplinary efforts-from rheumatology and endocrinology to orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation services-that are sometimes needed to keep it up and running. |
|||
|
Assistant Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology |
|
||
|
At the age of nine, Dr. Duker was amazed by the inner workings of the "Visible Man" at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry and remains driven by "a sense of awe at the exquisite integration of the normal structures and functions of the human body." Described by her department chairman as a "superlative and tireless" teacher, Dr. Duker has been on the School of Medicine faculty for more than 12 years. Although she has conducted research, she currently concentrates on helping medical students deal with some of the difficult concepts associated with the correlation between structure and function in normal cell biology, physiology, and histology. According to one of her current students, "Turning difficult concepts into vivid imagery is Dr. Duker's forte." A recipient of the 1995 Golden Apple Teaching Award, a 1997 and 1998 Excellence in Education Award, and the 1999 Chancellor's Distinguished Teacher Award, Dr. Duker has also been a driving force behind the newly designed and highly successful organ system-based curriculum at the School Medicine. She received her B.S. and M.S. from Pennsylvania State University and her Ph.D. in human anatomy and cell biology from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. |
|||
|
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic and Neurological Surgery
|
|
||
| Dr. Kang is an orthopaedic surgeon whose interests include degenerative spinal disorders, scoliosis, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, and minimally invasive spinal surgery. He is co-director of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery's Ferguson Laboratory Musculoskeletal Research Center and conducts a wide range of research focusing on the biochemistry of disc degeneration, gene therapy application to disc degeneration, and the biomechanics of the spine. His honors include the New Investigator Recognition Award from the Orthopaedic Research Society, Cervical Spine Research Society Award, and Hip Society Award. Dr. Kang received his B.S. (magna cum laude) in chemical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and his M.D. from the University of Oklahoma, where he received an award as the outstanding student in general surgery. He completed his general surgery internship and orthopaedic research and surgery fellowships at the University of Pittsburgh. On the School of Medicine faculty since 1991, Dr. Kang is director of the orthopaedic surgery electives for third- and fourth-year medical students and also lectures on acute and chronic spinal disorders. | |||
|
Associate Professor of Medicine
|
|
||
| On the active staff of several hospitals, Dr. Roberts has a strong interest in women's health. She is the founder and director of the Women's Health Training Program in the Department of Medicine, which (to our knowledge) is the nation's first program of its kind. Dr. Roberts is also the recipient of a Clinical Investigator Award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. This award supports the development of outstanding clinician research scientists who are committed to a career in research and have the potential to develop into independent investigators. She is currently studying the efficacy and safety of oral alendronate sodium for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Dr. Roberts earned her B.A. (with honors) in biochemistry from Brown University and her M.D. from Duke University, where she received a Duke University Endowment Scholarship. She has served as chairperson of the Osteoporosis Subcommittee of the American Medical Women's Association and is on the Editorial Board of Orthopedics Today. | |||
|
Dictionary
of Orthopedics—Provides a short description of clinical features of diseases
of the musculoskeletal system http://chorus.rad.mcw.edu/index/6.html Effects of
Space Travel on the Musculoskeletal System—No pictures but lots of good
information on the musculoskeletal system http://www.nih.gov/niams/reports/sr.html Virtual Hospital: Iowa Health Book: Organ System: Musculoskeletal—Consumer/patient oriented; covers topics like low back pain, hip replacement, and pediatric musculoskeletal issues |
|||
|
Atlas of Functional Histology, Chapters 5 & 9. Jeffrey B. Kerr, Ph.D. (St. Louis: Mosby, 1999) D.I.G.-IT!: Digital Image Gallery, CD #1, Musculoskeletal System. Joseph Ventura. (Olathe, KS: Ventura Designs, 1998) The Musculoskeletal System in Health and Diseases. Cornelius Rosse, M.D., and D. Kay Clawson, M.D. (Hagerstown, MD: Harper & Row, 1980) The Musculoskeletal System: Physiological Basics. James Gibson Gamble. (New York: Raven Press, 1988) Primer on the Metabolic Bone Diseases and Disorders of Mineral Metabolism. Murray J. Favus, M.D., editor, published by the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. (New York: Raven Press, 1993) Primer on the Rheumatic Diseases. John H. Klippel, M.D., editor, published by the Arthritis Foundation. (Richmond, VA: William Byrd Press, 1997) Radiology of Bone Diseases. George B. Greenfield, M.D. (Philadelphia: Lippencott, 1990) |
|||
