pathology and testing muscles

• muscular dystrophy

  group of inherited disease with progressive muscle weakness and degeneration without nervous system involvement
• polymyositis

  chronic inflammatory myopathy

  • autoimmune disorder
• antinuclear antibody test (ANA)

  detects an antibody often present in serum of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases
• erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

  measures time it takes for erythrocytes to settle to the bottom of a test tube
• rheumatoid factor test (RF)

  serum is tested for the presence of an antibody found in many patients with rheumatoid arthritis
• serum calcium (Ca)

  measurement of calcium in serum
• serum creatine kinase (CK)

  measure of enzyme creatine kinase in serum
• uric acid test

  measure of uric acid in serum
• arthrocentesis

  surgical puncture to remove fluid from joint space
• arthrography

  x ray after injection of contrast material into a joint
• anthroplasty

  surgical repair or replacement of a joint
• arthroscopy

  visual examination of a joint with an arthroscope

  • image in monitor
• bone density test

  low energy x ray absorption in bones of the spinal column, pelvis, and wrist to measure bone mass
• bone scan

  uptake of radioactive substance is measured in bone
• discography

  x ray exam of cervical or lumber intervertebral discs after injection of contrast in nucleus polposus (interior of disc)
• electromyography

  recording the electrical activity of muscle tissue
• muscle biopsy

  removal of muscle tissue for microscopic examination to assess for abnormalities or disease