HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What does the medical term 'stiff joint' refer to?

1. Arthritis

2. Ankylosis

3. Osteoporosis

4. Rheumatism

The correct answer is: Ankylosis

The term 'stiff joint' is most accurately associated with ankylosis, which refers to the abnormal stiffening and immobility of a joint due to fusion of the bones within the joint. This condition can result from various causes, including inflammatory diseases, trauma, or degenerative conditions, leading to significant limitations in joint movement. While arthritis can cause joint stiffness, it typically involves inflammation that may not result in the permanent fusion seen in ankylosis. Osteoporosis primarily relates to the weakening of bones and is not specifically about joint stiffness. Rheumatism is a broad term that refers to various conditions affecting joints or connective tissues, which may include joint stiffness, but does not specifically define the condition of a stiff joint. Thus, ankylosis is the precise medical term that describes the state of having a stiff joint due to the fusion of the bones involved.