| ACR: American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is the professional organization of rheumatologists and associated health professionals who share a dedication to healing, preventing disability, and curing the more than 100 types of arthritis and related disabling and sometimes fatal disorders of the joints, muscles, and bones. |
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articular cartilage (ar’ tick yoo lar’ cart’ ill idge): a thin layer of tissue, usually glassy and transparent, on the surfaces of bones in joints that permit more or less free movement, called synovial joints, for example, the wrist joint. |
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autoimmune disease (aw’ toh im yoon’): any disease in which the body’s immune system, which normally protects the body, attacks its own tissues or cells. |
| biologic DMARDs (bio’ logic dee’ mards): medicines classified as Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, that are among the most recent RA treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They include the anti-TNF agents Enbrel® (etanercept) and Remicade® (infliximab). |
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| cartilage (cart’ ill idge): tough elastic tissue found in various parts of the body, including the joints. It is largely converted into bone. |
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cytokines (site’ o kynes): Any of several proteins that are released by cells in the immune system to signal an immune response. Examples include tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1, and interleukin-8. |
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| DMARDs (dee’ mards): an abbreviation for medicines classified as Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs,
which can improve inflammatory symptoms and slow progression of joint erosions in rheumatoid arthritis. |
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| estrogen: a term for female sex hormones; however, it has a variety of functions in male and female humans. It is produced primarily in the ovaries, adrenal gland, and testicles. |
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| fibrous membrane: the outer of 2 layers of the joint capsule of a synovial joint; composed of dense white fibrous tissue. |
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| hormone: a chemical that regulates a particular organ or cell type within the body. |
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humerus (hyoo’ mer uhs): the bone of the upper arm extending from the shoulder to the elbow. |
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| inflammation: a localized protective response triggered by tissue injury or destruction. It destroys, weakens, or walls off both the agent causing injury as well as the injured tissue. Signs of inflammation include pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. |
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| joint capsule: the sac-like envelope that encloses the cavity of the synovial joint by attaching each end of the bones in a joint; it consists of a fibrous membrane and a synovial membrane. Also called the synovial capsule. |
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| ligament: a band of tissue that connects bone or cartilage, serving to support and strengthen joints. |
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| progesterone (pro jest’ er own): a hormone secreted to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. |
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| radius (ray’ dee us): the shorter and thicker of the 2 bones in the forearm; it is located on the same side as the thumb. |
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rheumatism (room’ uh tiz’ em): any of a variety of disorders marked by inflammation or deterioration of the connective structures of the body, especially of the joints and related tissues. |
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rheumatoid arthritis (room’ uh toid ar thry’ tiss): a chronic disease that can affect the entire body; it primarily affects joints and is marked by inflammation in the joints and related tissues. This inflammation causes pain, swelling, and stiffness and can lead to joint damage. |
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| rheumatologist (room uh tahl’ uh jist): a doctor who specializes in the treatment of conditions involving inflammation or pain in the joints, muscles, or related tissues. |
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| synovial joint (sin o’ vee uhl): any joint that permits more or less free movement. |
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synovial membrane (sin o’ vee uhl): the inner of 2 layers of the joint capsule of a synovial joint, composed of loose connective tissue and having a free smooth surface that lines the joint cavity. It secretes synovial fluid. |
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synovial tissue (sin o’ vee uhl): the synovial tissue lines the joints and produces synovial fluid, which is a clear fluid that nourishes and lubricates the cartilage and bone in the joint. |
| tendon: a band of tough inelastic connective tissue by which muscles are attached to other parts of the body. |
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tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α): a protein that triggers inflammation as part of the body’s normal immune system response. Overproduction of TNF-α can lead to excessive inflammation such as that found in patients with RA. |
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| ulna: the larger of the 2 bones in the forearm; it is located opposite from the thumb. |
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| white blood cell: also called leukocyte (luke’ o site) or white cell; any of various blood cells that separate into a thin white layer when whole blood is separated. White blood cells are responsible for protecting the body from infection and disease. |
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