ARC01: Musculoskeletal Structure and Function and Inflammation and Immunity


Activity Overview



The Advanced Rheumatology Course is a 19-activityseries for advanced practice providers and other professionals who need adeeper dive into rheumatology. The series covers how to assess and manage patients with rheumatic disease, develop strategies to integrate NP/PAs into rheumatology practice, and improve access to care for patients. The advanced information will help experienced practice providers function well in rheumatology and foster inter-professional collaboration.


In this activity, review the basic framework of the musculoskeletal system and explore the key principles of immune system operation and autoimmunity.


Advanced Rheumatology Course Series



This activity is part of a series. See the other activities in the series below.



Registration is discounted for ACR/ARP members. If you are not a member, consider joining ACR/ARP.






Target Audience


Advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, Rheumatology fellows-intraining, residents, students, primary care providers and researchers may also benefit.




Learning Objectives


Uponcompletion of this activity, participants should be able to:


  • Describethe structure and function of bone, skeletal muscle, articular cartilage, andconnective tissue

  • Classifythe different types of synovial joints and periarticular tissues

  • Articulatethe structure and clinical relevance of functional and dysfunctionalendothelium

  • Identifythe principal cells and functions of the innate and adaptive immune systems

  • Describethe physiologic processes in inflammation, immunity, and immune dysregulation

  • Discussthe impact of evolving knowledge of molecular biology on the diagnosis andtreatment of rheumatic diseases







CE &MOC Information

ACCME Accreditation Statement

The American Collegeof Rheumatology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for ContinuingMedical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education forphysicians.


AMA DesignationStatement

The American College of Rheumatology designates this enduring materialfor a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claimonly the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in theactivity. 

See the ACR's CME Mission Statement. For more information,download the AMA PRA Booklet.

CME credit must be claimed by August 14, 2026, at 11:59 PMET.




Financial Relationship Disclosures

ACR Disclosure Statement

It is the policy of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) to ensure that Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities are independent and free of commercial bias. To ensure educational content is objective, balanced, and guarantee content presented is in the best interest of its learners and the public, the ACR requires that everyone in a position to control educational content disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies within the prior 24 months. An ineligible company is one whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Examples can be found at accme.org.

Inaccordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence inAccredited Continuing Education, ACR has implemented mechanisms prior to theplanning and implementation of this CME activity to identify and mitigate allrelevant financial relationships for all individuals in a position to controlthe content of this CME activity.


Natureof Financial Relationships


All individuals that participate in an ACR-sponsored activity and are able to change content or influence the content of the activity must disclose to the planning committee and audience all financial or other relationships with ineligible companies including, but not limited to:


  1. Advisor or review panelmember

  2. Consultant

  3. Employee

  4. Officer or Board Member

  5. Grant/research support

  6. Speaker/honoraria includes speaker’s bureau,symposia, and expert witness

  7. Independent contractor

  8. Executive role and/or ownership interest

  9. Royalties and/or patent beneficiary

  10. Intellectual property/patents

  11. Stock options or bond holdings in a for-profitcorporation or self-directed pension plan

  12. Private investigator

  13. Expert witness

  14. Equity interest

  15. Other: specify details

None: Has no relevant financialrelationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose. 

All participants that created and/or were able to influence the content and delivery of this activity reported the following disclosures. All of the relevant financial relationships listed have been mitigated. 


Authors/Planners


  • Kenneth S. O’Rourke, MD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose

  • Rachel M. Wolfe, MD - No relevant financial relationships to disclose



Content Reviewers


  • Daniel Schaffer, MD – No relevant financial relationships to disclose

  • Anneke Smith – No relevant financial relationships to disclose

  • Ben Smith, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA – No relevant financial relationships to disclose




Acknowledgement of Commercial Support

The project was supported by Grant number 1 NU58DP006908-03-00 – Component A; Developing and Disseminating Programs to Build Sustainable Lupus Awareness, Knowledge, Skills and Partnerships. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


Educational Activity Policies

See ACR educational activity policies, including the online enduring activity refund policy.