Physical examination of a premenopausal woman demonstrates bony swellings in the distal interphalangeal joints; no inflammation is apparent. The proximal interphalangeal joints, hands, and wrists are not involved, and the patient is asymptomatic. Which of the following processes is etiologically related to these findings?

The disease is osteoahritis, and the bony swellings are called "Heberden's nodes", which may or may not be symptomatic. Osteoahritis is thought to be related to repetitive joint trauma.Autoantibodies are impoant in rheumatoid ahritis. Bacterial infections cause septic ahritis.Crystal deposition is impoant in gout and pseudogout. Ref: Wyatt C., Butterwoh IV J.F., Moos P.J., Mackey D.C., Brown T.G. (2008). Chapter 19. Pathology of the Bones and Joints. In C. Wyatt, J.F. Butterwoh IV, P.J. Moos, D.C. Mackey, T.G. Brown (Eds), Pathology: The Big Picture.