This document provides an overview of the classification and structure of different joint types in the body. It discusses the three main classifications of joints based on movement (synarthroses, amphiarthroses, diarthroses) and structure (fibrous, cartilaginous, synovial). It then describes the key characteristics and examples of different joint types, including fibrous joints like sutures and syndesmoses, cartilaginous joints like synchondroses and sympheses, and synovial joints. For synovial joints, it outlines the general structure including articular cartilage, joint cavity, articular capsule, synovial fluid, ligaments, and more. It also discusses
2. Classification of Joints
Functional classification
(Focuses on amount of movement)
Synarthroses (immovable joints)
Amphiarthroses (slightly movable joints)
Diarthroses (freely movable joints)
Structural classification
(Based on the material binding them and presence or
absence of a joint cavity)
Bony fusion
Fibrous
Cartilagenous
Synovial
3. Table of Joint Types
Functional across
Structural down
Synarthroses
(immovable joints)
Amphiarthroses
(some movement)
Diarthroses
(freely movable)
Bony Fusion Synostosis
(frontal=metopic
suture; epiphyseal
lines)
Fibrous Suture (skull only)
-fibrous tissue is
continuous with
periosteum
Gomphoses (teeth)
-ligament is
periodontal ligament
Syndesmoses
-ligaments only
between bones; here,
short so some but not
a lot of movement
(example: tib-fib
ligament)
Syndesmoses
-ligament longer
(example: radioulnar
interosseous
membrane)
Cartilagenous
(bone united by
cartilage only)
Synchondroses
-hyaline cartilage
(examples:
manubrium-C1,
epiphyseal plates)
Sympheses
-fibrocartilage
(examples: between
discs, pubic
symphesis
Synovial Are all diarthrotic
4. Fibrous joints
Bones connected by fibrous tissue: dense
regular connective tissue
No joint cavity
Slightly immovable or
not at all
Types
Sutures
Syndesmoses
Gomphoses
5. Sutures
Only between
bones of skull
Fibrous tissue
continuous with
periosteum
Ossify and fuse in
middle age: now
technically called
“synostoses”=
bony junctions
6. Syndesmoses
In Greek:
“ligament”
Bones connected
by ligaments only
Amount of
movement
depends on length
of the fibers: longer
than in sutures
7. Gomphoses
Is a “peg-in-socket”
Only example is
tooth with its
socket
Ligament is a short
periodontal
ligament
8. Cartilagenous joints
Articulating bones united by cartilage
Lack a joint cavity
Not highly movable
Two types
Synchondroses (singular: synchondrosis)
Sympheses (singular: symphesis)
9. Synchondroses
Literally: “junction of cartilage”
Hyaline cartilage unites the bones
Immovable (synarthroses)
Examples:
Epiphyseal plates
Joint between first rib’s costal cartilage and
manubrium of the sternum
10. Sympheses
Literally “growing together”
Fibrocartilage unites the bones
Slightly movable (amphiarthroses)
Resilient shock absorber
Provide strength and flexibility
Hyaline cartilage on articular surfaces of bones
to reduce friction
Examples
Intervertebral discs
Pubic symphysis of the pelvis
12. Synovial joints
Include most of the body’s joints
All are diarthroses (freely movable)
All contain fluid-filled joint cavity
13. General Structure of Synovial Joints
1. Articular cartilage
Hyaline
Spongy cushions absorb
compression
Protects ends of bones
from being crushed
2. Joint (synovial) cavity
Potential space
Small amount of synovial
fluid
14. General structure of synovial joints (cont.)
3. Articular (or joint) capsule
Two layered
Outer*: fibrous capsule of
dense irregular connective
tissue continuous with
periosteum
Inner*: synovial membrane
of loose connective tissue
(makes synovial fluid)
Lines all internal joint
surfaces not covered by
cartilage*
*
*
*
15. General structure of synovial joints (cont.)
4. Synovial fluid
Filtrate of blood
Contains special glycoproteins
Nourishes cartilage and
functions as slippery lubricant
“Weeping” lubricatioin
5. Reinforcing ligaments (some
joints)
Capsular (most) – thickened
parts of capsule
Extracapsular
Intracapsular
16. General structure of synovial joints (cont.)
6. Nerves
Detect pain
Monitor stretch (one of the
ways of sensing posture
and body movements)
7. Blood vessels
Rich blood supply
Extensive capillary beds in
synovial membrane
(produce the blood filtrate)
18. Articular disc or
meniscus
(literally “crescent”)
Only some joints
Those with bone
ends of different
shapes or fitting poorly
Some to allow two kinds of movement (e.g. jaw)
Of fibrocartilage
Examples: knee
TMJ (temporomandibular joint)
sternoclavicular joint
Some joints…
19. Bursae and tendon sheaths
Contain synovial fluid
Not joints but often associated with them
Act like ball bearings
Bursa means “purse” in Latin
Flattened sac lined by synovial membrane
Where ligaments, muscles, tendons, or bones
overlie each other and rub together
Tendon sheath
Only on tendons subjected to friction
21. Joint stability
Articular surfaces
Shape usually plays only minor role
Some deep sockets or grooves do provide stability
Ligaments
Usually the more, the stronger the joint
Can stretch only 6% beyond normal length before
tear
Once stretched, stay stretched
Muscle tone
Constant, low level of contractile force
Keeps tension on the ligaments
Especially important at shoulders, knees, arches of
foot
22. Movements allowed by synovial joints
Gliding
Angular movements: or the angle between
two bones DO TOGETHER
Flexion
Extension
Abduction
Adduction
Circumduction
Rotation
Special movements
30. Synovial joints
classified by shape
(of their articular surfaces)
Plane (see right)
Hinge (see right)
Pivot
Condyloid
Saddle
Ball-and-socket
31.
32. Shoulder
(glenohumeral) joint
Stability sacrificed for
mobility
Ball and socket: head of
humerus with glenoid
cavity of scapula
Glenoid labrum: rim of
fibrocartilage
Thin, loose capsule
Strongest ligament:
coracohumeral
Muscle tendons help
stability
Disorders
Selected synovial joints
Rotator cuff muscles add to stability
Biceps tendon is intra-articular
33. Elbow joint
Hinge: allows only flexion
and extension
Annular ligament of
radius attaches to
capsule
Capsule thickens into:
Radial collateral
ligament
Ulnar collateral
ligament
Muscles cross joint
Trauma
34. Wrist joint
Two major joint surfaces
Several ligaments stabilize
1. Radiocarpal joint
Between radius and
proximal carpals
(scaphoid and lunate)
Condyloid joint
Flexion extension
adduction, abduction,
circumduction
1. Intercarpal or
midcarpal joint
Between the proximal
and distal rows of
carpals
35. Hip (coxal) joint
Ball and socket
Moves in all axes but
limited by ligaments
and deep socket
Three ext. ligaments
“screw in” head of
femur when standing
Iliofemoral
Pubofemoral
Ischiofemoral
36. Acetabular labrum
diameter smaller than
head of femur
Dislocations rare
Ligament of head of
femur supplies artery
Muscle tendons cross
joint
Hip fractures common
in elderly because of
osteoporosis
38. Knee joint
Largest and most complex joint
Primarily a hinge
Compound and bicondyloid: femur and
tibia both have 2 condyles
Femoropatellar joint shares joint cavity
At least a dozen bursae
Prepatellar
Suprapatellar
39. Lateral and medial
menisci
“torn cartilage”
Capsule absent
anteriorly
Capsular and
extracapsular ligaments
Taut when knee
extended to prevent
hyperextension
40. Patellar ligament
Continuation of
quad tendon
Medial and lateral
retinacula
Fibular and tibial
collateral ligaments
Called medial and
lateral
Extracapsular
Oblique popliteal
Arcuate popliteal
41. Cruciate ligaments
Cross each other
(cruciate means cross)
Anterior cruciate (ACL)
Anterior intercondylar area
of tibia to medial side of
lateral condyl of femur
Posterior cruciate
Posterior intercondylar
area of tibia to lateral side
of medial condyl
Restraining straps
Lock the knee
48. Temporomandibular
joint (TMJ)
Head of mandible
articulates with temporal
bone
Disc protects thin
mandibular fossa of
temporal bone
Many movements
Demonstrate movements together
Disorders common
49. Sternoclavicular joint
Saddle joint
Only other example is trapezium
and metacarpal 1 (thumb),
allowing opposion
Sternum and 1st
costal (rib)
cartilage articulate with clavicle
Very stable: clavicle usually
breaks before dislocation of joint
Only bony attachment of axial
skeleton to pectoral girdle
Demonstrate movements together
50. Disorders of joints
Injuries
Sprains
Dislocatios
Torn cartilage
Inflammatory and degenerative conditions
Bursitis
Tendinitis
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis (“DJD” – degenerative joint disease)
Rheumatoid arthritis (one of many “autoimmune” arthritites)
Gout (crystal arthropathy)