Joints can be categorized based on either their function or structure. In terms of function, joints are classified as immovable, slightly movable, or freely movable. In terms of structure, joints are fibrous, cartilaginous, or synovial. Key examples are ball-and-socket joints like the shoulder and hip, hinge joints like the elbow and knee, and gliding joints like those between vertebrae. Joints contain cartilage, synovial fluid, and ligaments that allow movement while providing stability.

1. By Linet Angwa

3.  Joints hold the skeleton together and support
movement.
 There are two ways to categorize joints;
 The first is by joint function, also referred to
as range of motion.

4.  The second way to categorize joints is by the
material that holds the bones of the joints
together; that is an organization of joints by
structure.

5. Joint
 Skull Sutures
 Knee
 Vertebrae
Range of Motion and
Material
 Immovable fibrous
joints
 Full movement
synovial capsule
hinge joint
 Some movement
cartilaginous joint

6. 1. Joints Can Be Grouped By Their Function into
Three Ranges of Motion

8.  Immovable joints (called synarthroses)
include
 skull sutures,
 the articulations between the teeth and the
mandible, and
 the joint found between the first pair of ribs
and the sternum.

9.  Examples of joints allowing slight movement
(called amphiarthroses) include
 the distal joint between the tibia and the
fibula and
 the pubic symphisis of the pelvic girdle.

10.  Joints allowing full movement (called
diarthroses) include many bone articulations
in the upper and lower limbs. Examples of
these include
 the elbow
 shoulder, and
 ankle.

11. 2. Joints Can Be Grouped By Their Structure
into Fibrous, Cartilaginous, and Synovial
Joints

13.  Fibrous Joints. Between the articulations of
fibrous joints is thick connective tissue, which
is why most (but not all) fibrous joints are
immovable (synarthroses).
 There are three types of fibrous joints:

14. (1) Sutures are nonmoving joints that connect
bones of the skull. These joints have
serrated edges that lock together with fibers
of connective tissue.
(2) (2) The fibrous articulations between the
teeth and the mandible or maxilla are called
gomphoses and are also immovable.

15. (3) A syndesmosis is a joint in which a ligament
connects two bones, allowing for a little
movement (amphiarthroses). The distal joint
between the tibia and fibula is an example of
a syndesmosis.

17.  Cartiliginous Joints. Joints that unite bones
with cartilage are called cartilaginous joints.
There are two types of cartilaginous joints:
(1) A synchrondosis is an immovable
cartilaginous joint. One example is the joint
between the first pair of ribs and the
sternum.

18. (2) A symphysis consists of a compressable
fibrocartilaginous pad that connects two
bones. This type of joint allows for some
movement. The hip bones, connected by the
pubic symphysis, and the vertebrae,
connected by intervertebral discs, are two
examples of symphyses.

20. Synovial Joints.
 Synovial joints are characterized by the
presence of an articular capsule between the
two joined bones.
 Bone surfaces at synovial joints are protected
by a coating of articular cartilage.

21.  Synovial joints are often supported and
reinforced by surrounding ligaments, which
limit movement to prevent injury. There are
six types of synovial joints:
 (1) Gliding joints move against each other on
a single plane. Major gliding joints include
the intervertebral joints and the bones of the
wrists and ankles.

22. (2) Hinge joints move on just one axis. These
joints allow for flexion and extension. Major
hinge joints include the elbow and finger
joints.
(3) A pivot joint provides rotation. At the top of
the spine, the atlas and axis form a pivot joint
that allows for rotation of the head.

23. (4) A condyloid joint allows for circular motion,
flexion, and extension. The wrist joint
between the radius and the carpal bones is an
example of a condyloid joint.

24. (5) A saddle joint allows for flexion, extension,
and other movements, but no rotation. In the
hand, the thumb’s saddle joint (between the
first metacarpal and the trapezium) lets the
thumb cross over the palm, making it
opposable.

25.  (6) The ball-and-socket joint is a freely
moving joint that can rotate on any axis. The
hip and shoulder joints are examples of ball
and socket joints

26.  Hyaline cartilage
◦ A protective layer of dense white connective
tissue that covers the ends of the articulating
bones
 Joint cavity
 Synovial membrane
◦ Covers joint cavity, except over the surfaces
of the articular cartilages

27. o Secretes the lubrication fluid
 Synovial fluid
◦ Lubricates the joint
 Capsule
◦ May or may not have thickenings called
intrinsic ligaments
 Extrinsic ligaments
◦ Support the joint and connect the
articulating bones of the joint

29.  Connects the sternum to the clavicle
 the only joint connecting the pectoral
girdle to the axial skeleton
 true synovial joint strengthened by an
intracapsular disc and extrinsic ligaments

30.  unites the lateral end of the clavicle with
the acromion process of the scapula
 where shoulder separations often occur in
sports such as hockey, baseball, and
football

31.  Connects the upper limb and the scapula
 A typical multiaxial joint
 has a wide range of movement at this
joint
 compromise = relative lack of stability

33.  There are three joints at the elbow:
◦ humero-ulnar joint
 medial (with respect to anatomical position)
 between the trochlea of the humerus and the olecranon
process of the ulna
◦ humero-radial joint
 lateral
 between the capitulum of the humerus and the head of
the radius
◦ radio-ulnar joint
 between the radius and the ulna

34. Humerus
Ulna
Radius
Humero-Radial Joint
Humero-Ulnar Joint
Radio-Ulnar Joint

36. - Between the head of the
femur and the cup
(acetabulum) of the hip
bone (os coxae)
◦ Like shoulder joint, hip joint
is:
 ball and socket joint
 multiaxial joint that allows
flexion-extension, abduction-
adduction and circumduction

38.  unlike shoulder joint, hip joint is very stable
 in fact it is the body’s most stable synovial
joint due to:
◦ deepened socked (via lip or fibrocartilaginous
labrum )
◦ an intrinsic and very strong extrinsic ligaments
 dislocation in sports is not common, but can
occur in car collisions
 dislocate the head posteriorly or drive it
through the posterior lip of the actetabulum

40.  Tibiofemoral or knee
joint
 incredible range of
movement (flexion –
extension)

41.  however, the knee joint is relatively
stable due to additional structural
supports from:
◦ menisci
 shock-absorbing fibrocartilaginous discs
◦ anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments
 in the centre of the joint
◦ lateral and medial collateral ligaments
 extending from the sides of the femur to the tibia and
fibula
◦ the musculature that surrounds it

42.  movements:
◦ primary action is flexion-extension (e.g. squat
or jump)
◦ when flexed, medial and lateral rotation can also
occur

43.  talocrural or ankle joint
 involves several bones:
◦ medial and lateral malleoli
of the tibia and fibula
◦ head of the talus
◦ calcaneus (heel bone)
Medial
malleolus
Lateral
malleolus
Talus
Calcaneus

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