This document provides an overview of arthrology, which is the study of joints. It classifies joints based on their structure and function. Structurally, joints are either fibrous, cartilaginous, or synovial. Functionally, joints are categorized as synarthroses, amphiarthroses, or diarthroses based on their degree of mobility. The most mobile and complex joints are synovial joints, which have a fluid-filled cavity and allow for various movements. The document describes and provides examples of different types of synovial joints classified based on their shape, plane of movement, and number of articulating bones.

1. Arthrology
Dr. P. Vijayakumari M.P.T (O.G)
Consultant Physiotherapist
Arogya Welfare Trust (TVS)
Madurai

2. Introduction
• Arthrology: Study of joints
• Synonyms: Articulation (Latin)
Arthron (Greek)
• Joint: a junction between two or more bones
or cartilages.
• A device to permit movements

3. Classification of joints
Joints are classified according to structure and function-
(A) Functional (based on degree of mobility):
1.Synarthroses: immovable joints (cranial sutures in
adults, primary cartilaginous joints in
growing children).
2.Amphiarthroses: slightly movable joints (joints
between adjacent laminae of vertebrae).
3.Diarthroses: freely movable joints (synovial joints).

4. Functional classification (cont….)
Synarthroses Amphiarthroses Diarthroses

5. (B) Structural classification
Based on type of connecting tissue and presence or absence of
joint cavity:
1. Fibrous: composed of intervening fibrous tissue with no joint
cavity. Immovable or slightly movable.
2. Cartilaginous: articulating bones are united by cartilage
(hyaline or fibrocartilage) with no joint cavity.
3. Synovial: articulating bones are separated by a fluid-filled joint
cavity.

6. Structural classification (cont….)
Fibrous Cartilaginous Synovial

7. Fibrous joints
1. Sutures: articular surfaces are connected by a thin layer of
connective tissue. They are confined to the skull and
are immovable.
2. Syndesmoses: bones are connected by a considerably greater
amount of connective tissue than in sutures in
the form of interosseous ligaments and
membranes. Slight movement is permitted.
e.g. interosseous tibiofibular joints,
interroseous radioulnar joints.
3. Gomphoses (peg and socket joint): articulation of teeth in
alveolar sockets of mandible and maxilla by
periodontal ligament.

8. Fibrous joints (cont….)
Sutures Syndesmoses Gomphoses

9. Sutures
• Plane
• Serrate
• Denticulate
• Squamous
• Schindylesis

10. Cartilaginous joints
1.Primary (Synchondroses)
2.Secondary (Symphyses)

11. Synovial joints
• Most evolved and freely movable joints
• Have a joint cavity filled with synovial fluid
• Often termed as diarthrodial joints
• Components:
1. Fibrous capsule
2. Synovial membrane
3. Ligaments
4. Articular cartilage
5. Articular disc or meniscus
6. Bursae
7. Fat pads (Haversian glands)

12. Classification of Synovial joints
(A) According to shape of articular surfaces:
1. Plane
2. Hinge
3. Pivot
4. Condylar
5. Ellipsoid
6. Saddle
7. Ball and socket

13. Plane joints
• Articular surfaces are
nearly flat.
• Allow gliding
movements.
• e.g. intercarpal and
intertarsal joints.

14. Hinge joints (Ginglymus)
• Articular surfaces are
pulley shaped.
• Movements are
permitted only in one
plane (transverse
axis).
• Most common
joints.
• e.g. elbow, knee,
ankle and
interphalangeal joints.

15. Pivot joints (Trochoid joints)
• Rounded end of one bone
fits into
the concavity of another
bone.
• The rounded
part is surrounded by a
ligament.
• Limited rotation
around a central axis.
• e.g. superior radio-ulnar
and median atlanto-axial
joints.

16. Condylar joints
• Round articular surface
of one bone fits into a
socket-type articular
surface of another bone.
• Permit movements in
two directions.
• e.g. knee and temporo-
mandibular joints.

17. Ellipsoid joints
• Elliptical convex surface of
one bone articulates with
elliptical concave surface
of another.
• Permit movements in two
directions.
• Combination of
movements cause
circumduction.
• e.g. wrist and atlanto-
occipital joints.

18. Saddle (sellar) joints
• Articular surfaces are
reciprocally saddle
shaped i.e. concavo-
convex.
• Allows a
wide range of movement.
• e.g. first
carpo-metacarpal, sterno-
clavicular,
incudo-malleolar joints.

19. Ball and socket (spheroidal) joints
• Rounded convex surface
of one bone fits into the
cup-like socket of
another bone.
• Permits greatest range
of movements.
• e.g. shoulder, hip and
incudo-stapedial joints.

20. (B) According to plane of movements
• Uniaxial: Hinge and Pivot
• Biaxial: Condylar, ellipsoid, saddle
• Multiaxial: Ball and socket
Uniaxial Biaxial Multiaxial

21. (C) According to number of articulating bones
• Simple (2 bones)
• Compound (more than 2 bones)

22. Movements of synovial joints
1. Gliding (slipping)
2. Angular: flexion, extension, abduction, adduction
3. Rotary (circular): rotation (supination, pronation),
circumduction

23. Special movements:
1. Inversion: movement of the foot medially
2. Eversion: movement of the foot laterally
3. Protraction: movement of the mandible forward
4. Retraction: movement of the protracted part back
to its starting position
5. Elevation: lifting a body part superiorly
6. Depression: moving the elevated part inferiorly
7. Opposition: touching the thumb to the tips of
other fingers

24. REFERENCES
1. Cunningham’s Manual of Practical Anatomy, Vol.1.
2. Grant’s Method of Anatomy, 11th Edition.
3. Vishram Singh. General Anatomy, 1st Edition.