Joints

A joint, or articulation, is the place where two bones come together. There are three types of
joints classified by the amount of movement they allow: immovable, slightly movable, and freely
movable.

Immovable joints are synarthroses. In this type of joint, the bones are in very close contact and are
separated only by a thin layer of fibrous connective tissue. An example of a synarthrosis is the
suture in the skull between skull bones.

Slightly movable joints are called amphiarthroses. This type of joint is characterized by bones that
are connected by hyaline cartilage (fibro cartilage). The ribs that connect to the sternum are an
example of an amphiarthrosis joint.

Most of the joints in the adult human body are freely movable joints. This type of joint is called a
diarthrosis joint. There are six types of diarthroses joints. These are:

Ball-and-Socket: The ball-shaped end of one bone fits into a cup shaped socket on the other bone
allowing the widest range of motion including rotation. Examples include the shoulder and hip.

Condyloid: Oval shaped condyle fits into elliptical cavity of another allowing angular motion but
not rotation. This occurs between the metacarpals (bones in the palm of the hand) and phalanges
(fingers) and between the metatarsals (foot bones excluding heel) and phalanges (toes).

Saddle: This type of joint occurs when the touching surfaces of two bones have both concave and
convex regions with the shapes of the two bones complementing one other and allowing a wide
range of movement. The only saddle joint in the body is in the thumb.

Pivot: Rounded or conical surfaces of one bone fit into a ring of one or tendon allowing rotation.
An example is the joint between the axis and atlas in the neck.

Hinge: A convex projection on one bone fits into a concave depression in another permitting only
flexion and extension as in the elbow joints.

Gliding: Flat or slightly flat surfaces move against each other allowing sliding or twisting without
any circular movement. This happens in the carpals in the wrist and the tarsals in the ankle.

References:

Applegate, Edith J. The Anatomy and Physiology Learning System: Textbook. W.B. Saunders
Company. Philadelphia. 1995.

Van De Graaff, Kent M. Human Anatomy 5th Edition. WEB McGraw-Hill. Boston, MA. 1998.

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/biology/humananatomy/skeletal/joints.html
 Types of Joint Diseases

It is important to know the basic anatomy of a joint and how it works in order to understand some
of the disease processes that can affect joints. Most actual joint diseases (as well as joint pain) are
types of arthritis. There are several different kinds of arthritis, and their actions are different even
if the end result is the same.
Basic Anatomy
A joint is where two bones meet up. The bones have cartilage on the ends that act as shock
absorbers and allow for smooth movement. The two bones are encased in ligamentous tissue (a
tough fibrous tissue) called the joint capsule, inside of which there is a layer of tissue called
synovial tissue that produces synovial fluid. This fluid is the "grease" of the joint and allows for
some shock absorption as well as smooth movement within the joint.
Autoimmune
This is when the immune system no longer recognizes its own body tissues. The body will start
creating antibodies to the cartilage or other tissues within the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type
of autoimmune joint disease. The body will attack the cartilage tissues and the cartilage will start
to lose its smooth texture and become rough. When no longer smooth, the joint itself will start to
alter in function and movement. Bony spurs will grow under the cartilage as an attempt to help
the joint heal. Eventually the cartilage can wear down completely.
Inflammatory
This process is either the result of poor diet choices, injury or infection. Many of the auto immune
diseases can become inflammatory diseases as well. This type of joint disease is any process that
causes the joint to be red, painful and swollen; it can cause the joint to swell to the point where
fluid has to be removed (e.g., water on the knee). Gout is a type of inflammatory disease in the
joint. It can cause severe pain and swelling. Inflammatory joint disease can be a primary cause on
its own or secondary to another disease process like Crohn's disease (enteropathic arthritis),
psoriasis or something like Reiter's syndrome (a triad of symptoms that often appear after
contracting a venereal disease). The inflammatory joint diseases will often have periods of
exacerbation and remission.
Degenerative
This is the most "simple" of the joint diseases in that it is directly related to trauma, injury or
damage to structures or tissues within the joint. If the joint loses the smoothness to the cartilage,
or there is damage to the tissues that make the joint fluid, the joint will start to catch and not
move as well. Pain may or may not initially be associated with this process. If the joint cannot heal
itself, the altered motion will cause wear and tear to the cartilage, eventually thinning and causing
the bone to spur.
Infectious
The joint can become inflamed due to an infection in the body or within the joint. This is called
septic arthritis, and is usually caused by a pathogen in the blood or direct transfer into the joint
through trauma. This process can be very fast, quickly disintegrating the joint. If left untreated, this
process is very likely to cause bony fusion within the joint.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/67144-types-joint-diseases/#ixzz11Lrc4f9q