Skeletal system and joints

Dr. Joachim Perera

joachimperera@yahoo.com
Lesson outcomes
1. Define a joint
2. Classify the joints in relation to their structure
3. Describe the structure of a synovial joint
4. Classify the synovial joints with examples
5. Describe the factors which stabilize a synovial joint
6. Describe the blood supply & nerve supply of joints
7. Define joint dislocation
Bones of the body
Axial skeleton
• skull
• vertebral column
• ribs & sternum

Appendicular skeleton
• Upper limb
• Lower limb
Skull bones

Vault

Base

Face
Vertebral column Ribs & sternum

Cervical 7

Thoracic 12

Lumbar 5

Sacral 5

Coccygeal 4
Upper Lower limb
limb
What is a Joint ?

It is the site where two bones meet

Classification of joints

Structural classification
▪ Fibrous joints – bones are joined by fibrous tissue
▪ Cartilaginous joints – bones are joined by cartilage
▪ Synovial joint – articular surface of the bones of
the joint are separated by a fluid
containing cavity
Fibrous joints

1. Sutures
( skull bones )

2. Syndesmoses
( inferior tibio-fibular joint)

2. Gomphoses ( Tooth sockets)

 Cartilaginous joints
1. Synchondroses ( Primary cartilaginous joints)

No movements

2. Symphyses (secondary cartilaginous joints)

Slight movements
 Synovial joint
1. Articular cartilage
2. Joint cavity
3. Articular capsule
4. Synovial fluid
5. Reinforcing
ligaments
Reinforcing ligaments

• Capsular ( thickenings of the capsule)

Iliofemoral ligament ( hip joint)

• Extracapsular
coraco-acromial ligament
( shoulder joint)

• Intracapsular
Anterior/posterior cruciate ligaments ( knee joint)
 Types of Synovial joints

a. Plane joint
( intercarpal joints)

b. Hinge joint ( elbow

joint)
 Types of synovial joints

c. Pivot joint (proximal

radio-ulnar joint)

d. Condyloid joint
(metacarpo-phalangeal
joint)
 Types of synovial joints

e. Saddle joint ( carpo-

metacarpal joint of
the thumb)

f. Ball & socket joint

( shoulder joint)
Axis of joint movements

1. Nonaxial ( translational) - Only slipping is

possible
2. Uniaxial – Movement in one plane
3. Biaxial – Movement in two planes
4. Multiaxial – Movement around all three
planes
a. Plane joints – nonaxial
b. Hinge joints – Uniaxial
c. Pivot joints – Uniaxial
d. Condyloid joints – Biaxial
e. Saddle joints – Biaxial
f. Ball & socket joints - Multiaxial
Stability of joints
If stability is not maintained joint can get dislocated

1. Articular surfaces – If articular surfaces are fitting

together stability is increased

Hip joint is more stable than the shoulder joint

Stability of joints

2. Ligaments – surrounding the joints provides stability

Stronger the ligaments More stability

Ligaments of the hip joint are more stronger than that of

shoulder joint
Stability of joints

3. Surrounding muscles and their tone

The tendons and muscles crossing the joints

stabilize the joint

Muscles are absent inferiorly:

thus more prone to dislocate
inferiorly
Blood supply of joints

From the arteries surrounding the joint

Articular arteries Anastomosing network

Nerve supply of joints

From the nerves supplying the muscles which cross the

joint (Hilton’s law)
Dislocation: Complete loss of contact between the articular
surfaces of a joint