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Foundations of Anatomy

Anatomy 1: Lower Limb

Lecture 0b
HH1600/HH5700
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this lecture, you will be able to:

1. Describe the different classifications of bones

2. Describe the basic principles of joint classifications and mechanics

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Section 1. Bone Classifications
Bone Classifications
 Bones are classified according to their shape

Bone Type Description Example

Long Bones Consist of a diaphysis (shaft) Femur
and epiphysis (expanded
ends)

Short Bones Small and regular in shape Carpals, Tarsals

Irregular Bones Many exaggerated Vertabrae

prominences
Flat Bones Thin and curved around the Scapular
body
Sesamoid Bones Small and regular shaped Patella
Situated in tendon or
ligaments at sites of stress

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Bone Classifications
Long Short Flat Irregular Sesamoid

e.g. e.g. e.g. e.g. e.g.

Radius/ Ulna Talus Scapular Vertebrae Patella

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Section 2. Joint classifications and mechanics
Joint classifications and mechanics
 This section will cover the following:

 Types of joint
 Degrees of freedom
 Spin, Roll and Slide
 Convex-Concave rule
 Method to learning a joint

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Joint Classifications:
Type of Joint
 Two or more bones coming together to allow movement
 Joints are classified according to the tissue that fills the joint space
 This could be:
1. Fibrous
2. Cartilaginous
3. Synovial

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Joint Classifications: Type
1. Fibrous Joints
Joined by dense irregular connective tissue
Least degree of mobility of all joints
Function: disperse force with minimal motion

Suture Gomphosis Syndesmosis

e.g. Skull e.g. Teeth e.g. Interosseous Membrane

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Joint Classifications: Type
1. Fibrous Joints
Type of Fibrous Characteristics Example
Joint
Suture • No movement permitted • Bones of the
Skull
• Edges of articulating bones often highly
serrated
• Unified by intermediate layer of fibrous
tissue
• Often partially obliterated with age (>30
years)
Gomphosis • A peg that fits into a socket • Teeth roots in
maxilla/mandible
• Held in place by fibrous ligament

Syndesmosis • More fibrous tissue than a suture forming • Inferior Tibio-

an interosseous membrane or a ligament fibular joints
• Restricted and controlled movements • Radio-ulnar joints
allowed

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Joint Classifications: Type
2. Cartilaginous Joints
Joined by fibrocartilage and/or hyaline cartilage

Function: restrained movement with shock absorption

Primary Secondary
e.g. Sternocostal joints Secondary (e.g. intervertebral discs)

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Joint Classifications: Type
2. Cartilaginous Joints

Type of Characteristics Example

Cartilaginous
Joint
Primary • Hyaline cartilage continuous between • Sternocostal
bones joints
• Usually no movement occurs (except
1st sterncostal joint)

Secondary • More specialised joints occurring in • Intervertebral

the midline of the body joints
• Small amounts of controlled • Symphysis
movement pubis
• Hyaline cartilage with
fibrocartilaginous pad between

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Joint Classifications: Type
3. Synovial Joints

 Fluid filled joint cavity

 Function: primary range of movement
 Many sub-classifications

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Type of Example Characteristics
Synovial Joint
(7 types)

Plane Acromioclavicular joint • Freely mobile

• Movement limited by muscles,

ligaments, associated joint
capsule

• Articular surfaces covered with

hyaline cartilage
Saddle Carpometacarpal joint of thumb
• Fibrous joint capsule

Hinge Elbow Joint • Ligaments

• Synovial membrane, deep to

Pivot Atlanto-Axial Joint capsule, secreting synovial fluid

• Bursa often present

Ball and Socket Hip Joint
• May have an intra-articular disc
present
Condyloid Metacarpophalangeal Joint

Ellipsoid Radiocarpal Joint

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Joint Classifications: Movement
Degrees of Freedom

 Each joint has the ability to move in 1, 2 or all 3 of the cardinal planes

 Depends on the shape of articular surfaces

Planes Degree of freedom

Uniaxial/Uniplanar 1 degree of freedom Stability

Biaxial/Biplanar 2 degrees of freedom

Triaxial/Triplanar 3 degrees of freedom Mobility

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Joint Mechanics
Movement Types
 Two Types of movement:

1. Physiological Movements:

• Performed under voluntary control

2. Accessory Movements:

• Movements cannot be produced actively

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Joint Mechanics:
Accessory Movements
 Act as an integral part of physiological movement
 Cannot be isolated or produced under voluntary control
 Can be performed by an external force (e.g.
musculoskeletal treatment or assessment)
 Complex movements, described by the terms Spin,
Roll and Slide
 Normally occur in combination to allow complex
movement at joints

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Joint Mechanics: Accessory Movements
Spin, Roll and Slide

a. Spin:

 One articular surface rotates

in relation to another around
a central axis
 e.g. rotation of flexed knee,
https://www.pexels.com/photo/blur-blurry-brass-close-up-
404153/

tibia is spinning relative to the

femur

Palastanga, N. and Soames, R. (2012) Anatomy and Human Movement. p20

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Joint Mechanics: Accessory Movements
Spin, Roll and Slide

b. Roll:

 Rotational movement of one

articular surface across the
other
 e.g. in knee flexion the https://www.pexels.com/photo/road-traffic-car-moving-
9235/

femur rolls posteriorly

relative to the tibia

Palastanga, N. and Soames, R. (2012) Anatomy and Human Movement. p20

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Joint Mechanics: Accessory Movements
Spin, Roll and Slide
c. Slide:

 Translational movement of one articular surface across another

 e.g. during knee flexion, femoral condyles glide anteriorly to
prevent rolling off the back of the tibia

https://www.pexels.com/photo/boy-playing-on-slide-in-playground-
2143761/
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Joint Mechanics:
Concave-Convex Rule
 When a concave surface moves
on a convex surface, the roll
and slide movements occur in
the same direction
 e.g. Interphalangeal flexion
Roll and slide in the same direction
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 When a convex surface moves
on a concave surface, the roll
and slide movements occur in
opposite directions
 e.g. Glenohumeral abduction
Roll and slide in opposite direction
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Type of Example Characteristics
Synovial Joint
(7 types)

Plane Acromioclavicular joint • Freely mobile

• Movement limited by muscles,

ligaments, associated joint
capsule

• Articular surfaces covered with

hyaline cartilage
Saddle Carpometacarpal joint of thumb
• Fibrous joint capsule

Hinge Elbow Joint • Ligaments

• Synovial membrane, deep to

Pivot Atlanto-Axial Joint capsule, secreting synovial fluid

• Bursa often present

Ball and Socket Hip Joint
• May have an intra-articular disc
present
Condyloid Metacarpophalangeal Joint

Ellipsoid Radiocarpal Joint

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Joint Classification and Mechanics

a. Synovial Plane Joint

 Uniplanar or Biplanar
 Allows for: slide or slide &
rotation
 e.g. Intercarpal joints

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Joint Classification and Mechanics

b. Synovial Saddle Joint

 Biplanar
 Allows for: flexion/extension,
abduction/adduction
 Limited rotation may be
available due to joint surfaces
 e.g. 1st carpometacarpal joint
(Thumb)

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Joint Classification and Mechanics

c. Synovial Hinge Joint

 Uniplanar
 Allows for: flexion/extension
 e.g. Elbow Joint (typical hinge
joint)
 Knee Joint (Modified hinge
joint)

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Joint Classification and Mechanics

d. Synovial Pivot Joint

 Uniplanar
 Allows for: Rotation
 e.g. Superior Radio-ulnar joint

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Joint Classification and Mechanics

e. Synovial Ball and Socket Joint

 Triplanar
 Allows for: Flexion/Extension,
Abduction/Adduction, Medial
Rotation/Lateral Rotation
 e.g. Glenohumeral Joint

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Joint Classification and Mechanics

f. Synovial Condyloid Joint

 Biplanar
 Allows for: Flexion/Extension,
Abduction/Adduction
 OR: Flexion/Extension (Medial
Rotation/Lateral Rotation)
 Passive movement may occur on
third axis.
 e.g. Metacarpophalangeal joints

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Joint Classification and Mechanics

g. Synovial Ellipsoid Joint

 Biplanar
 Allows for: Flexion/Extension,
Abduction/Adduction
 e.g. Radiocarpal joint

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Method to learning a joint:

1. Joint Classification 5. Intracapsular structures

> Describe
2. Axis of movement
6. Extracapsular ligaments
3. Articular Surfaces > Describe
> Where > Give attachments
> Shapes
> Covered in 7. Movements
> ROM
4. Joint Capsule > Limiting factors
> General features
8. Surrounding muscles
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Quiz time:

Without looking at your notes, can you answer the following

questions:

 Name the two types of Cartilaginous Joints and state their

characteristics?
 Describe the accessory movement Roll?
 Explain the Convex-Concave Rule?

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Summary:

• Today, you have been introduced to the classification of

different bones and the mechanics of joints
• For the practical, review lecture material for both part a,
b and c complete the pre-reading
• Complete the tasks as indicated in workbook 1

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Bibliography

Drake, R., Vogl, W. and Mitchell, A.W. (2015) Gray’s Anatomy for Students. 3rd edn.
Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
Palastanga, N. and Soames, R. (2012) Anatomy and Human Movement. Structure and
Function. 6th edn. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
Images: Gilroy et al: Atlas of Anatomy. © 2008-2019 Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. All
rights reserved.

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