 A joint is formed, where two or more bones (articulate)

together.
 A joint is the site at which any two or more bones
articulate or come together. Joints allow flexibility and
movement of the skeleton and allow attachment
between bone.
 The joints can be classified according to the
tissues that unite the bone ends.
 There are three types of joints.
1) Fibrous joints
2) Cartilagenous joints
3) Synovial joints
 In this type, the articulating surfaces of bones are
connected by fibrous tissue.
 There are three types of fibrous joints.
A. Sutures or sutural joints
B. Syndesmosis
C. Gomphosis
 Sutures occur only in the skull.
 Example is coronal suture between the
frontal and parietals.
 No movement is possible in such type of
joints.
 In this type , the bones are united by a sheet of
fibrous tissue.
 It may be a ligament or a fibrous membrane.
Example is interosseous membrane connects the
radius and ulna.
 The interosseous membrane between the radius
and ulna is flexible and wide enough to permit
movement during supination and pronation.
 These are slightly movable
 This is a special type of fibrous joint, between
a tooth and its socket.
 The fibrous tissue of the periodontal ligament
firmly holds the tooth in its socket.
 Here bones are united either by hyaline
cartilage or by fibrous cartilage.
 Depending on this, cartilagenous joints are
classified into primary and secondary
cartilagenous joints.
 It is also known as hyaline cartilagenous joints
or Synchondroses.
 The bones are united by hyaline cartilage ,
which permits slight movement during early
life.
 This type of joint is temporary , as in the
development of a long bone.
 Also known fibrocartilagenous joints or symphyses.
 Bones are united with strong fibrous tissue or
fibrocartilage.
 Examples are symphysis pubis, joints between
vertebral bodies ( intervertebral discs).
 They are most common and important joints
in the body.
 They normally provide free movement.
 They are called synovial joints because they
are lined with a synovial membrane and
contain a lubricating fluid called synovial fluid.
 Articular surface: These consist of
corresponding ends of articulating bones.
 Articular cartilage: Articular cartilage covers
the articular surface of the articulating bones.
It provides a smooth gliding surface and
reduces the force of compression during
weight bearing.
 Synovial fluid: It is a clear or pale yellow, viscous
alkaline fluid. It maintains the nutrition of articular
cartilage. It provides lubrication to the joint cavity .
 Synovial membrane: It lines the fibrous capsule
from inside. It secrets synovial fluid.
 Joint cavity: The joint cavity is enclosed within a
fibrous capsule.
 Articular capsule: It consists of a fibrous
capsule lined by synovial membrane on the
inside. It binds the articulating bones
together.
 Articular disc: It is made up of fibrocartilage.
 Ligaments: True and accessory. They maintain
the stability of the joint.
Ball and socket joint

Hinge joint

Pivot joint

Condyloid joint

Saddle joint

Plane joint
 It is a type of synovial joint in which the ball-shaped
surface of one rounded bone fits into the cup-like
depression of another bone.
 Example is shoulder joint.
 In this type of movements take place in one
plane only. It is usually a uniaxial joint.
 Elbow joint, only flexion and extension.
 These joints allow only rotation movement.
 In these joints , a rounded process of bone rotates
within a ring . e.g. radioulnar joint.
 In this type , one of the articular ends is
convex and the other is concave.
 It is a biaxial joints where movements can
occur in two axes.
 e.g.: Wrist joint.
 Articular surfaces are concavoconvex ( saddle shaped)
and movement can occur in all planes.
 e.g. Carpometacarpal joint of the thumb.
 In this type, the articular surfaces are flat and
movement restricted to slight gliding, titling
and rotation.
 e.g.: Joints between the articular processes of
the thoracic vertebrae.
 Gliding
 Angular movement.
 Circumduction
 Rotation
 Special movements
 Gliding movement consist of side to side and
back to forth motions.

 Angular movements are produced when the angle
between the bones of a joint changes; they include
flexion, extension, hyperextension, abduction,
adduction, and circumduction.
 It is the combination of flexion, extension, adduction
and abduction.
 In rotation a bone revolves around its longitudinal
axis.
 Joints of upper limb
 Joints of the hands and finger
 Joints of the lower limb
 Acromioclavicular joint .
 Sternoclavicular joint.
 Shoulder joint
 Elbow joint
 Radioulnar joint
 Wrist joint
 It is a junction between the acromion part of the
scapula and the clavicle.
 It is a plane type synovial joint and articulates clavicle
with manubrium of the sternum.
 It is a ball and socket type of joint.
 It involves articulation between the glenoid
cavity of scapula and head of the humerus.
 The “ ball” is represented by the spherical
head of the humerus.
 The “ socket” is represented by a pear shaped
glenoid cavity of the scapula.
 Glenohumeral ligament: Superior, inferior,
middle.
 Coracohumeral ligament
 Transverse humeral ligament
 Flexion
 Extension
 Abduction
 Adduction
 Medial rotation
 Lateral rotation
 Circumduction
 It is a hinge joint.
 The elbow joint is a complex hinge joint formed
between the distal end of the humerus in the upper
arm and the proximal ends of the ulna and radius in
the forearm.
 The elbow allows for the flexion and extension of
the forearm relative to the upper arm, as well as
rotation of the forearm and wrist
 It has two parts : Humeroulnar part and
humeroradial part.
 Movements at the elbow joint are flexion and
extension.
Radial collateral Ulnar collateral
ligament ligament
 The radius and ulna are united by three joints:
1. Superior radioulnar joints
2. Inferior radioulnar joints
3. Middle radioulnar joints.
 Superior and inferior radioulnar joints are pivotal ,
middle radioulnar joints are Syndesmosis fibrous
joints.
 The radioulnar joints provides pronation and
supination of the forearm.
 The wrist is a complex joint bridges the hand
to the forearm.
 The bones comprising the wrist include the
distal ends of the radius and ulna, 8 carpal
bones, and the proximal portions of the 5
metacarpal bones.
 Movements of the wrist bones include
flexion, extension, circumduction, adduction ,
abduction.

Carpometacarpal Metacarpophalangeal
joints joints
 It is a saddle type of synovial joint.
 Movements are flexion, extension, abduction,
adduction and opposition.
 It is a Condyloid type of joint.
 Movements are flexion, extension, abduction and
adduction.
Hip joint

Knee joint

Ankle joint

Subtalar joint
 It is a synovial joint ,” Ball and socket “ type.
 Here ball is the femoral head, and the socket is the
acetabulum of hip bone.
 The hip joint is the articulation of the pelvis with the
femur, which connects the axial skeleton with the
lower extremity.
 The acetabulum is a cup-like depression located on
the inferolateral aspect of the pelvis.
 The head of femur is hemispherical, and fits
completely into the concavity of the acetabulum
 The ligaments of the hip joint act to increase
stability.
 There are 2 types of ligaments in hip joint
1) Intracapsular ligament: Intracapsular ligament is
the ligament of head of femur.
2) Extracapsular ligament: There are 3 extracapsular
ligaments : Iliofemoral ligament, Pubofemoral
ligament, Ischiofemoral ligament.
 Flexion-extension
 Adduction-abduction
 Medial-lateral rotation
 Circumduction
 Knee joint is a modified hinge joint.
 It is the largest and most complex joint of the
body.
 It incorporates two condylar joint between
the condyles of the femur and tibia and one
saddle joint between the femur and patella.
 Knee joint is formed by:
1. Condyles of the femur
2. Condyles of the tibia
3. Patella
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
Medial collateral ligament (MCL)
Lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
Ligamentum patellae
Oblique popliteal ligament
 Extension

Flexion

Medial rotation

Lateral rotation
 Ankle joint or talocrural joint is a hinge joint.
 The ankle joint is formed by three bones; the
tibia and fibula of the leg, and the talus of the
foot.
 Articular surfaces of the tibia and fibula form
“ Tibiofibular socket” .
 This socket receive the talus from the foot.
 Medial ligaments.
 Lateral ligaments: It has 3 further ligaments-
1. Anterior talofibular
2. Posterior talofibular
3. Calcaneofibular
Planterflexion

Dorsiflexion
 Subtalar joint is also known as talocalcaneal
joint, is a joint of the foot.
 It occurs at the meeting point of the talus and
the calcaneus.
 It provides movement of inversion and
eversion of the foot.