Articulations

• Articulations
• Where two bones interconnect
• Immovable joints
• Synarthroses, or bony
• Slightly moveable joints
• Amphiarthroses, or fibrous / cartilagenous
• Freely moveable joints
• Diarthroses, or synovial

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Synarthroses (immovable joints)

• Four major types

• Suture = skull bones bound together by dense
connective tissue
• Gomphosis = teeth bound to bony sockets by
periodontal ligaments
• Synchondrosis = two bones bound by rigid
cartilaginous bridge
• Syntosis = two bones completely fused

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Amphiarthroses (slightly movable joints)

• Two major types

• Syndesmosis = bones connected by a ligament
• Symphysis = bone separated by fibrocartilage

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Diarthroses (freely movable joints)

• Bony surfaces enclosed within articular capsule

• Bony surfaces covered by articular cartilage
• Bony surfaces lubricated by synovial fluid
• Structures include
• Menisci
• Fat pads
• Accessory ligaments
• Bursae

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Figure 9.1 The Structure of a Synovial Joint

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Dynamic motion

• Dynamic motion
• Linear motion
• Angular motion
• Rotation
• Joints classified based on type of motion
permitted
• Monaxial
• Biaxial
• Triaxial

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Figure 9.2 A Simple Model of Articular Motion

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Types of movement

• Gliding motion
• Two surfaces slide past one another
• Angular motion
• Flexion, extension, hyperextension
• Abduction, adduction
• Circumduction

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Figure 9.3 Angular Movements

PLAY Animation: Flexion, Extension, Hyperextension

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Rotational movement

• Left or right
• Medial (internal) or lateral (external)
• Pronation or supination in the bones of the
forearm only

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Figure 9.4 Rotational Movements

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Figure 9.4 Rotational Movements

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Special movement

• Movements of the foot

• Inversion and eversion
• Plantar flexion and dorsiflexion

• Movements of the thumb

• Opposition

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Other movements

• Protraction moves a structure anteriorly

• Retraction moves a structure posteriorly
• Elevation moves a structure superiorly
• Depression moves a structure inferiorly
• Lateral flexion bends the vertebrae to one side

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Figure 9.5 Special Movements

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Structural classification of joints

• Gliding joints permit movement in a single plane

• Hinge joints are monaxial joints permitting
angular motion in one plane
• Pivot joints are monaxial joints that permit
rotation
• Ellipsoid joints are biaxial joints that pit one bone
in an oval depression of another
• Saddle joints are biaxial joints with one concave
and one convex bone face
• Ball-and-socket joints are triaxial joints that
permit rotation and other movements
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Figure 9.6 A Functional Classification of
Synovial Joints

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Figure 9.6 A Functional Classification of
Synovial Joints

PLAY Animation: Joint Motion

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Intervertebral articulations

• Gliding joints
• Vertebral bodies form symphyseal joints
cushioned by intervertebral discs
• Outer anulus fibrosus and inner nucleus
pulposus
• Stabilized by ligaments

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Figure 9.7 Intervertevbral Articulations

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Figure 9.8 Damage to the Intervertebral Discs

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Shoulder joint (glenohumoral joint)

• Glenoid cavity and head of humerus

• Ball and socket diarthroses
• Stabilized by ligaments
• Strength and stability sacrificed for range of
motion

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Figure 9.9 The Shoulder Joint

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Figure 9.9 The Shoulder Joint

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The elbow joint

• Permits only flexion and extension

• Hinge diarthroses
• Reinforced with strong ligaments

PLAY Animation: Clavicle & Scapula

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Hip joint

• Ball and socket diarthroses

• Acetabulum and head of femur
• Permits flexion/extension, abduction/ adduction,
circumduction, rotation
• Stabilized by numerous ligaments

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Figure 9.11 The Hip Joint

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Knee joint

• Hinge joint with incomplete articular

capsule
• Formed by the condyles of the femur and the
condylar surfaces of the tibia
• Accessory structures help stabilize lateral
movements
• Permits flexion/extension, limited rotation
• Supported by ligaments

PLAY Animation: Hip

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Figure 9.12 The Knee Joint

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Figure 9.12 The Knee Joint

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Joint problems with aging

• Joint problems associated with aging

• Relatively common
• Rheumatism – general term for pain and
stiffness in muscular and skeletal elements
• Arthritis – all rheumatic diseases affecting
synovial joints

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