Body Joints

Every bone in the body is connected to or

forms a joint with at least one other bone
Joints perform two
functions in the body:

 they hold the skeletal bones together

and
 they allow the rigid skeleton some
flexibility so that gross movements can
occur.
 Joints are points of union
between bones.
 They may be more or less freely moveable,
 or fixed, allowing no movement whatsoever
between the bones they join.
 Functionally joints are
classified as
 Immovable Joints (= synarthroses:
arthrose=joint, syn=together - bone stuck together ),
 Slightly Movable Joints (= amphiarthroses:
arthrose=joint, amphi=both - in between immovable
and freely movable ),
 Freely Movable Joints (= diarthroses:
arthrose=joint, dia=apart - bone apart, can move
easily).
Structurally joints are
classified as

 fibrous joints
 cartilaginous joints
 synovial joints
FIBROUS JOINTS

 There is NO JOINT CAVITY.

 Most of the fibrous joints are immovable
- a few are slightly movable.
There are three subtypes
of fibrous joints:

 Sutures
 Syndesmosis
 Gomphosis
Sutures

 The connecting fibers holding bones

together are short.
 This type of joint occurs only in the skull:
cranial sutures
Syndesmosis

 Long connecting fibers

holding two bones
together.

 tibia/fibula joint and the

interosseous
membrane connecting
the radius and ulna
along their length
Gomphosis

 It is a peg-in-socket fibrous joint.

 The only examples are the articulations of

teeth.
CARTILAGINOUS JOINTS
 In cartilaginous joints the bones are
united with each other by cartilage.
 Again, there is NO JOINT CAVITY.
There are two types of
cartilaginous joints:

 Primary cartilaginous joints

 Secondary cartilaginous joints
Primary cartilaginous joints
 A plate of hyaline cartilage connects
the bones at the joint.
 Only hyaline cartilage is involved, and
the joints are immoveable.
Secondary cartilaginous
joints
 The articular surface of
each bone is covered
with a thin layer of
hyaline cartilage, and
fibrocartilage unites
these two layers.
 Limited movement is
permitted.
SYNOVIAL JOINTS

 freely moveable joints

 A closed space or CAVITY between
the bones: the joint cavity (= synovial
cavity).
The articulating surfaces
of the bones is:
 Covered by a thin layer
of very smooth hyaline
cartilage (articular
cartilage)
 Lubricated by a special
fluid, the synovial fluid
secreted by the synovial
membrane which lines
the cavity.
Bursae

 are small sacs filled with synovial fluid

that reduce friction in the joint.
 lined with synovial membrane
 The knee joint contains 13 bursae
Synovial joints are
classified according
 to the shape of the articulating
surfaces
 and the range of movement permitted.
They can be classified
into six major categories:
1. Plane (= gliding)
2. Hinge
3. Pivot
4. Ellipsoidal
5. Saddle
6. Ball and socket
Plane (= gliding)
 Opposite bone surfaces are flat or slightly
curved.
 Only sliding motion in all directions are
allowed. Examples: Carpal and Tarsal
Hinge
 Convex surface of one bone fits smoothly
into concave surface of the second bone
 Examples: Elbow and Ankle joints
Pivot
 only movement allowed is the rotation of
one bone around its own axis
 Examples: Atlanto axial and proximal
Radio ulna joints
Ellipsoidal (biaxial)
 Oval-shaped surface fits into an oval-
shaped cavity (ellipse means oval).
 Examples: the Radio carpal and
Metacarpophalangeal joints.
Saddle
 The articular surface of one bone is
grooved to accommodate the articular
surface of the other bone.
 Example: the Carpophalangeal joint of
the thumb.
Ball and socket
 Ball-shaped head fits into a cup-shaped
depression
 Most freely moving of all synovial joints.
 These joints are multiaxial.
 Examples: the Hip and the Shoulder