Hole’s Human Anatomy

and Physiology
Twelfth Edition

Shier  Butler  Lewis

Chapter
8
Joints of the
Skeletal System

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 8.1: Introduction
• Are known as articulations
• Functional junctions between bones
• Bind parts of skeletal system together
• Make bone growth possible
• Permit parts of the skeleton to change shape during
childbirth
• Enable body to move in response to skeletal muscle
contraction
• Three (3) classifications of joints will be considered

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 8.2: Classification of Joints
• (1) Fibrous joints
• Dense connective tissues connect
bones
• Between bones in close contact
• (2) Cartilaginous joints
• Hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage
connect bones
• (3) Synovial joints
• Most complex
• Allow free movement
• These joints are also known as:
• Synarthrotic joints
• Considered immovable
• Amphiarthrotic joints
• Slightly movable
• Diarthrotic joints
• Freely movable
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 Fibrous Joints
• There are three (3) types of fibrous joints (synarthroses):
• Syndesmosis Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

• Suture
• Gomphosis
Interosseus
membrane
of leg

• Syndesmosis:
• A sheet or bundle of fibrous Fibula Tibia

tissue connecting bones

Anterior
• Lies between tibia and fibula tibiofibular
ligament
(interosseous membrane) (interosseus
Medial
malleolus
ligament)

Lateral
malleolus

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 Fibrous Joints
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• Suture: Parietal
bone

• Between flat bones Margin of

• See teeth-like projections Sutural

bones
suture

• Thin layer of connective Suture

tissue connects bones Occipital

bone

• Skull (a)
Courtesy of John W. Hole, Jr.
(b)

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Crown of

• Gomphosis: tooth

• Cone-shaped bony process in a socket

• Tooth in jawbone

Root of
Alveolar tooth
process of
mandible

Periodontal
ligament 5
 Cartilaginous Joints
• There are two (2) types of cartilaginous joints (amphiarthroses):
• Synchondrosis Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

• Symphysis First rib

Thoracic
vertebra

Costal cartilage

• Synchondrosis: Manubrium
• Bands of hyaline cartilage unite
bones
• Epiphyseal plate (temporary)
• Between manubrium and the first
rib (costal cartilages)

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 Cartilaginous Joints
• Symphysis:
• Pad of fibrocartilage between bones
• Pubic symphysis
• Joint between bodies of adjacent vertebrae
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Gelatinous
Spinous process
core
Band of
fibrocartilage
Body of
vertebra

Pubis

Intervertebral
discs

7
Fibrocartilage disc of symphysis pubis
(a) (b)
 8.3: General Structure of a
Synovial Joint
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• Synovial joints are freely

moveable (diarthroses)
• There are three (3) types of Spongy
bone
diarthroses
• There are specific parts of a Joint
capsule
diarthroses:
• Articular cartilage
Joint cavity
• Joint cavity filled with
Articular
cartilage
synovial
• Joint capsule fluid Synovial
membrane
• Synovial membrane
• Synovial fluid
• Meniscus
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• Bursae
 Knee Joint
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• Largest joint Femur

• Most complex Synovial membrane
Suprapatellar bursa
• Medial and lateral condyles of distal end Quadriceps femoris tendon
(patellar tendon)
of femur and Patella
Prepatellar bursa
• Medial and lateral condyles of proximal
Joint cavity
end of tibia and
Articular cartilage
• Femur articulates anteriorly with patella Patellar ligament
• Strengthened by many ligaments and Menisci

tendons Infrapatellar bursa

• Menisci separate femur and tibia Joint capsule

Tibia
• Bursae
(a)

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 Types of Synovial Joints
• Pivot Joint • Hinge Joint
• Between atlas (C1) and • Elbow joint
the dens of axis (C2) • Between phalanges
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Humerus
Dens

Transverse Radius
ligament
Atlas
Axis

Ulna

(e) Pivot joint (d) Hinge joint

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 Types of Synovial Joints
• Saddle Joint • Condylar Joint
• Between carpal and 1st • Between metacarpals and
metacarpal (of thumb) phalanges
• Between radius and carpals
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Metacarpal

First
metacarpal
Trapezium
Phalanx

(f) Saddle (b) Condylar

joint joint 11
 Types of Synovial Joints
• Ball-and-Socket Joint • Gliding Joint
• Hip joint • Between carpals
• Shoulder joint • Between tarsals
• Between facets of
adjacent vertebrae
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Hip bone

Head of femur
in acetabulum

Femur
Carpals

(a) Ball-and-socket (c) Plane 12

joint joint
 8.5: Types of Joint Movements

• Movement at a joint occurs when a muscle contracts

and its fibers pull its moveable end (insertion) towards its
fixed end (origin).

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 Types of Joint Movements
• Abduction/adduction
• Dorsiflexion/plantar flexion
• Flexion/extension/hyperextension
• Lateral flexion Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.

Hyperextension

Extension

Flexion

Flexion

Abduction
Extension

Adduction Dorsiflexion

Plantar flexion
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 Types of Joint Movements
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• Rotation
• Circumduction
• Supination/pronation
Circumduction

Supination

Medial Pronation
Lateral
rotation
rotation

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 8.7: Lifespan Changes
• Joint stiffness is an early sign of aging
• Fibrous joints first to change; can strengthen however over a
lifetime
• Changes in symphysis joints of vertebral column diminish
flexibility and decrease height (remember water loss from the
IVDs)
• Synovial joints lose elasticity
• Disuse hampers the blood supply
• Activity and exercise can keep joints functional longer

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