Joint classification

Question 1

Fibrous joint or fixed joints are:

Answer 1

Very stable and do not allow any movement. Examples are the sutures of the skull bones and the pelvic bones.

Question 2

Cartilaginous joint or slightly movable joint:

Answer 2

Help provide stability and only allow limited movement. The individual bones are joined by cartilage. The vertebrae is an example.

Question 3

Synovial joint or freely movable joint:

Answer 3

Allow free movement. Examples include the knee, wrist and shoulder joints.

Question 4

Ball and socket:

Answer 4

The ball shaped head of one bone fits into the cup-shaped socket of another. Examples include the hip and shoulder joints. It allows movement in all directions.

Question 5

Hinge:

Answer 5

Examples include the ankle, elbow and knee joints. It allows only back-and-forth movements.

Question 6

Pivot:

Answer 6

A ring on one bone fits over a peg on another. An example is the atlas and axis (the top two vertebrae). It allows rotation (twisting) only.

Question 7

Saddle:

Answer 7

A bone fits into a saddle-shaped surface on another bone. An example is the thumb. It allows side-to-side and back-and-forth movements.

Question 8

Gliding:

Answer 8

Two relatively flat surfaces slide over one another. An example occurs at the articular processes of the vertebrae (although the spine as a whole is classified as a slightly moveable joint). It allows side-to-side and back-and-forth movements. It also occurs between the carpals and between the tarsals.

Question 9

Condyloid:

Answer 9

The full convex shape of one bone end fits into the full concave shape of an adjoining bone. An example is the wrist joint. It allows back-and-forth and side-to-side movement, with ligaments preventing rotation.