joints Flashcards
what is a joint
point of contact between bones and cartilage which link the skeletal system into a functional whole - where movement occurs
what is cartilage
strong connective tissue that is less hard and more flexible than bone
what is a ligament
tough band of connective tissue attaching bone to bone
what is a tendon
tough band of connective tissue attaching muscles to bone
what does synarthroses mean
no movement as bones are close together
-such as sutures (bones of the skull) and fibrous joints (due to dense connective tissue)
what does amphiarthroses mean
little movement as articulating bones are connected by cartilaginous joints
-such as syndesmosis and symphysis (e.g. pubic symphysis)
what does diarthrosis mean
free movement, aka synovial joints and typically located at the end of long bones
what are the 6 types of synovial joints
ball and socket, hinge, condyloid/ellipsoid, saddle, pivot and plane
what is a ball and socket joint
the ball-shaped surface of one rounded bone fits into the cup-like depression of another bone
e.g. hip and shoulder joint
what is a hinge joint
permits movement in one plane usually flexion and extension
e.g. knee joint, elbow joint
what is a condyloid joint
contains a convex surface which articulates with a concave elliptical cavity
e.g. metatarsophalangeal joint
what is a saddle joint
opposing articular surfaces with a reciprocal concave-convex shape
e.g. carpometacarpal joints
what is a pivot joint
allows for rotation only
e.g. distal radioulnar joints
what is a plane joint
articular surfaces are relatively flat allowing the bones to glide over one another
e.g. subtalar joint
what happens in fibrous joints
bone ends are held together by fibrous or collagenous connective tissues without synovial cavity between them, strong joints that inhibit movement
