Joints Flashcards
Sites where bones meet
Joints
Weakest part of the skeleton
Joints
Can also be called articulations
Joints
Fibrous joints
Immovable joints (e.g. sutural bones) called synarthroses
Cartilaginous joints
Slightly movable joints (e.g. ribs while breathing) called amphiarthroses
- Acts as “cushion” at the ends of bones
- Reduces friction and absorbs shock
Articular cartilage (hyaline cartilage)
Synovial joints
Freely moving joints called **diarthroses **(e.g. knees)
Synarthroses
Immovable (fibrous) joints
Amphiarthrosis
Slightly movable (cartilaginous) joint
Diarthrosis
Freely moving (synovial) joint
Freely moving joints
Synovial joints called diarthroses
Slightly movable joints
Cartilaginous joints called amphiarthroses
Immovable joints
Fibrous joints called synarthroses
Articulating bones separated by a fluid filled cavity
Synovial joints (also called diarthroses)
5 parts that make up the general structure of a synovial joint
- Articular (hyaline) cartilage
- Articular capsule (joint capsule)
- Synovial cavity (joint cavity)
- Synovial fluid
- Reinforcing ligaments
Bag of lubricant closely associated with a joint to reduce friction
Bursa
“Wrapper” around a tendon
Tendon sheath
- Reinforcing ligaments that hold a joint together become stretched or torn
- Healing is slow due to poor vascularization
Sprain
- Bone is forced out of its normal position
- Accompanied by sprains and inflammation
Dislocation
Inflammation of a bursa from excess friction/stress (e.g. repetitive motion)
Bursitis
Joints that allow us to move
Synovial joints/Diarthroses
Made up of hyaluronic acid and a filtrate of blood plasma
Synovial fluid
Viscous (thick) part of synovial fluid
Hyaluronic acid
Watery part of synovial fluid
Filtrate of blood plasma
Watery part of blood that contains no blood cells
Blood plasma
Ligaments that keep a joint “in line”
Reinforcing ligaments
Example names include: “medial collateral ligament” and “lateral collateral ligament”
Reinforcing ligaments
- Has a fibrous outer layer and a synovial membrane inner layer
- Keeps synovial fluid in
Articular capsule (joint capsule)
Bags of lubricant that reduce friction during joint activity
Bursae
Crescent-shaped cartilage disk (“coaster”/”shim”) prone to injury
Meniscus
- Type of injury common to the meniscus of the knee
- Cannot heal itself
- May need to surgically remove damaged part
Cartilage injuries
Most common form of arthritis
Osteoid arthritis
Chronic inflammatory disorder affecting connective tissue
Rheumatoid arthritis
Possible causes of rheumatoid arthritis
- Transient infection
- Autoimmune disease
- Genetic predisposition (hereditary)
Possible treatments for rheumatoid arthritis
- Anti-inflammatory drugs
- Exercise (to build up stabilizing muscles)
- Steroid therapy
- Joint replacement (if appropriate)
Blood levels of uric acid rise; urate crystals deposited in soft tissue
Gouty arthritis (Gout)
Possible treatments for gouty arthritis
- Avoid alcohol
- Avoid rich foods
- Cholchicine (kol-chi-sin)
Abnormal lateral curvature of the spine
Scoliosis
Possible treatments for scoliosis
- Serious cases = a body brace
- Otherwise just physical therapy or no treatment necessary
Possible causes of scoliosis
- Abnormal vertebrae (e.g. bigger on one side)
- Paralysis of muscles on one side
- Muscles on one side stronger than the other (e.g. from carrying heavy backpack)
Excessive concave curvature of the thoracic region of the spine
Kyphosis
A.k.a. “Dowagers Hump”
Kyphosis
Accentuated convex curve of the lumbar vertebrae
Lordosis
A.k.a. “Swayback”
Lordosis
- Slow and irreversible form of arthritis that is common in the elderly
- Degenerative condition caused by “wear and tear” on all articular cartilage
Osteoid arthritis
How bendable a joint is
Flexibility
- Class of synovial joint in which flat bone surfaces glide against each other
- E.g. vertebrae
Gliding joint
- Class of synovial joint that can only move in one plane like a door hinge
- E.g. toe knuckles or the knee
Hinge joint
- Class of synovial joint in which a slightly convex (bulged out) part of one bone sits in a slight depression (concavity) on the next bone
- E.g. metacarpal-to-phalanx
Condyloid joint
- Class of synovial joint in which a rounded head fits into a cuplike socket
- E.g. shoulder and hip
Ball and socket joint
