Joints and Ligaments

Question 1

What are the different classifications of joints?

Answer 1

• structurally

- functionally

Question 2

What are the three structural classification?

Answer 2

• fibrous
• cartilagenous
• synovial

Question 3

What are fibrous joints?

Answer 3

• no synovial cavity, bones held together by connective tissue

Question 4

What are cartilagenous joints?

Answer 4

• no synovial cavity, bones held together by cartilage

Question 5

What are synovial joints?

Answer 5

• synovial cavity, bones held together by an articular capsule

Question 6

What are the three functional classifications?

Answer 6

• synarthrosis
• amphiarthrosis
• diarthrosis

Question 7

What are synarthrosis joints?

Answer 7

• immovable

Question 8

What are amphiarthrosis joints?

Answer 8

• slightly movable

Question 9

What are diathrosis joints?

Answer 9

• “freely movable”

Question 10

What are the two functional classifications of fibrous joints?

Answer 10

• synarthroses

- amphiarthroses

Question 11

What are the two functional classifications of cartilagenous joints?

Answer 11

• synarthroses

- amphiarthroses

Question 12

What are the two functional classifications of synovial joints?

Answer 12

• diarthroses

Question 13

What is a suture?

Answer 13

• fibrous joints
• bones are connected by a thin layer of connective tissue
• only present between the skull bones
• children = amphiarthrosis (slightly movable)
• adults = Synarthrosis (immovable)

Question 14

What is a syndesmosis joint?

Answer 14

• fibrous joints
• bones are connected by connective tissue that is arranged into a ligament
• distal tibiofibular joint
• gomphoses (“teeth joints”)
• amphiarthrosis (slightly movable)

Question 15

What is an interosseous membrane?

Answer 15

• fibrous joints
• bones are connected by a sheet of connective tissue
• present between the radius/ulna and tibia/fibula
• amphiarthrosis (slightly movable)

Question 16

What are synchondrosis joints?

Answer 16

• bones are connected by hyaline cartilage (later ossifies into bone)
• 1st sternocostal joint (others are synovial)
• epiphyseal growth plates
• synarthrosis (immovable)
• cartilagenous joints

Question 17

What are symphysis joints?

Answer 17

• cartilagenous joints
• bones are connected by fibrocartilage
• occur in the midline of the body
• pubic symphysis
• intervertebral discs
• amphiarthrosis (slightly movable)

Question 18

What are synovial joints?

Answer 18

• all are freely movable (diarthroses)
• all have certain characteristic features
• articular capsule
• synovial cavity
• articular cartilage

Question 19

What is the purpose of an articular capsule?

Answer 19

- outer fibrous membrane
(provides strength)
- inner synovial membrane (secretes synovial fluid)
- reduces friction
- absorbs shock
- nutrient delivery
- waste removal

Question 20

What is the purpose of articular cartilage?

Answer 20

• reduces friction

- absorbs shock

Question 21

What is a ligament?

Answer 21

• thick band of dense connective tissue that is especially resistant to forces acting in a particular direction
• present in most synovial joints
• can be extracapsular (outside the articular capsule) or intracapsular (inside the articular capsule)

Question 22

What is a meniscus (articular disc)?

Answer 22

• pad of fibrocartilage between the articular surfaces that absorbs shock & increases the stability of the joint
• present in select synovial joints (knee joint)

Question 23

What is a labrum?

Answer 23

• ring of fibrocartilage surrounding the “socket” of ball-and-socket joints that increases the stability of the joint
• present in the hip joint and shoulder joint

Question 24

What is a bursa?

Answer 24

• fluid-filled sac-like structure located between tissues (bones/ligaments, bones/tendons) to reduce friction
• present throughout the body

Question 25

What are the 4 broad movement categories at synovial joints?

Answer 25

• gliding
• angular
• rotation
• special movements

Question 26

What determines the type of movement(s) are permitted at a specific joint?

Answer 26

• depends on the shapes of the articulating surfaces of the bones

Question 27

Describe the gliding movement.

Answer 27

• side to side movement
• flat bone surfaces (intercarpal joints, intertarsal joints)
• little change in the angle between the bones

Question 28

What is an angular movement?

Answer 28

• an increase or decrease in the angle between bones
• flexion and extension
• abduction and adduction
• circumduction

Question 29

What is flexion?

Answer 29

• a decrease in the angle between bones

Question 30

What is extension?

Answer 30

• an increase in the angle between bones

Question 31

What is abduction?

Answer 31

• a movement of a bone away from the midline

Question 32

What is adduction?

Answer 32

• a movement of a bone towards the midline

Question 33

What is circumduction?

Answer 33

• multiplanar motion
• continuous sequence of the other angular movements that causes the distal end of a segment to move in a circle
• occurs primarily in the shoulder joint and hip joint

Question 34

What is rotational movement?

Answer 34

• movement of a bone or segment such that it revolves around its longitudinal axis
• occurs primarily in the vertebral column, shoulder joint and hip joint
• medial (internal) or lateral (external)

Question 35

What are some examples of “special movements”?

Answer 35

• elevation & depression
• protraction & retraction
• upward rotation & downward rotation (scapula)
• supination & pronation (forearm)
• inversion & eversion (foot)

Question 36

What joint does the tibia and fibula make up?

Answer 36

• tibiofibular joint

Question 37

What joint does the glenoid cavity and humerus make up?

Answer 37

• glenohumeral joint

Question 38

What joint does the temporal bone and mandible make up?

Answer 38

• temporomandibular joint

Question 39

What joint does the sacrum and illium make up?

Answer 39

• sacroilliac joint

Question 40

What joint does the metacarpal and proximal phalanx make up?

Answer 40

• metacarpophalangeal joint