Joints - Types, Locations And Movements Facilitated Flashcards
Joint Definition
A structure where two or more bones meet, allowing movement and stability
Fibrous Joints
Bones are connected by dense fibrous connective tissue.
No joint cavity, allowing little to no movement.
Example
Sutures (Skull Joints): Found between skull bones (e.g., coronal suture).
Cartilaginous joints
Bones are connected by cartilage (hyaline or fibrocartilage).
No joint cavity, allowing limited movement.
Example:
Synchondrosis (Hyaline Cartilage): Growth plates in children (e.g., epiphyseal plate in long bones).
Synovial joints
Most common joint type, allowing a wide range of movements.
Bones are separated by a fluid-filled joint cavity, reducing friction.
Contains synovial fluid, cartilage, ligaments, and a joint capsule.
Types of synovial joints
Ball and socket
Hinge
Pivot
Condyloid
Saddle
Gliding / Plane
Ball and socket joints
Structure: A spherical bone head fits into a cup-like socket.
🔹 Movement Allowed: Multiaxial – Allows movement in all directions:
Flexion & extension
Abduction & adduction
Rotation & circumduction
🔹 Examples:
Shoulder joint (Glenohumeral joint)
Hip joint
Hinge Joints
Structure: A convex surface fits into a concave surface, allowing motion like a door hinge.
🔹 Movement Allowed: Uniaxial – Movement in one plane:
Flexion & extension
🔹 Examples:
Elbow joint (Humeroulnar joint)
Knee joint (Tibiofemoral joint)
Fingers & Toes (Interphalangeal joints)
Pivot joints
Structure: A cylindrical bone rotates around another bone.
🔹 Movement Allowed: Uniaxial – Rotation only.
🔹 Examples:
Atlas-Axis joint (C1-C2 vertebrae in the neck) – Allows head rotation (“No” motion).
Radioulnar joint (Forearm) – Allows pronation & supination (turning palm up/down).
Condyloid Joint
Structure: An oval-shaped condyle fits into an elliptical cavity.
🔹 Movement Allowed: Biaxial – Movement in two planes:
Flexion & extension
Abduction & adduction
Limited circumduction
🔹 Examples:
Wrist joint (Radiocarpal joint)
Knuckles (Metacarpophalangeal joints of fingers & toes)
Saddle Joint
Structure: Both bones have concave & convex surfaces, fitting together like a saddle.
🔹 Movement Allowed: Biaxial – Allows movement similar to condyloid joints but with greater range of motion:
Flexion & extension
Abduction & adduction
Circumduction
🔹 Examples:
Thumb joint (Carpometacarpal joint of the first digit) – Enables thumb opposition.
Sternoclavicular joint (Between sternum & clavicle).
Gliding / Plane joint
Structure: Flat surfaces of bones slide against each other.
🔹 Movement Allowed: Nonaxial – Small sliding movements in multiple directions, but no significant rotation.
🔹 Examples:
Intercarpal & Intertarsal joints (Wrist & Ankle small bones)
Facet joints (Between vertebrae)
Acromioclavicular joint (Between clavicle & scapula)
Where do you find ball and socket joints
Shoulder joint (Glenohumeral joint) – Between the humerus and scapula.
Hip joint – Between the femur and acetabulum of the pelvis.
Where do you find Hinge joints
Elbow joint (Humeroulnar joint) – Between the humerus and ulna.
Knee joint (Tibiofemoral joint) – Between the femur and tibia.
Finger & Toe joints (Interphalangeal joints) – Between phalanges.
Ankle joint (Talocrural joint) – Between the tibia, fibula, and talus.
Where do you find pivot joints
Neck joint (Atlantoaxial joint) – Between the first (C1, atlas) and second (C2, axis) cervical vertebrae.
Forearm (Proximal & Distal Radioulnar joints) – Between the radius and ulna.
Where do you find Condyloid joints
Wrist joint (Radiocarpal joint) – Between the radius and carpal bones.
Knuckle joints (Metacarpophalangeal joints) – Between metacarpals and phalanges.
Occipital-Atlas joint (Atlanto-occipital joint) – Between the skull and C1 vertebra (nodding motion).
Where do you find saddle joints
Thumb joint (First Carpometacarpal joint) – Between the trapezium (carpal bone) and the first metacarpal.
Sternoclavicular joint – Between the sternum and clavicle.
Where do you find gliding / plane joints
Intercarpal joints (Wrist) – Between small carpal bones.
Intertarsal joints (Ankle & Foot) – Between small tarsal bones.
Facet joints (Spine) – Between vertebrae (allowing slight movement for flexibility).
Acromioclavicular joint – Between clavicle and scapula.
What movements are allowed at a ball and socket joint
Flexion & Extension – Forward & backward movement.
Abduction & Adduction – Moving away from and towards the midline.
Rotation – Twisting movement (medial & lateral).
Circumduction – Circular movement (combining flexion, extension, abduction, adduction).
What movements are allowed at a hinge
Flexion & Extension – Bending and straightening.
Hyperextension – Extension beyond normal range.
What movements are allowed at a pivot joint
Rotation – Turning around an axis (e.g., turning head side-to-side, supination & pronation of forearm).
What movements are allowed at a Condyloid joint
Flexion & Extension – Bending and straightening.
Abduction & Adduction – Moving away from and towards the midline.
Circumduction – Circular movement, but limited rotation.
What movements are allowed at a saddle joint
Flexion & Extension – Forward and backward movement.
Abduction & Adduction – Moving away from and towards the midline.
Circumduction – Circular movement.
What movements are allowed at a gliding / plane joint
Gliding (sliding) – Small sliding or gliding movements in multiple directions.
