Types of Joints

Where two or more bones join together, a joint or articulation is formed. All body movements occur at joints. Many joints are held together and stablized by bands of fibrous connective tissues called ligaments. Often the opposed surfaces of bones move upon each other at joint. There are three main types of joints:

Fibrous/immovable joint Slightly movable (cartilaginous joint) Synovial/ freely movable joint

Fibrous/immovable joint:
Example of fibrous joint is joints betwee the bones of skull. The bones of skull join together in a tight fitting interlocking wavy, immovable joint called suture. These joints provide stability to skull. In newborn infants, bones of skull are still developing and there are relatively wide spaces between them. These spaces contain tough sheets of connective tissues that connect the bone, called fontanel. Fontanels permit brain growth. As infant grows, fontanels are replaced by bone forming sutures.

Cartilaginous/ Slightly movable Joints:

found between the vertebrae, pubis symphysis(between two hipbones) and between sternum and ribs. Such joints provide firm support but allow a degree of flexibility.

Synovial (also called diarthrosis)/ Freely movable Joints:

found at the soulder, elbow, wrist, hip(between hipbone and femur), knee, phalanges and jaw. Synovial joints have four common characteristics:

They have a joint cavity between the articulating bones. Cartilage covers the articulating ends of the bones. A fibrous connective tissue forms a capsule that encompasses the entire joint. A delicate tissue membrane called synovial membrane lines the inside of this capsule and secretes synovial fluid. Synovial fluid coals the inner surfaces and reduces the friction produced

during movements. Synovial joints are of six types:

1. Ball and socket joint(Enarthrosis or Spheroidal joint):

One bone forms a ball-like head that fits into a socket formed by the other bone. The bone with head can move nearly in all directions. Shoulder joint(glenohumeral joint) and hip joint (acetabulofemoral joint) are of this type.

2. Angular, Ellipsoid or Condyloid joint: This allows movements in

two directions that is side-side and backforth. An oval condyle of one bone fits into an elliptical cavity of the other. Wrist(radio-carpal joint) and metacapophalangial joints are of this type.

3. Saddle joint (Sellar Joint): opposing surfaces are reciprocally

concave-convex. The joint between metacarpal of thumb and the corresponding carpal is of this type. It enables the thumb to move in many directions.

4. Hinge joint(Ginglymus Joint): This allows movement in one plane

only(backward and forward). The knee (joint between femur and tibia and joint between femur and patella), elbow(articulation of humerus with radius and ulna) , ankle (talocrural joint: articulation of distal ends of tibia and fibula with proximal ends of tarsals) and joint between phalanges (interphalangeal) are of this type.

5. Pivot Joints (Trochoid or rotatory Joint): This joint allows only

a rotatary movement of one bone on the other which remains stationary. The joint between atlas and axis vertebra, between upper ends of radius and ulna are of this type.

6. Gliding joint (Arthrodial or Plane Joint): This joint permits

sliding movement of two bones over each other. The joints between zygapophyses and of the vertebrae, between the carpals in the wrist, tarsals in the ankle, superior tibiofibular joint and between acromion of scapula and clavicles (acromioclavicular joint) are of this type.