- Cavity of the joint - lined by synovial

ARTICULATORY membrane

- Synovial membrane is protected on the

SYSTEM
outer surface by the tough fibrous
cartilage known as CAPSULE —or
CAPSULE LIGAMENT
- Inner synovial membrane (Synovium) -
JOINTS
absorbs and secretes synovial fluid and
- Joints are the regions of the skeleton responsible for mediation of nutrient
where two or more bones meet and
exchange between blood and joint.

articulate.

- Prime functions:
- Synovial fluid - lubricates the articular
- Facilitate growth (epiphysial plate)
surfaces produced by synovial membrane

- Allow movement between bones

- Function of synovial fluid:

- Lubrication

CLASSIFICATIONS
- Shock absorption

- Nutrient

- Articular discs - discs of fibrocartilage

A. FUNCTIONAL that are interposed between articular
I. Synarthroses – Immovable Joints
surfaces of the bones

II. Amphiarthroses – Slightly Movable Joints

- BURSAE - small sac lined by synovial
III. Diarthroses – Freely Movable Joints

membrane and filled with synovial fluid —

can become inflammed or irritated by
B. STRUCTURAL overuse of the joint (bursitis) e.g. knee

I. Fibrous Joints – Immovable Joints

- INNERVATION: HILTON’S LAW - states
II. Cartilaginous Joints – Slightly Movable

that the nerves supplying a joint also

- 2 Types: supply muscles moving the joint and skin
- Primary (synchondrosis)- united by a covering their distal attachments

plate or bar of hyaline cartilage

- Nerves play a key role in proprioception -
- Secondary (symphysis) - united by a ability of the body to tell where parts of it
plate of fibrocartilage and articular are

surfaces of the bones are covered by - VASCULATURE - receive blood from the
hyaline cartilage
articular arteries located within the joint
capsule — common feature:
III. Synovial Joints – Freely Movable
ANASTOMOSES

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:
Osteoarthritis - wearing away of the
articular cartilage; irreversible and
degenerative

- S/s: pain, stiffness, and discomfort

SYNARTHROSES/FIBROUS
● The articulating surfaces are almost in
direct contact .

● The uniting medium either fibrous tissue or

- articular surfaces of bones are covered by hyaline cartilage or fibro-cartilage.

a thin layer of hyaline cartilage

(ARTICULAR CARTILAGE) separated by A.Suture - bones of the skull
a joint cavity
- covered by a layer of osteogenic cells
(cambial layer) overlaid by a capsular
 lamella of fibrous tissue that is continuous
with the perios teum on both the endo and
ectocranial surfaces

- Syntosis - fusion 2 bones (sutures)

- Schindylesis – charac. By a bony plate

inserted into a cleft or fissure. E.g. Vomer
into the maxillae and palatine bones

B. Syndesmoses - truly fibrous connection

between bones. It may be represented by 3. Non-articular surfaces lined by synovial
an interosseous ligament (e.g. the membrane

interosseous membrane between the radial 4. At times separated by an articular

and ulnar shafts), a slender fibrous cord, or cartilaginous disk – the meniscus.

a denser fibrous membrane (e.g. the 5. Articular capsule – made up of combined

posterior region of the sacroiliac joint)
ligaments and synovial membrane.

6. Joint cavity or space.

C.Gomphosis – conical processes into a

socket. E.g. Root of teeth into alveoli of
CLASSIFICATION OF SYNOVIAL JOINTS
maxilla or mandible

- two components are maintained in ACCORDING TO MOVEMENT

intimate contact by the collagen of the
periodontium connecting the dental 1. PLANE (non-axial)
cement to the alveolar bone.
- apposed articular surfaces are flat or
almost flat, and this permits bone to
SLIDE to one another

- Ex. Sternoclavicular and

AMPHIARTHROSES/CARTILAGINOUS Acriomioclavicular joints

● With the articulating surfaces are 2. HINGE (unaxial)

connected by a wide disk of fibro-cartilage
- resemble hinge on door such that
FLEXION and EXTENSION movements are
A. Synchondroses - Primary cartilaginous possible

joints or synchondroses occur where - Ex. Elbow, knee, and ankle joints

advancing centres of ossification remain 3. PIVOT (unaxial)

separated by an area of hyaline (but non - central bony pivot is surrounded by a
articular) cartilage. They are present in all bony-ligamentous ring, ROTATION is the
postcranial bones that form from more only movement possible

than one centre of ossification. Since - Ex. Atlantoaxial and superior radioulnar
hyaline cartilage retains the capability to joints

ossify with age, synchondroses tend to 4. CONDYLOID (biaxial); ELLIPSOID

synostose when growth is complete. (biaxial)
Primary cartilaginous joints are almost - 2 distinct convex surfaces that articulate
exclusively associated with growth plates
with 2 concave surfaces. FLEXION,
EXTENSION, ABDUCTION, AND
B.Symphysis – uniting medim is fibro- ADDUCTION are possible together with a
cartilginous disk. E.g. Symphysis pubis
small amount of rotation

- All symphyses occur in the midline - Ex. Metacarpophalangeal or knuckle joints

(mandibular, manubriosternal, pubic and 5. SADDLE (biaxial)

intervertebral)
- articular surfaces are reciprocally
concavoconvex and resemble a saddle on
a horse’s back

DIARTHROSES/SYNOVIAL - Ex. Carpometacarpal joint (trapezium joins

1. Articular surfaces covered by a cartilage
the metacarpal)

2. Connected by ligaments

6. BALL AND SOCKET (multiaxial)

- ball shaped head of one bone fits into a
socketlike concavity of another. FLEXION
EXTENSION, ABDUCTION, ADDUCTION,
MEDIAL AND LATERAL ROTATION,
CIRCUMDUCTION

- Ex. Shoulder (glenohumeral joint) and hip

joints

POSSIBLE MOVEMENTS OF JOINTS

1. Gliding – simple slipping or rubbing of the
apposed flat surfaces

2. Angular – found in long bones

a) Flexion

b) Extension

c) Adduction

d)Abduction

3. Circumduction – circular motion

STABILITY OF JOINTS
4. Rotation
3 Factors:

1. Shape, Size, Arrangement of articular

5. Peculiar Movements and Positions:
surfaces

In the forearm and hand:

2. Ligaments

a) Supination
3. Tone of the muscles around the joint

b)Pronation

c) Inversion

d)Eversion