Biomechanics of synovial joints

Juliana Uribe
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Objectives

1. To know the elements of a synovial joints.

2. To properly classify the joints.
3. To understand the definition of degree of freedom.
4. To know the movement of a joint and easily find its instant center of
rotation (ICR).
 Joint
Definition: any place where adjacent bones or bone and
cartilage come together to form a connection.

The features of the joint help determine:

• The range of motion - ROM
• Degrees of freedom - DoF
• Functional potential of the joint
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1. Joint Definition and Classification

Functional classification
Amphiarthrosis: slightly moveable joint

Synarthrosis: immobile joint

Diarthrosis: freely moveable joint

http://cnx.org/contents/dfedbd1c-1068-4dc1-abbc-cf6956cb20a4@3/Classification-of-Joints
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1. Joint Definition and Classification

Fibrous joint: bones united by fibrous connective tissue
Structural classification

Synovial joint (most common):

articulating surfaces into joint
cavity with synovial fluid

http://cnx.org/contents/edcb337f-44b2-4749-9e35-104fdb0c53d1@3/Fibrous-Joints

Cartilaginous joint: bones joined by hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage

http://cnx.org/contents/6c5b58ca-6c6d-4ab3-8b41-
60c8733a3144@4/Synovial-Joints http://cnx.org/contents/98ad6c26-7214-4875-af25-6c108fc54b92@3/Cartilaginous-Joints
Structural and functional
classification
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2. Synovial joints (diarthrosis)

http://www.mccc.edu/~behrensb/documents/Joints2bjb_000.pdf http://cnx.org/contents/6c5b58ca-6c6d-4ab3-8b41-60c8733a3144@4/Synovial-Joints
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2. Additional structures in Synovial Joints

Articular disc or meniscus

Fibrocartilage structures.
Strong union of bones of the joint to each
other.
Shock absorption and cushioning between the
bones.
Smoothing the movements between the
articulating bones.

Bursa:
Connective tissue ¡filled with lubricating liquid.
Located in regions where ligaments, muscles,
or tendons can rub against each other.
Reduces friction.

http://cnx.org/contents/6c5b58ca-6c6d-4ab3-8b41-60c8733a3144@4/Synovial-Joints
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2. Cartilage
Supportive connective tissue
Chondrocytes are embedded within the cartilage matrix
Avascular, thus all nutrients need to diffuse through the
matrix to reach the chondrocytes (factor contributing to
the very slow healing of cartilaginous tissues).

Three main types of cartilage tissue:

❖ Hyaline: (most common) short and dispersed collagen
fibers + proteoglycans. Found in: rib cage, nose, and bones
where they meet to form moveable joints.
❖ Fibrocartilage: thick bundles of collagen fibers dispersed
through its matrix. Found in: knee, jaw, and intervertebral
discs.
❖ Elastic cartilage: elastic fibers, collagen and proteoglycans.
Gives rigid support and elasticity. Found in: external ear.

http://cnx.org/contents/fe382569-de99-4d07-a334-757fb577e488@4/Connective-Tissue-Supports-and

Friction coefficient
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0

2. Cartilage in compression
Under compression, there is lateral deformation of cartilage. Expansion is restricted by
subchondral bone (much stiffer), generating large shear stresses at cartilage-bone interface.
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Cartilage mechanics
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2. Degeneration of cartilage: causes

Causes: aging, damage to the articular cartilage, autoimmune
diseases, bacterial or viral infections or genetics.
Osteoarthritis: risk factors: injury to a joint; physical labor;
sports with running, twisting, or throwing actions; and being
overweight.

Treatments: weight loss and low-impact exercise, medications or arthroplasty (severe cases)

Stress on cartilage
Cartilage becomes thinner
Increased production of
synovial fluid
Swelling of the joint cavity
Pain and joint stiffness
Bone tissue becomes thicker
Articulating surface of the
bone becomes rough
Pain, inflammation and
reduced joint mobility
http://cnx.org/contents/6c5b58ca-6c6d-4ab3-8b41-60c8733a3144@4/Synovial-Joints
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2. Degeneration of cartilage: Surgical Advances

Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) Osteochondral Autograft Transfer Procedure
Small cylinder plugs of healthy bone and articular
cartilage are taken from the same knee and inserted
into drill holes.

http://p-ortho.com/knee-services/cartilage-repair-and-regeneration/

http://noyeskneeinstitute.com/articular-cartilage-repair/
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2. Synovial joints: mechanical classification

http://cnx.org/contents/a829ec63-2bac-4a7c-aaf4-87a10e71c27f@3/Types-of-Body-Movements

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNbrvU7MgY0&feature=related

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:909_Types_of_Synovial_Joints.jpg
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3. Degree of Freedom (DoF)

Degree of Freedom: number of independent motions that are allowed to the body

DOF
1
1
2
2
2
3

By LaurensvanLieshout (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)

There are around 230 joints in the body, with 244 degrees of freedom, controlled by 630 muscles.
Biomechanics of Skeletal Muscle, by Vladimir M. Zatsiorsky
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3. DoF: Stability or Mobility?

Structures responsables for stability in a synovial joint:
Passive: synovial fluid and intra-articular negative pressure
Statics: articular capsule and ligaments
Dynamics: muscles

Alternating pattern of mobility and stability:

joints in blue should be mobile and joints
highlighted in red should be stable and provide a
solid basis of support for the surrounding joints
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4. Anatomic Planes and Axis

By GYassineMrabetTalk✉ This vector image was created with Inkscape. [CC BY

3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) Blausen.com staff. "Blausen gallery 2014". Wikiversity Journal of Medicine. DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010.
ISSN 20018762. (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia
Commons
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4. Types of movements

http://cnx.org/contents/a829ec63-2bac-4a7c-aaf4-87a10e71c27f@3/Types-of-Body-Movements
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5. Instant Center of Rotation (ICR)

Joints can slide (deslizar), rotate (rotar) and roll (rodar)

Translation and rotation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_centre_of_rotation