Joints

JOINTS
Dr NUSRA RAHMAN
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
ANATOMY
INTRODUCTION
• Arthrology : Study of joints
• Kinesiology = study of musculoskeletal movement
• Joint: a junction between two or more bones or cartilages.
• A device to permit movements

CLASSIFICATION OF
JOINTS
Joints are classified according to

structure & function-
Functional (based on degree of

mobility):
Synarthroses
1.Synarthroses: immovable joints

(Cranial sutures in adults, primary
cartilaginous joints in growing
children).
2.Amphiarthroses : slightly
movable joints (Secondary
cartilagenous joint, syndesmoses, joints
between adjacent laminae of vertebrae).
Amphiarthroses
3.Diarthroses : freely movable

joints (synovial joints).
Diarthroses
• Classified how adjacent bones are joined
(Structural)
Fibrous
Cartilaginous
Synovial
Structural classification
Based on type of connecting tissue &
presence or absence of joint cavity:
1. Fibrous (Synarthrosis) : Bones

forming joint are united by fibrous
connective tissue with no joint cavity.
These are either immovable or
permit only slight degree of
movement.
Sutures
Gomphoses &
Syndesmoses
Fibrous
Structural classification
2. Cartilaginous: articulating bones

are united by cartilage (hyaline or
fibrocartilage) with no joint cavity.
Cartilaginous
3. Synovial: articulating bones are

separated by a fluid-filled joint
cavity.
Synovial
FIBROUS JOINTS
1.Sutures: Articular surfaces are connected by a thin layer of
fibrous connective tissue (sutural ligament). They are confined to
skull & are immovable. In growing children they may permit a
little mobility.
Cranial & facial bones
➢ Connective tissue decreases with age so

that osteogenic surfaces become apposed.
➢ On completion of growth, many sutures

synostose & are obliterated.
2. Syndesmoses: bones are connected
by a considerably greater amount of
connective tissue than in sutures in form
of Interosseous ligaments & membrane.
Slight movement is permitted. e.g.

Interosseous tibiofibular joints,
Interosseous radioulnar joints.
3. Gomphoses (peg & socket joint):
Articulation of teeth in alveolar sockets

of mandible & maxilla by periodontal
ligament.
➢Held in place by fibrous periodontal

ligament
➢ Some movement while chewing

SUTURES
• Depending upon shape of
articular surfaces & margins
of articulating bones……
• Plane
• Serrate
• Denticulate
• Squamous
• Schindylesis
FONTANELLES IN FETAL SKULL
 Posterior fontanelle
generally closes 2 to 3
months after birth
 Sphenoidal fontanelle
is next to close around
6 months after birth
 Mastoid fontanelle
closes next from 6 to
18 months after birth &
 Anterior fontanelle
is generally last to
close between 12
& 18 months.
PARTS OF A LONG BONE
• wider section - epiphysis, filled
with spongy bone, Red marrow.
• metaphysis, narrow area that

contains epiphyseal
plate (growth plate), a layer of
hyaline cartilage in a growing bone.
• When bone stops growing

(approximately 18–21 years),
cartilage is replaced by osseous
tissue & epiphyseal plate becomes
an epiphyseal line.
CARTILAGINOUS JOINTS
1.Primary (Synchondroses) –
Joined by a plate of hyaline cartilage,

immovable & mostly temporary in
nature. As growth ceases they
undergo synostosis ( plate of hyaline
cartilage is completely replaced by
bone)
e.g.
• b/w epiphysis & diaphysis
• Costochondral
• 1st chondrosternal (1st rib attachment
to sternum )
2.Secondary cartilage joints
(Symphyses) –
articular surfaces of bones are
covered by thin plates of hyaline
cartilage, which are connected
by a disc of fibrocartilage…..
• Symphysis pubis
• Manubriosternal
• Intervertebral discs ➢Only slight amount of movement
• Symphysis menti is possible
INTERVERTEBRAL JOINTS
INTERVERTEBRAL JOINTS
SYNOVIAL JOINTS
• Most evolved & freely movable

joints
• Have a joint cavity filled with

synovial fluid
• Also called as Diarthrodial

joints.
• Features –
1. Articular surfaces are covered by a thin

plate of hyaline cartilage.
2. Joint cavity is lined by synovial

membrane except over articular
cartilages.
3. Joint cavity is filled with synovial fluid

secreted by synovial membrane
(lubrication & nutrition)
Components:
1. Fibrous capsule
2. Synovial membrane
3. Ligaments
4. Articular cartilage
5. Bursae
6. Fat pads
Components of Synovial Joints &
Their Functional Significance
• FIBROUS CAPSULE invests joint like a sleeve & encloses
synovial cavity.
• Function :
a) stabilizes joint in such a way that it permits movements but
resists dislocation.
b) numerous sensory nerve endings ramify on capsule. Stimulation
of nerves produce reflex contraction of muscle acting on joint.
SYNOVIAL MEMBRANE :
• It is a thin vascular membrane of connective tissue

lining inside of fibrous capsule.
• Articular cartilages are not covered by it.
• Also absent from intra-articular discs & menisci.
• FUNCTION: produces synovial fluid in sufficient quantity
to keep surface lubricated.
ARTICULAR CARTILAGE:
• hyaline cartilage covering joint surfaces mostly .
• It provides smooth friction free movements & resists

compression forces.
ARTICULAR DISCS & MENISCI:
• These are pads of fibrocartilage interposed between articular
surface of some joints eg. Jaw (temporomandibular joint) , wrist
(radioulnar joint), sternoclavicular & knee joints.
• FUNCTION:
• a) Helps in lubrication of joints by maintaining an interval between
articular surface.
• b) Divides joint into two compartments.
• c) Prevents wear & tear of articular cartilage by providing a
cushioning effect.
LIGAMENT :
• Thickened band of connective tissue that attaches bone

to bone
• Two types:
a) True ligaments (intrinsic ligaments):
 local thickenings of fiber bundles of capsule,
 Stabilize joint & permit movement in one plane.
 Eg. Medial and lateral collateral ligaments.
b) Accessory ligaments:
These are separate from fibrous capsule. Stabilizes
joint & limits range of movements
Two types
i) Extracapsular: stylomandibular &
sphenomandibular
ii) Intracapsular. Cruciate ligaments of knee joint
Bursa (synovial flexor sheaths)
Fat Pads
Tendon
CLASSIFICATION OF SYNOVIAL JOINTS
(A) According to shape of articular surfaces:
1. Plane
2. Hinge
3. Pivot
4. Condylar
5. Ellipsoid
6. Saddle
7. Ball & socket
PLANE JOINTS
• Articular surfaces are nearly

flat.
• Allow gliding movements.
• e.g. intercarpal & intertarsal

joints.
HINGE JOINTS
• Articular surfaces are
pulley shaped.
• Movements are permitted
only in one plane (transverse
axis).
• Most common joints.
• e.g. elbow, knee, ankle &
interphalangeal joints.
PIVOT JOINTS
• Rounded end of one bone fits into

concavity of another bone.
• Rounded part is surrounded by a
ligament.
• Limited rotation
around a central axis.
• e.g. superior radio-ulnar &
median atlanto-axial joints.
CONDYLAR JOINTS
• Round articular surface of one bone fits into a socket-type
articular surface of another bone.
• End of bone bearing round articular surface is called condyle.
• Permit movements in two directions ( up & down, side to side ).
• e.g. knee & temporo-mandibular joints ( rt & lt ).
ELLIPSOID JOINTS
• Elliptical convex surface of one bone articulates
with elliptical concave surface of another.
• Permit movements in two directions ( biaxial ).
• Flexion & extension around a transverse axis &
abduction & adduction around AP axis.
• Combination of movements cause
circumduction.
• e.g. wrist (radiocarpal joint)
metacarpo – phalangeal
metatarso – phalangeal
& atlanto-occipital joints.
SADDLE or SELLAR JOINTS
• Articular surfaces are reciprocally

saddle shaped i.e. concavo-convex.
• Allows a wide range of movement.
• e.g. first carpo-metacarpal, sterno-

clavicular, incudo-malleolar joints.
BALL & SOCKET JOINTS
• Spheroidal joints
• Rounded convex surface of one
bone fits into cup-like socket of
another bone.
• Permits greatest range
of movements.
• e.g. shoulder, hip &
incudo-stapedial
joints.
(B) According to plane of movements
Uniaxial :
• Hinge & Pivot
1. Hinge joint - (elbow, ankle & interphalangeal joint),

movements take place around transverse axis , so
only flexion & extension is possible.
2. Pivot joint – superior radio – ulnar joint- movements

around vertical axis hence only rotation is possible
Biaxial:
Movements occur in 2 plane e.g. Condylar, ellipsoid, saddle
1. Condylar joint –
• knee & TMJ , Modified hinge joints

• Flexion & extension around transverse axis & slight
rotation around vertical axis
2. Ellipsoid joint –
• Radio-carpal, metacarpo-phalangeal & metatarso-phalangeal

joint.
• Flexion & extension around transverse axis & abduction &
adduction around AP axis.
3. Saddle joint –
• Carpo-metacarpal joint of thumb, sterno-clavicular joint

• Flexion & extension around transverse axis & abduction &
adduction around AP axis.
• Multiaxial / polyaxial joint : Ball & socket
(shoulder joint & hip joint )
1. movements occurs in 3 planes

2. Flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation
& circumduction are possible.
(C) According to number of articulating bones
• Simple (2 bones)
• Compound (more than 2 bones)

Movements of synovial
joints
1. Gliding (slipping)
2. Angular: flexion, extension, abduction, adduction
3. Rotary (circular): rotation (supination, pronation),

circumduction
Special movements:
1. Inversion: movement of the foot medially
2. Eversion: movement of the foot laterally
3. Protraction: movement of the mandible forward
4. Retraction: movement of the protracted part back
to its starting position
5. Elevation: lifting a body part superiorly
6. Depression: moving the elevated part inferiorly
7. Opposition: touching the thumb to the tips of
other fingers
Thank
you

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JOINTS

• Arthrology : Study of joints

• Kinesiology = study of musculoskeletal movement

• Joint: a junction between two or more bones or cartilages.

• A device to permit movements

Joints are classified according to

Functional (based on degree of

1.Synarthroses: immovable joints

3.Diarthroses : freely movable

1. Fibrous (Synarthrosis) : Bones

2. Cartilaginous: articulating bones

3. Synovial: articulating bones are

Cranial & facial bones

➢ Connective tissue decreases with age so

➢ On completion of growth, many sutures

Slight movement is permitted. e.g.

Articulation of teeth in alveolar sockets

➢Held in place by fibrous periodontal

➢ Some movement while chewing

• metaphysis, narrow area that

• When bone stops growing

Joined by a plate of hyaline cartilage,

• Most evolved & freely movable

• Have a joint cavity filled with

• Also called as Diarthrodial

1. Articular surfaces are covered by a thin

2. Joint cavity is lined by synovial

3. Joint cavity is filled with synovial fluid

• It is a thin vascular membrane of connective tissue

• hyaline cartilage covering joint surfaces mostly .

• It provides smooth friction free movements & resists

• Thickened band of connective tissue that attaches bone

(A) According to shape of articular surfaces:

• Articular surfaces are nearly

• Allow gliding movements.

• e.g. intercarpal & intertarsal

• Rounded end of one bone fits into

• Articular surfaces are reciprocally

• Allows a wide range of movement.

• e.g. first carpo-metacarpal, sterno-

1. Hinge joint - (elbow, ankle & interphalangeal joint),

2. Pivot joint – superior radio – ulnar joint- movements

• knee & TMJ , Modified hinge joints

• Radio-carpal, metacarpo-phalangeal & metatarso-phalangeal

• Carpo-metacarpal joint of thumb, sterno-clavicular joint

1. movements occurs in 3 planes

• Compound (more than 2 bones)

2. Angular: flexion, extension, abduction, adduction

3. Rotary (circular): rotation (supination, pronation),

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