CLASSIFICATION OF JOINTS

The skeletal system is made up of many separate bones held together by joints. All movements that change the positions of bones occur at joints. A
joint (articulation) is a point of contact between bones, between cartilage and bones, or between teeth and bones. Joints are classified by structure,
function, and the degree of movement they permit.

STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION MOVEMENT DEGREES OF EXAMPLES

FREEDOM

Fibrous Synarthrosis – immoveable
(2 types: sutures, synchondrosis)
Cartilaginous Amphiarthrosis – slightly moveable
(2 types: fibrous, cartilaginous)
No synovial cavity, held
together by fibrous tissue
No synovial cavity, held
together by cartilage
No motion Bones of the skull fitted
---- together with sutures, roots of
teeth
Slightly moveable / Fibrous – interosseous
flexible ---- membrane
Cartilaginous - intervertebral
joints, costal cartilage,
attachments of ribs 1-10 to
sternum, pubic symphysis
 STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION MOVEMENT DEGREES OF EXAMPLES
FREEDOM
Synovial Diarthrotic – freely moveable Synovial cavity and Free motion
articular cartilage
1. Gliding One bone slides over Gliding motion Non-axial Joints between carpal bones,
another (slide over tarsal bones, sternum &
each other) clavicle, facet joints of
vertebrae

2. Hinge Spool-shaped process fitted Hinged motion, Uni or Elbow, knee, finger
into concave socket permits flexion and Monoaxial
extension (1 degree)

3. Pivot Arched process fitted Rotation Uni or Joint between 1st and 2nd
around a peglike process Monoaxial cervical vertebrae (rotation of
(1 degree) head from side to side)
4. Condyloid Oval condyle of one bone Motion in two Biaxial Radiocarpal joint of the wrist
/ Ellipsoid fitted into an elliptical planes at right (2 degrees)
cavity of another bones angles (flexion and
extension;
adduction and
abduction)

5. Saddle One bone saddle shaped, Side to side, back Biaxial Carpometacarpal joint of
other bone shaped like a and forth; permits (2 degrees) thumb, ankle
rider in the saddle flexion, extension,
abduction and
adduction

6. Ball and Ball-like surface of one Rotation permits Triaxial Shoulder and hip joints
Socket bone fitted into a cuplike widest range of (3 degrees)
depression of another bone motion