Joints of the body

&
functional muscle groups
Learning out comes
1. Define a joint.
2. Classify the joints in relation to structure.
3. Describe the general structure of a fibrous joint, cartilaginous joint
and a synovial joint.
4. Describe the types of synovial joints giving examples.
5. Describe the attachments of muscles.
6. Outline the principles of attachments of a muscle to make a joint
move effectively.
7. Describe the movements of joints.
8. Outline the arrangement of muscles as functional groups to move a
joints.
9. Describe the factors that stabilize a synovial joint.
10. Outline the blood supply & nerve supply of a joint.
What is a Joint ?

It is the site where two bones meet

 Classification of joints

Structural classification
Fibrous joints – bones are joined by fibrous tissue
Cartilaginous joints – bones are joined by cartilage
Synovial joint – articular surface of the bones of
the joint are separated by a fluid
containing cavity
Fibrous joints

1. Sutures
( skull bones )

2. Syndesmoses
( inferior tibio-fibular joint)

2. Gomphoses ( Tooth sockets)

 Cartilaginous joints
1. Synchondroses ( Primary cartilaginous joints)

No movements

2. Symphyses (secondary cartilaginous joints)

Slight movements
 Synovial joint
1. Articular cartilage
2. Fibrous capsule
3. Synovial membrane
4. Synovial fluid
5. Reinforcing
ligaments
Reinforcing ligaments

• Capsular ( thickenings of the capsule)

(hip joint)

• Extracapsular
( shoulder joint)

• Intracapsular
( knee joint)
 Types of Synovial joints

a. Plane joint
( intercarpal joints)

b. Hinge joint ( elbow

joint)
 Types of synovial joints

c. Pivot joint (proximal

radio-ulnar joint)

d. Condyloid joint
(metacarpo-phalangeal
joint)
 Types of synovial joints

e. Saddle joint ( carpo-

metacarpal joint of
the thumb)

f. Ball & socket joint

( shoulder joint)
Axis of joint movements

1. Nonaxial ( translational) - Only slipping is

possible
2. Uniaxial – Movement in one plane
3. Biaxial – Movement in two planes
4. Multiaxial – Movement around all three
planes
a. Plane joints – nonaxial
b. Hinge joints – Uniaxial
c. Pivot joints – Uniaxial
d. Condyloid joints – Biaxial
e. Saddle joints – Biaxial
f. Ball & socket joints - Multiaxial
Muscle attachments
Origin – Usually the proximal end of the muscle
remains fixed during contraction
Insertion – Usually the distal end of the muscle
movable

Attachment is by thick collagen fibers

As a bundle Flat sheet

(tendon) ( aponeuroses)
 Muscle
Joint
A
Origin Insertion
Muscle
Joint
B
Origin Insertion
Muscle

C
Joint
Origin Insertion

Which of the muscle arrangement ( A,B,C) will move the joint?

C. Muscle has to cross the joint if it is to act on that

joint.
 Muscle

A
Origin Joint Insertion

Muscle

B
Origin Joint Insertion

Which of the muscle arrangement ( A or B ) will move the joint

effectively?

A. Closer the insertion of a muscle to a joint, that

muscle will move the joint more effectively than a
muscle whose insertion is away from the joint.
Functional classification of muscles

1. Prime movers (agonists) - provides major force for a

specific movement
2. Antagonists – oppose or reverse the specific movement
3. Synergists – helps the prime mover by adding force

Movement X – Muscle A is the prime

Muscle A mover.
Muscle B is the
X antagonist

Joint
Movement Y – Muscle B is the prime
mover.
Muscle B Y Muscle A is the
antagonist
Movements of joints & functional arrangement of
muscle groups

1. Gliding movements – one flat surface glides over another

eg. intercarpal joints

2. Angular movements – Increase or decrease the angle between two

bones
Flexion – Decrease the angle [ flexor muscles]
Extension – Increase the angle [ extensor muscles]
Abduction – moving away from the midline [ abductors]
Adduction – Moving toward midline [ adductors ]

Circumduction – combination of all the above

Movements of joints

3. Rotation – turning of the bone around its long axis

Medial rotation – towards the midline [ medical rotators]

Lateral rotation – Away from the midline [lateral rotators]

4. Special movements
Pronation & supination – rotation of the radius around the ulna
[ pronators & supinators]
Inversion & eversion – Sole of the foot turns medially or laterally
[ invertors & evertors]
Protraction & retraction – Anterior & posterior movements of
the mandible [ protractors & retractors]
Elevation & depression – Moving up or down e.g. Shoulder &
mandible [elevators & depressors]
Opposition – Thumb to the tip of the other fingers [opponens]
Blood supply of joints

From the arteries surrounding the joint

Articular arteries Anastomosing network

Nerve supply of joints

From the nerves supplying the muscles which cross the

joint (Hilton’s law)