ARTICULATIONS

The Basic Functional Types

The joints of the body are classified according to three
functional categories.

Immovable Joints
Synarthrotic Joints are immovable because the bones
forming the joint are tightly bonded to each other by
fibrous connective tissue or cartilage. There are two types
of immovable joints: suture and synchondroses.
Sutures are irregular joints between
the immovable bones of the
skull. The bones are bonded
together by fibrous connective
tissue that is continuous with
the periosteum on the outer surface
of the bones and with the dura
mater on the inner surface of the
bones.
Synchondroses have cartilage
as the bonding
tissue. An example is the
bonding of the epiphyses to
the diaphysis by the
epiphyseal cartilages in the
long bones of children.
 Slightly Movable Joints

The bones of amphiarthrotic

(slightly movable) joints are
also bound by fibrous
connective tissue or cartilage
but not as tightly as in
immovable joints. The two
types of slightly movable joints
are symphyses and
syndesmoses.
Symphyses have a cushioning pad of fibrocartilage
between the bones. The articulations of the
bodies of vertebrae and the joining of coxal bones at
the symphysis pubis are examples. Adjacent to the
cartilagenous pads, the articular surfaces of the
bones are covered with articular that reduce
friction in the joint. The joint is wrapped in fibrous
capsule formed of ligaments.
Syndesmoses lack
fibrocartilage, but the bones
are held together by fibrous
connective tissue forming
interosseous ligaments. The
attachment of the fibula
to the tibia, is an
example.
Freely Movable Joints

Bones forming diarthrotic (freely movable) joints are

bound together by a fibrous articular capsule formed of
ligaments. A synovial membrane lines the inside of the
capsule and secretes synovial fluid that lubricates the
joint. The articular surfaces of the bones are covered by
protective, friction-reducing articular cartilages. These
joints may also contain bursae, sacs of synovial fluid that
reduce friction. There are six kinds of synovial joints.
Gliding joints occur
between small bones
with flat or slightly
convex surfaces, such
as the carpal and tarsal
bones.
 Hinge joints allow movement in only one plane,
such as in the elbow and knee.
Condyloid joints allow
movement in two planes.
They are formed by a
rounded condyle
articulating with an
elliptical depression, such
as between the carpus
and the radius.
 Saddle joints occur where the ends of both bones
are saddle-shaped, convex in one direction and
concave in the other. An example is the joint between
the trapezium (a carpal bone) and the metacarpal bone
the thumb, which permits a variety of movements.
Pivot joints allow
rotational movement
around a pivot point,
such as the atlas around
the odontoid process of
the axis.
Ball-and-socket joints allow angular movement in
all directions, such as in the shoulder and
hip joints.