Joint Types and Movements Quiz

Joints are where two or more bones meet. Not all joints allow movement.

Fibrous joints connect bones with strong fibrous tissue, allowing very little movement.

Sutures are fibrous joints found in the skull, where bones are joined by serrated borders and fibrous ligaments.

Gomphosis is a fibrous joint between a tooth and its socket in the jaw.

Syndesmosis is a fibrous joint where bones are connected by an interosseous ligament or membrane, like between the ulna and radius.

Primary cartilaginous joints are temporary and connect bones with hyaline cartilage, allowing no movement.

Secondary cartilaginous joints are permanent and connect bones with fibrocartilage, allowing limited movement.

Synovial joints are characterized by hyaline cartilage, a fibrous capsule with a synovial membrane, synovial fluid, ligaments, and a wide range of movement.

Plane joints are synovial joints with flat surfaces that allow gliding or sliding movements. Examples include intercarpal and intertarsal joints.

Angular joints are synovial joints that allow movement forming angles between bones, like flexion and extension. Examples include the ankle and knee joints.

Joints with only two bones articulating, like the shoulder and hip.

Joints with more than two bones articulating, such as the elbow and ankle.

Joints with bones articulating and an intra-articular structure, such as the knee joint.

Joints that allow movement along a single axis, like a door hinge. This allows for flexion and extension only. An example is the elbow joint.

Joints that allow rotational movement along a longitudinal axis. Examples include radio-ulnar joints.

Joints that allow movement in two planes. This includes flexion and extension, as well as adduction and abduction. An example is the wrist joint.

A type of biaxial joint where an elliptical convex surface fits into an elliptical concave one. It allows flexion/extension, adduction/abduction, but no rotation. An example is the wrist joint.

A biaxial joint with two convex surfaces fitting into two concave surfaces. Allows flexion/extension and minimal rotation. The knee joint is an example.

A biaxial joint with a saddle-shaped articular surface, like a horse saddle. Allows movement in various directions. The carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is an example.

Joints allowing movement in multiple planes. A ball-shaped head fits into a socket-like concavity, allowing flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, medial/lateral rotation, and circumduction. Examples are the hip and shoulder.