Joint Types and Their Characteristics

Joint Types

• Joints are the meeting point of two or more bones.
• Three main types of joints exist: fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial.

Fibrous Joints

• Sutures: Found in the skull, bones joined by fibrous tissue.
• Gomphosis: Example is teeth in sockets, held in place by periodontal ligaments.
• Syndesmosis: Inferior tibiofibular joint, bones connected by ligaments.

Cartilaginous Joints

• Two types exist: primary and secondary.

Primary Cartilaginous Joint

• Temporary joint, ossifies (becomes bone) during adulthood.
• Located at the ends of long bones.
• Composed of hyaline cartilage.
• Connects epiphysis and diaphysis.

Secondary Cartilaginous Joint

• Permanent and slightly moveable.
• Located between vertebrae (intervertebral discs).

Synovial Joints

• Freely movable.
• Strong fibrous capsule surrounds the joint.
•  Synovial membrane lines the fibrous capsule and secretes synovial fluid.
• The fluid lubricates and nourishes articular cartilage.
•  Ligaments support and strengthen the joint.
• Intra-articular structures, like articular fibrocartilaginous discs, are found within synovial joint cavities.

Types of Synovial Joints (Based on Movement Axis)

• Uni-axial: Movement occurs around a single axis.
  • Hinge joints (elbow, knee)
  • Pivot joints (superior radioulnar joint)
• Bi-axial: Movement occurs around two axes.
  • Condylar joints (temporomandibular joint, knee)
  • Ellipsoid joints (wrist)
  • Saddle joints (carpometacarpal joint of the thumb)
• Multi-axial: Movement occurs around three axes.
  • Ball and socket joints (shoulder and hip)
• Non-axial: Movement occurs along a gliding/plane, little rotation.
  • Plane joints (superior tibiofibular joint)

Example Joint Types with Specific Locations

• Examples of fibrous joints: Sutures (skull), gomphoses (teeth), and syndesmoses (inferior tibiofibular joint).
• Examples of primary cartilaginous joints: Synchondroses (between the epiphysis and diaphysis of long bones)
• Examples of secondary cartilaginous joints: Symphyses (intervertebral discs)
• Examples of uni-axial joints: Hinge (elbow) and pivot (superior radioulnar) joints.
• Examples of bi-axial joints: Condylar (temporomandibular, knee), ellipsoid (wrist) and saddle (carpometacarpal) joints
• Examples of multi-axial joints: ball-and-socket (shoulder and hip) joints.
• Example of non-axial joint: Plane (superior tibiofibular) joints.

Explore the different types of joints in the human body through this quiz. Learn about fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial joints, their structures, and functions. Test your knowledge on the characteristics that differentiate these joint types.