Types of Joints Quiz

Types of Joints

Fibrous Joints
- Characteristics: Joined by dense connective tissue; little to no movement.
- Types:
  - Sutures: Found in the skull, immovable.
  - Syndesmoses: Joints held together by a ligament, slight movement (e.g., between radius and ulna).
  - Gomphoses: Peg-in-socket joints (e.g., teeth in their sockets).
Cartilaginous Joints
- Characteristics: Joined by cartilage; allows limited movement.
- Types:
  - Synchondroses: Hyaline cartilage joint, typically immovable (e.g., epiphyseal plates in growing bones).
  - Symphyses: Fibrocartilage joint, allows slight movement (e.g., pubic symphysis, intervertebral disks).
Synovial Joints
- Characteristics: Freely movable; have a synovial cavity, articular cartilage, and synovial fluid.
- Types:
  - Plane (Gliding) Joints: Allow sliding or gliding (e.g., intercarpal joints).
  - Hinge Joints: Flexion and extension (e.g., elbow, knee).
  - Pivot Joints: Rotation around a single axis (e.g., atlantoaxial joint).
  - Condyloid (Ellipsoidal) Joints: Biaxial movement (e.g., wrist joint).
  - Saddle Joints: Biaxial movement with greater range (e.g., carpometacarpal joint of the thumb).
  - Ball-and-Socket Joints: Multiaxial movement (e.g., shoulder, hip).
Other Joint Classifications
- Based on Movement:
  - Immovable (Synarthroses): Fibrous and some cartilaginous joints.
  - Slightly Movable (Amphiarthroses): Some cartilaginous and fibrous joints.
  - Freely Movable (Diarthroses): Synovial joints.
Key Components of Synovial Joints
- Articular Capsule: Fibrous capsule surrounding the joint.
- Synovial Fluid: Lubricates joint, provides nutrients.
- Articular Cartilage: Reduces friction, absorbs shock.
- Ligaments: Connect bone to bone, provide stability.
- Bursae: Fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between surfaces.
Function of Joints
- Facilitate movement and flexibility.
- Provide stability and support to the skeletal system.
- Absorb shock and reduce friction during movement.

Fibrous Joints

Joined by dense connective tissue
Allow little to no movement
Types:
- Sutures: Found in the skull; immovable
- Syndesmoses: Joined by a ligament; slight movement (e.g., between radius and ulna)
- Gomphoses: Peg-in-socket joints (e.g., teeth in their sockets)

Cartilaginous Joints

Joined by cartilage
Allow limited movement
Types:
- Synchondroses: Hyaline cartilage joint; typically immovable (e.g., epiphyseal plates in growing bones)
- Symphyses: Fibrocartilage joint; allows slight movement (e.g., pubic symphysis, intervertebral disks)

Synovial Joints

Freely movable joints
Contain a synovial cavity, articular cartilage, and synovial fluid
Types:
- Plane (Gliding) Joints: Allow sliding or gliding (e.g., intercarpal joints)
- Hinge Joints: Allow flexion and extension (e.g., elbow, knee)
- Pivot Joints: Allow rotation around a single axis (e.g., atlantoaxial joint)
- Condyloid (Ellipsoidal) Joints: Allow biaxial movement (e.g., wrist joint)
- Saddle Joints: Allow biaxial movement with greater range (e.g., carpometacarpal joint of the thumb)
- Ball-and-Socket Joints: Allow multiaxial movement (e.g., shoulder, hip)

Other Joint Classifications

Joints can be classified based on movement:
- Immovable (Synarthroses): Include fibrous and some cartilaginous joints
- Slightly Movable (Amphiarthroses): Include some cartilaginous and fibrous joints
- Freely Movable (Diarthroses): Synovial joints