Joints

Classification of Joints
 Functional classification
(Focuses on amount of movement)
 Synarthroses (immovable joints)
 Amphiarthroses (slightly movable joints)
 Diarthroses (freely movable joints)
 Structural classification
(Based on the material binding them and presence or
absence of a joint cavity)
 Bony fusion
 Fibrous
 Cartilagenous
 Synovial
 Table of Joint Types
Functional across Synarthroses Amphiarthroses Diarthroses
(immovable joints) (some movement) (freely movable)
Structural down

Bony Fusion Synostosis

(frontal=metopic
suture; epiphyseal
lines)
Fibrous Suture (skull only) Syndesmoses Syndesmoses
-fibrous tissue is -ligaments only -ligament longer
continuous with between bones; here, (example: radioulnar
periosteum short so some but not interosseous
a lot of movement membrane)
(example: tib-fib
Gomphoses (teeth) ligament)
-ligament is
periodontal ligament
Cartilagenous Synchondroses Sympheses
(bone united by -hyaline cartilage -fibrocartilage
cartilage only) (examples: (examples: between
manubrium-C1, discs, pubic
epiphyseal plates) symphesis
Synovial Are all diarthrotic
 Fibrous joints
 Bones connected by fibrous tissue: dense
regular connective tissue
 No joint cavity
 Slightly immovable or
not at all
 Types
 Sutures
 Syndesmoses
 Gomphoses
 Sutures
 Only between
bones of skull
 Fibrous tissue
continuous with
periosteum
 Ossify and fuse in
middle age: now
technically called
“synostoses”=
bony junctions
 Syndesmoses
 In Greek:
“ligament”

 Bones connected
by ligaments only

 Amount of
movement
depends on length
of the fibers: longer
than in sutures
 Gomphoses
 Is a “peg-in-socket”

 Only example is
tooth with its
socket

 Ligament is a short
periodontal
ligament
 Cartilagenous joints

 Articulating bones united by cartilage

 Lack a joint cavity
 Not highly movable
 Two types
 Synchondroses (singular: synchondrosis)
 Sympheses (singular: symphesis)
 Synchondroses

 Literally: “junction of cartilage”

 Hyaline cartilage unites the bones
 Immovable (synarthroses)
 Examples:
 Epiphyseal plates
 Joint between first rib’s costal cartilage and
manubrium of the sternum
 Sympheses
 Literally “growing together”
 Fibrocartilage unites the bones
 Slightly movable (amphiarthroses)
 Resilient shock absorber
 Provide strength and flexibility
 Hyaline cartilage on articular surfaces of bones
to reduce friction
 Examples
 Intervertebral discs
 Pubic symphysis of the pelvis
Synchondroses and sympheses

Also pubic symphsis

 Synovial joints

 Include most of the body’s joints

 All are diarthroses (freely movable)

 All contain fluid-filled joint cavity

General Structure of Synovial Joints
1. Articular cartilage
 Hyaline
 Spongy cushions absorb
compression
 Protects ends of bones
from being crushed

2. Joint (synovial) cavity

 Potential space
 Small amount of synovial
fluid
 General structure of synovial joints (cont.)

3. Articular (or joint) capsule

 Two layered
 Outer*: fibrous capsule of
dense irregular connective
tissue continuous with *
periosteum *
 Inner*: synovial membrane
of loose connective tissue
(makes synovial fluid) *
 Lines all internal joint
surfaces not covered by
cartilage*
General structure of synovial joints (cont.)

4. Synovial fluid
 Filtrate of blood
 Contains special glycoproteins
 Nourishes cartilage and
functions as slippery lubricant
 “Weeping” lubricatioin
5. Reinforcing ligaments (some
joints)
 Capsular (most) – thickened
parts of capsule
 Extracapsular
 Intracapsular
 General structure of synovial joints (cont.)

6. Nerves
 Detect pain
 Monitor stretch (one of the
ways of sensing posture
and body movements)

7. Blood vessels
 Rich blood supply
 Extensive capillary beds in
synovial membrane
(produce the blood filtrate)
General structure of synovial joints
 Some joints…
 Articular disc or
meniscus
(literally “crescent”)
 Only some joints
 Those with bone
ends of different
shapes or fitting poorly
 Some to allow two kinds of movement (e.g. jaw)
 Of fibrocartilage
 Examples: knee
TMJ (temporomandibular joint)
sternoclavicular joint
 Bursae and tendon sheaths
 Contain synovial fluid
 Not joints but often associated with them
 Act like ball bearings
 Bursa means “purse” in Latin
 Flattened sac lined by synovial membrane
 Where ligaments, muscles, tendons, or bones
overlie each other and rub together
 Tendon sheath
 Only on tendons subjected to friction
Bursae and tendon sheaths
 Joint stability
 Articular surfaces
 Shape usually plays only minor role
 Some deep sockets or grooves do provide stability
 Ligaments
 Usually the more, the stronger the joint
 Can stretch only 6% beyond normal length before tear
 Once stretched, stay stretched
 Muscle tone
 Constant, low level of contractile force
 Keeps tension on the ligaments
 Especially important at shoulders, knees, arches of
foot
Movements allowed by synovial joints
 Gliding
 Angular movements: or  the angle between
two bones DO TOGETHER
 Flexion
 Extension
 Abduction
 Adduction
 Circumduction
 Rotation
 Special movements
 Special movements

 Pronation  Protraction
 Supination  Retraction
 Dorsiflexion  Elevation
 Plantar flexion  Depression
 Inversion  Opposition
 Eversion
Joint movements pics
(from Marieb, 4th ed.)
 Synovial joints
classified by shape
(of their articular surfaces)

 Plane (see right)

 Hinge (see right)
 Pivot
 Condyloid
 Saddle
 Ball-and-socket
Selected synovial joints

Shoulder
(glenohumeral) joint
 Stability sacrificed for
mobility
 Ball and socket: head of
humerus with glenoid
cavity of scapula
 Glenoid labrum: rim of Rotator cuff muscles add to stability

fibrocartilage
 Thin, loose capsule
 Strongest ligament:
coracohumeral
 Muscle tendons help
stability
 Disorders Biceps tendon is intra-articular
Elbow joint
 Hinge: allows only flexion
and extension
 Annular ligament of
radius attaches to
capsule
 Capsule thickens into:
 Radial collateral
ligament
 Ulnar collateral
ligament
 Muscles cross joint
 Trauma
 Wrist joint 1. Radiocarpal joint
 Between radius and
Two major joint surfaces proximal carpals
Several ligaments stabilize (scaphoid and lunate)
 Condyloid joint
 Flexion extension
adduction, abduction,
circumduction

2. Intercarpal or
midcarpal joint
 Between the proximal
and distal rows of
carpals
 Hip (coxal) joint
 Ball and socket
 Moves in all axes but
limited by ligaments
and deep socket
 Three ext. ligaments
“screw in” head of
femur when standing
 Iliofemoral
 Pubofemoral
 Ischiofemoral
 Acetabular labrum
diameter smaller than
head of femur
 Dislocations rare
 Ligament of head of
femur supplies artery
 Muscle tendons cross
joint
 Hip fractures common
in elderly because of
osteoporosis
Right hip, AP view
 Knee joint
 Largest and most complex joint
 Primarily a hinge
 Compound and bicondyloid: femur and
tibia both have 2 condyles
 Femoropatellar joint shares joint cavity
 At least a dozen bursae
 Prepatellar
 Suprapatellar
 Lateral and medial
menisci
 “torn cartilage”
 Capsule absent
anteriorly
 Capsular and
extracapsular ligaments
 Taut when knee
extended to prevent
hyperextension
 Patellar ligament
 Continuation of
quad tendon
 Medial and lateral
retinacula
 Fibular and tibial
collateral ligaments
 Called medial and
lateral
 Extracapsular

 Oblique popliteal
 Arcuate popliteal
Cruciate ligaments

 Cross each other

(cruciate means cross)
 Anterior cruciate (ACL)
 Anterior intercondylar area
of tibia to medial side of
lateral condyl of femur
 Posterior cruciate
 Posterior intercondylar
area of tibia to lateral side
of medial condyl
 Restraining straps
 Lock the knee
Cruciate ligaments
 Knee injuries
 Flat tibial surface
predisposes to
horizontal injuries
 Lateral blow: multiple
tears
 ACL injuries
 Stop and twist
 Commoner in women
athletes
 Heal poorly
 Require surgery
 Ankle joint
 Hinge joint
 Distal tibia and fibula to talus
 Dorsiflexion and plantar
flexion only
 Medial deltoid ligament
 Lateral ligaments: 3 bands
 Anterior talofibular
 Posterior talofibular
 Calcaneofibular
 Anterior and posterior
tibiofibular (syndesmosis)
Right ankle, lateral view
Temporomandibular
joint (TMJ)
 Head of mandible
articulates with temporal
bone
 Disc protects thin
mandibular fossa of
temporal bone
 Many movements
Demonstrate movements together

 Disorders common
 Sternoclavicular joint

 Saddle joint
 Only other example is trapezium
and metacarpal 1 (thumb),
allowing opposion
 Sternum and 1st costal (rib)
cartilage articulate with clavicle
 Very stable: clavicle usually
breaks before dislocation of joint
 Only bony attachment of axial
skeleton to pectoral girdle
Demonstrate movements together
 Disorders of joints
 Injuries
 Sprains
 Dislocatios
 Torn cartilage
 Inflammatory and degenerative conditions
 Bursitis
 Tendinitis
 Arthritis
 Osteoarthritis (“DJD” – degenerative joint disease)
 Rheumatoid arthritis (one of many “autoimmune” arthritites)
 Gout (crystal arthropathy)