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JOINTS

Joints (articulations) are the functional junctions between two or more bones
or cartilages
Functions:
* Joints enable a wide variety of body movements.
* bind parts of the skeletal system
* allow bone growth
* permit bones to change shape during childbirth
* enable body respond to skeletal muscle contractions to allow
movement
Classification of Joints
A. Structural classification
Joints are classified according to the type of tissue, that binds them
together.
Fibrous joined by fibrous tissue
Cartilaginous joined by cartilage
Synovial most mobile type of joints
B. Functional classification
Joints can also be grouped according to the range of movement possible at
the junctions between bones.
synarthrotic immovable
amphiarthrotic- slightly movable
diarthrotic freely movable
C. Regional classification
According to the region
Skull type immovable
Vertebral type slightly movable
Limb type freely movable
Structural classification
Fibrous joints
0 Bones are joined by fibrous tissue
0 Either immovable or permit slight degree of movement
3 subtypes:
1. Sutures
2. Syndesmosis
3. Gomphosis
1. Sutures
Immovable Joints Peculiar to skull (synarthrosis)
Bones united by ligament
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2. Syndesmosis
Bones united by the interosseous ligament
E.g.. Inferior tibiofibular joint, middle
radioulnar joint


3. Gomphosis (Peg and socket joint)
Ligaments hold tooth in bony socket
Immovable joint

Cartilagenous Joints
Slightly Movable (amphiarthrosis) and Immovable (synarthrosis) Joints
Lacks a synovial cavity
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Bones connected by fibrocartilage or hyaline cartilage
2 types
- Primary cartilagenous joints (synchondrosis or hyaline cartilage
joints)
- Secondary cartilagenous joints (symphyses or fibrocartilagenous
joints)
Primary cartilagenous joints
0 Bones are united by plate of hyaline cartilage
0 Immovable and strong
0 Temporary in nature, becauses after certain age cartilagenous plate is
replaced by bone (synostosis)
Examples:
0 Joint between epiphysis and diaphysis of a growing long bone
0 First chondrosternal joint and
0 Costochondral joints

Secondary cartilagenous joints
0 Articular surfaces are covered by a thin layer of hyaline cartilage, united
by a disc of fibrocartilage
0 Permanent and persist throughout life
0 Typically it occurs in the median plane of the body
0 Permit limited movements due to fibrocartilage and occasional fluid
filled cavities
0 Symphysis menti is a misnomer
0 E.g.: symphysis pubis ,manubriosternal joint and intervertebral
joints between the vertebral bodies
Synovial joints
0 Articular surfaces of bones covered by thin layer of hyaline cartilage
0 Separated by a joint cavity filled with synovial fluid
0 Permits great degree of movement
0 Surrounded by articular capsule made up of fibrous capsule
0 Synovial membrane lines the whole of the interior of the joint
0 Synovial membrane secretes synovial fluid which lubricates the joint and
nourishes the articular cartilage

Types of synovial joints:
Planar Joint
Hinge Joint
Pivot Joint
Saddle Joint
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Ball & Socket (Spheroidal) Joints
Condylar(Bicondylar)Joints
Ellipsoid Joint

Plane synovial joint or Gliding type
0 Articular surfaces are more or less flat
0 Permit gliding movements in various directions
0 no angular or rotary movement
Examples:
- intercarpal to intertarsal joints
- sternoclavicular joint

Hinge joints
Convex surface of bone fits in concave surface of 2
nd
bone
Uniaxial like a door hinge
Articular surfaces pulley shaped surrounded by strong collateral
ligaments
Movements produced: flexion, extension and hyperextension
Examples:
- Elbow, ankle, interphalangeal joints

Pivot joints (trochoid)
0 Articular surfaces - central bony pivot surrounded by a bony
ligamentous ring
0 Possible movement is rotation only
0 E.g.: Median atlantoaxial & superior radioulnar joints

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Saddle joints (sellar)
0 Articular surfaces are reciprocally concavoconvex,
0 Resembling saddle on a horses back
0 Flexion, Extension, adduction, abduction, rotation possible
0 E.g.: carpometacarpal joint of thumb

Ball and socket joints (spheroidal)
Articular surfaces are ball fitting into a cup-like depression
Multiaxial joint. Movements possible are
- flexion/extension
- abduction/adduction
- Rotation and
- Circumduction
Examples: Shoulder joint, hip joint


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Condylar (Bicondylar) joints
Articular surfaces include two distinct condyles (convex male
surfaces) fitting into reciprocally concave female surfaces
Biaxial- permit movements mainly around transverse axis and partly
around vertical axis(rotation)
Examples:
Knee joint and
right and left jaw joints

Ellipsoid joints
0 Articular surfaces include an oval, convex, male surface fitting into an
elliptical, concave female surface
0 Biaxial- permit free movements around both transverse and
anteroposterior axis
0 Movements possible are flexion, extension, adduction, abduction and
circumduction
0 Examples : wrist joint, metacarpophalangeal joints and atlanto-
occipital joints


Based on functional classification

1. Synarthrosis (immovable joints)
0 Fixed joints like fibrous joints
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0 Articular surfaces joined by tough fibrous tissue
Examples: sutures of the skull


2. Amphiarthroses
0 Joints at which slight movement is possible
0 Pad of cartilage lies between the bone surfaces
0 Fibrous capsule hold the bones and cartilage
0 Cartilage act as shock absorbers
0 Examples: intervertebral discs between the bodies of vertebra


3. Diarthroses or synovial joints
0 Freely movable joints
0 Movements possible at synovial joints are:
Angular- flexion, extension, abduction and adduction
Rotary:
0 Rotation-turning upon an axis
0 Circumduction
Gliding- one part slides on another

Applied Anatomy
0 Dislocation of joint
0 Subluxation
0 Sprain
0 Arthritis
0 Neuropathic joint
0 Stiffness of joints related to weather
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