Joints

Articular System
Joints of the Body

n
n
n

Avinash Bharadwaj
ANHB 2212 Week 11

Joint Classification

Fibrous Joints
n

n
n
n
n

Structural and functional considerations

No perfect system
Arbitrary and confusing terms
Latin terminology and anglicised versions

Articulation / Articular / Arthrology

Articulatio / Arthron
Where two or more bones or
parts of bones unite
How are they joined together
the tissues that unite bones

Essential feature : fibrous tissue joining

bones
n
n

Fibrous Joints Sutures

n
n

Between flat bones of the skull

Variety of bony margins

Between (many) bones of the skull

Fibrous tissue (ligaments) between other
bones
Arent all ligaments fibrous joints?
Bones of the skull and other bones :
Difference explained next week

Fibrous Joints Syndesmoses

n
n

True syndesmosis inferior

tibiofibular
Interosseous membranes
n
n

Bone
Periosteum

Unossified areas
Spread of ossification
Disappearance with age

Separation of compartments
Additional areas for muscle
attachments

Some other ligaments now

termed syndesmoses

Gomphosis :
Tooth and bone

Cartilaginous Joints
n
n
n
n

Hyaline Cartilage : Synchondrosis

Hyaline or fibrocartilage
Functionally two totally distinct entities
Hyaline cartilage a growth mechanism
White fibrocartilage partially movable
joints

n
n

Growth mechanism
Between parts of a bone
n

n
n

Primary and secondary cartilaginous joints :

Terms best avoided.

Symphysis
B

W
F
C

n
n

Surfaces covered by hyaline cartilage

Thick plate of white fibrocartilage
Properties of white fibrocartilage
n

Deformable

Precursor of a synovial joint?

Synovial Joints
n

n
n

Evolution and development secondary

cavitation

Midline symphyses a coincidence?

The bones articular surfaces

n

Freely movable? Freedom is relative!

More movable than any other type
almost
The tissue that unites?

Some degree of movement may be cumulative

Synovial Joints Basic Features

n

Union of bone
Fully explained next week

n
n

Epiphyseal plate of cartilage

Growth and replacement by bone

Completion of growth synostosis

Smooth but not quite!

Articular cartilage
Fibrous capsule
Ligaments
capsular or external
Synovial membrane

Synovial Joints Articular Cartilage

n
n
n
n

Hyaline (WFC in membrane bones)

No perichondrium
Variable thickness
Nutrition?

Synovial Joints Capsule Etc

n
n
n
n

Capsular attachment
Thickening of capsule : Intrinsic ligaments
Accessory ligaments
Areas of strength / weakness

Synovial Joints Special Features

n

Intra-articular discs
n

Synovial Membrane & Fluid

n

Membrane attachments

Nature of synovial fluid

Secretion and absorption

Functional
n

Degrees of freedom
n

Viscosity

Synovial Joints Subtypes

White Fibrocartilage
Reduce incongruity
n Modify (usually increase!)
range of movements
n Spread of synovial fluid
reduce drag

Lining for the capsule

Shapes of bony surfaces

n
n

Incomplete discs
Menisci

n
n

Other intra-articular structures

n
n

Ligaments
Tendons

Synovial Joints Bicondylar

Stability the anatomical concept

n
n
n

Bony factors
Ligaments
Muscles
n

n
n
n
n

Hinge
Saddle
Ball-and-socket
Plane
Condylar
Others

Stability and Movement

n

Uniaxial, biaxial, multiaxial

Structural

The shoulder and the hip

A confusing term (and concept?)

Two pairs of articular surfaces
Common capsule
The knee
Temporomandibular joint

Around the Joints

n

Bursa/e
n
n
n
n
n

Bags of synovial membrane

Between tendons
Between tendon/muscle and joint capsule
Between muscle/tendon and bone
Between skin and bone

Nerves
n

Joint sensations

Hiltons Law

Capsule, ligaments, tendons, periosteum

Injury, pain and immobilisation