Articulations

Amphiarthotric (cartilaginous) joints

Bones are bound together by hyaline or fibrocartilage tissue, limited movement occurs at these two joints, an example of this type of joint is the symphysis pubis and that which occurs between vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs.

Synarthrotic (fibrous) joints

Bones are bound together by tough connective tissue, no movement occurs at this joint, they are very stable, an example of this type of joint would be the sutures of the skull.

Ligaments

Dense connective tissue bands that connect bone to bone and help to stabilize the joint

Menisci

Fibrocartilage discs that protect the ends of the bone of a joint

Articular Cartilage

Hyaline cartilage that protects the ends of the bone of a joint

Hinge Joint

M: (typical joint) uniaxial movement (flexion and extension) E: Knees, Elbows, Interphalangeal, ankle, TMJ

Ball-and-Socket Joint

M: Produces multiaxial movment; flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, medial/later AND circumduction E: Shoulder and Hip

Plane/Gliding Joint

M: Translational movement, slides back and forth, NOT AXIAL E: Intercarpal, Intertarsal, Vetebralcostal, tempromandibular, zygopophyseal

Pivot Joint

M: produces a uniaxial rotation around a central axis E: Atlantoaxial joint and proximal radioulnar joint

Saddle Joint

M: produces a wide range of movement (multiple directions), convex concave geometry E: Carpometacarpal joint of the thumb and sternoclavicular joint

Condyloid/Ellipsoidal Joint

M: produces biaxial movement ; flexion/extension in midsaggital plane and abduction/adduction in frontal plane E: Metacarpalphalangeal, radial carpal joint and the otlantoccipital joint

Diarthrotic (synovial joints)

Most common type of joint, the joint capsule is lined with a synovial membrane that produces a lubricating fluid, cartilage protects the ends of the bones and ligaments bind and support this type of joint, freely moveable, THE KNEE .

Tendons

Not part of the joint itself; dense connective tissue structure that cross the joints as they connect muscle to bone and affects the range of motion and stability of the joint

Synovial Membrane

The membrane which lines the joint cavity and produces a lubricating fluid

Joint Capsule

Tough connective tissues that surrounds the joint

Bursa

small, fluid-filled pockets located in areas where tendons/ligaments rub against other tissues, serves to reduce friction and act as a shock absorber