Structure and Function of Joints
Synostosis
A bony joint—a joint in which two bones have fused to become one
Diarthrosis
A freely movable joint
Amphiarthrosis
A slightly movable joint
Gomphosis Immovable or slightly movable Example: A tooth fitting into its socket and held there by the thin periodontal ligament
A type of syndesmosis made of a cone fitting into a socket
Interosseous Membrane Slightly movable Example: Between tibia and fibula
A type of syndesmosis made of a substantial sheet of dense irregular connective tissue
Synarthrosis
An immovable joint
Symphysis Slightly movable Example: Intervertebral joint
Joint made of a broad flat disc of fibrocartilage
Synchondrosis Immovable Example: Proximal epiphyseal plates of femur
Joint made of hyaline cartilage; becomes a synostosis when bone elongation stops
Syndesmosis Immovable or slightly movable Example: Distal tibiofibular joint
Joint made of more dense irregular connective tissue than a suture, usually a ligament
Suture Immovable or slightly movable Example: Coronal suture
Joint made of thin layer of dense irregular connective tissue
Synovial Joints
Joints that are composed of a synovial cavity, articular cartilage, and articular joint capsule May contain accessory ligaments, articular discs, and bursae
Cartilaginous Joints
Joints that have no synovial cavity Bones are connected by hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage
Fibrous Joints
Joints that have no synovial cavity Bones are held together by dense irregular connective tissue