Synovial Joints and Their Movements

Abduction

Moving bones away from the mid-line of the body - for example, raising an arm or leg out to the side of the body.

Adduction

Moving bones toward the mid-line of the body - for example, lowering an arm or leg toward the body.

Supination

rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm faces forward or upward; also : a corresponding movement of the foot and leg in which the foot rolls outward with an elevated arch.

Pronation

rotation of the hand and forearm so that the palm faces backwards or downwards. Also rotation of the medial bones in the midtarsal region of the foot inward and downward so that in walking the foot tends to come down on its inner margin.

Synovial joints

A joint in which the opposing bony surfaces are covered with a layer of hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage within a joint cavity that contains synovial fluid, lined with synovial membrane and reinforced by a fibrous capsule and ligaments; and there is some degree of free movement possible.

Pivot joint

A pivot joint is a synovial joint. It is where one bone rotates around another bone - for example, the atlas and axis joint that allows the head to rotate.

Ball and socket joint

Ball and socket joint is a synovial joint, where the ball or head of one bone inserts into the socket or cup of another bone - for example, the shoulder or hip.

Cartilaginous joints

Cartilaginous joints are connected entirely by cartilage. Cartilaginous joints allow more movement between bones than a fibrous joint but less than the highly mobile synovial joint.

Flexion

Decreasing the angle between two bones at a joint - for example, bending the elbow draws the radius and ulna toward the humerus.

Hinge joint

Hinge joint is a synovial joint. It allows movement in one plane only, which is the flexion and extension plane - for example, the elbow or knee.

Extension

Increasing the angle between two bones at a joint - for example, straightening the elbow draws radius and ulna away from the humerus.

Depression

Movement in an inferior direction, the opposite of elevation. In other words, depression is downward movement of structures of the body.

Inversion

Movement in which the plantar surface, or sole, of the foot rotates towards the mid-line of the body. Another way to describe this movement is to say that the plantar surface, sole, of the foot turns medially, i.e. turns inwards.

Rotation

Movement of a bone around a central axis - for example, the head rotating around the atlas and axis at the top of the neck.

Circumduction

Movement of a joint, such as shoulder or wrist, going around in circles.

Plantarflexion

Movement of the ankle that causes the toes to be pointed downwards.

Dorsiflexion

Movement of the ankle that causes the toes to be raised up towards the tibia.

Eversion

Movement of the sole of the foot away from the median plane.

Condyloid or plane joint

The condyloid joint, which also is known as the plane joint, is a synovial joint. It is a joint where bones articulate together, which means the bones butt up against each other. This joint permits movement in two planes, allowing flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, and circumduction.

Fibrous joints

These joints have no joint cavity and are connected via fibrous connective tissue. The skull bones are connected by fibrous joints.

Elevation

Upward movement of structures of the body. For example, elevation of a shoulder joint raises the corresponding arm vertically upwards