STUDY GUIDE-JOINTS

INTRODUCTION

I. A joint (articulation or arthrosis) is a point of contact between two or more bones, between cartilage
and bones, or between teeth and bones.
A. The scientific study of joints is called arthrology.
B. The scientific study of motion is called kinesiology.

II. JOINT CLASSIFICATION

A. Structural classification is based on the presence or absence of a synovial (joint) cavity and
type of connecting tissue. Structurally, joints are classified as fibrous, cartilaginous, or
synovial.
B. Functional classification of joints is based on the degree of movement permitted. Joints may
be synarthroses (immovable), amphiarthroses (partially movable), or diarthroses (freely
movable).

III. FIBROUS JOINTS

A. Fibrous joints lack a synovial cavity, have the articulating bones held together by fibrous
connective tissue, and permit little or no movement.
B. Types of fibrous joints include sutures, syndesmoses, and interosseous membranes.
1. A suture is a fibrous joint composed of a thin layer of dense fibrous connective tissue
that unites skull bones.
2. A synostosis is a suture joint that has ossified. An example of a synostosis is the
frontal suture between the left and right sides of the frontal bone.
a. A synostosis is functionally classified as a synarthrosis.
3. A syndesmosis is a fibrous joint in which there is more fibrous connective tissue than
in a suture.
a. A gomphosis is a fibrous syndesmoses joint in which a cone-shaped peg fits
into a socket, allowing no movement. An example is the root of a tooth in its
socket.
b. Another example of a syndesmoses is the distal tibiofibular ligament, which
permits some movement.
 4. An interosseous ligament is a fibrous joint made of a broad sheet of ligament that
allows some movement between adjacent bones. And example is between the radius
and ulna.

IV. CARTILAGINOUS JOINTS

A. A cartilaginous joint lacks a synovial cavity, has the articulating bones connected by either
fibrocartilage or hyaline cartilage, and allows little or no movement.
B. The three types of cartilaginous joints are synchondroses, symphyses, and epiphyseal
cartilages.
1. A synchrondosis is a cartilaginous joint in which the connecting material is hyaline
cartilage, allowing no movement.
2. A symphysis is a cartilaginous joint in which the connecting material is a disc of
fibrocartilage, allowing some movement. Examples are the interverterbral discs and
the pubic symphysis.
3. An epiphyseal cartilage is hyaline cartilage localized in growth centers during
endochondral bone formation.

V. SYNOVIAL JOINTS
A. Synovial joints have a synovial (joint) cavity between the articulating bone and are freely
movable (diarthrotic).
B. Structure of Synovial Joints
1. Articular cartilage
a. The articular cartilage covers the bones at synovial joints.
b. The articular cartilage reduces friction at the joint with movement and helps
absorb shock
2. Articular Capsule
a. The articular capsule surrounds a diarthrosis, encloses the synovial cavity,
and unites the articulating bones.
b. The articular capsule is composed of two layers: the outer fibrous capsule
(which may contain ligaments) and the inner synovial membrane (which
secretes a lubricating and joint-nourishing synovial fluid).
c. The flexibility of the fibrous capsule permits considerable movement at a
joint, whereas its great tensile strength helps prevent bones from dislocating.
d. Other capsule features include ligaments and articular fat pads.
e. Clinical Connection: Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation
 3. Synovial fluid, secreted by the synovial membrane, lubricates and reduces friction in
the joint and supplies nutrients to and removes metabolic wastes from the joint.
C. Accessory Ligaments and Articular Discs
1. Many diarthroses also contain accessory ligaments and articular discs (menisci).
2. Ligaments help hold bone to bone.
3. Articular discs modify the shape of the joint surfaces of the articulating bones, help
maintain the stability of the joint, and direct the flow of synovial fluid to areas of
greatest friction.
4. The labrum is an important structure for ball and socket type joints.
5. Clinical Connection: Torn cartilage, occurring frequently in the knees of athletes, is
damage to the articular discs that lie between the ends of some bones. Removal, to
prevent erosion and arthritis, is usually accomplished by arthroscopy.

VI. Nerve and Blood Supply

A. Nerves that supply a joint are the same as those that supply the skeletal muscles that move the
joint.
B. Numerous arteries and veins supply the joints and surrounding structures.

VII. Bursae and Tendon Sheaths

A. Bursae are synovial fluid filled saclike structures that cushion the movement of one body part
over another. They are found where one part of the body moves over another.
B. Tendon sheaths are tube-like bursae that wrap around tendons where there is considerable
friction, such as the tendon of the biceps brachii at the shoulder joint.
1. Clinical Connection: Bursitis is a chronic inflammation of a burse.
2. Clinical Connection: Tenosynovitis
C. Summarize the structural and functional categories of joints.

VIII. TYPES OF MOVEMENTS AT SYNOVIAL JOINTS

A. Gliding movements occur when relatively flat bone surfaces move back and forth and from
side to side with respect to one another.
1. In gliding joints there is no significant alteration of the angle between the bones.
2. Gliding movements occur at plantar joints.
B. Angular Movements
1. In angular movements there is an increase or a decrease in the angle between
articulating bones.
2. The principal angular movements are flexion, extension, and hyperextension
a. Flexion results in a decrease in the angle between articulating bones.
b. Extension results in an increase in the angle between articulating bones.
c. Lateral flexion involves the movement of the trunk sideways, to the right or
left, at the waist. The movement occurs in the frontal plane and involves the
intervertebral joints
d. Hyperextension is a continuation of extension beyond the anatomical
position and is usually prevented by the arrangement of ligaments and the
anatomical alignment of bones.
C. Abduction, Adduction, and Circumduction
1. Abduction refers to the movement of a bone away from the midline.
2. Adduction refers to the movement of a bone toward the midline.
3. Circumduction refers to movement of the distal end of a part of the body in a circle.
a. Circumduction occurs as a result of a continuous sequence of flexion,
abduction, extension, and adduction.
b. Condyloid, saddle, and ball-and-socket joints allow circumduction.
4. In rotation, a bone revolves around its own longitudinal axis.
1) Pivot and ball-and-socket joints permit rotation.
i. If the anterior surface of a bone of the limb is turned toward
the midline, medial rotation occurs. If the anterior surface of
a bone of the limb is turned away from the midline, lateral
rotation occurs.
D. Special Movements
1. Elevation is an upward movement of a part of the body.
2. Depression is a downward movement of a part of the body.
3. Protraction is a movement of a part of the body anteriorly in the transverse plane.
4. Retraction is a movement of a protracted part back to the anatomical position.
5. Inversion is movement of the soles medially at the intertarsal joints so that they face
away from each other.
6. Eversion is a movement of the soles laterally at the intertarsal joints so that they face
away from each other.
 7. Dorsiflexion refers to bending the foot at the ankle in the direction of the superior
surface.
8. Plantar flexion involves bending the foot at the ankle joint in the direction of the
plantar surface.
9. Supination is a movement of the forearm at the proximal and distal radioulnar joints
in which the palm is turned anteriorly or superiorly.
10. Pronation is a movement of the forearm at the proximal and distal radioulnar joints in
which the distal end of the radius crosses over the distal end of the ulna and the palm
is turned posteriorly or inferiorly.
11. Opposition is the movement of the thumb at the carpometacarpal joint in which the
thumb moves across the palm to touch the tips of the finger on the same hand.

IX. TYPES OF SYNOVIAL JOINTS

A. Plain joints (Plantar joint) permit mainly side-to-side and back-and-forth gliding movements.
These joints are nonaxial and include the intercarpal, intertarsal, sternoclavicular,
acromioclavicular, sternocostal, and vertebrocostal joints.
B. A hinge joint contains the convex surface of one bone fitting into a concave surface of
another bone. Movement is primarily flexion or extension in a single plane. Examples include
the elbow, knee, ankle, and interphalangeal joints.
C. In a pivot joint, a round or pointed surface of one bone fits into a ring formed by another bone
and a ligament. Movement is rotational and monaxial. An example is the atlas rotating about
the axis.
D. In a condyloid joint, an oval-shaped condyle of one bone fits into an elliptical cavity of
another bone. Movements are flexion-extension, abduction-adduction, and circumduction; an
example is the joint between the carpals and the radius.
E. A saddle joint contains one bone whose articular surface is saddle-shaped and another bone
whose articular surface is shaped like a rider sitting in the saddle. Movements are flexion-
extension, abduction-adduction, and circumduction.
F. In a ball-and-socket joint, the ball-shaped surface of one bone fits into the cuplike depression
of another. Movements are flexion-extension, abduction-adduction, rotation, and
circumduction; the only examples are the shoulder joint and the hip joint.
X. FACTORS AFFECTING CONTACT AND RANGE OF MOTION AT SYNOVIAL JOINTS
A. Structure and shape of the articulating bone
B. Strength and tautness of the joint ligaments
C. Arrangement and tension of the muscles
D. Contact of soft parts
E. Hormones
F. Disuse

XI. SELECTED JOINTS OF THE BODY

A. Temporomandibular joint
1. Anatomical components
a. Articular disc (meniscus)
b. Articular capsule
c. Lateral ligament
d. Sphenomandibular ligament
e. Stylomandibular ligament
2. This is a combined hinge and planar joint formed by the condylar process of the
mandible and the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone.
3. Movements at the joint include elevation, depression, protraction, retraction and
lateral displacement.
B. Shoulder Joint
1. This is a ball-and-socket joint formed by the head of the humerus and the glenoid
cavity of the scapula.
2. Anatomical Components
a. Articular capsule
b. Coracohumeral ligament
c. Glenohumeral ligaments
d. Transverse humeral ligament
e. Glenoid labrum
f. Bursae
3. Movements at the joint include flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, medial and
lateral rotation, and circumduction of the arm.
4. Clinical Connection: This joint shows extreme freedom of movement at the expense
of stability with the result of dislocation, separation and rotator cuff injuries.
C. Elbow Joint
1. This is a hinge joint formed by the trochlea of the humerus, the trochlear notch of the
ulna, and the head of the radius.
2. Anatomical Components
a. Articular capsule
b. Ulnar collateral ligament
c. Radial collateral ligament
d. Anular ligament of the radius
3. Movements: flexion and extension of the forearm.
4. Clinical Connection: Elbow injuries like tennis elbow and little-league elbow may
result from incorrect usage.
D. Hip Joint
1. This ball-and-socket joint is formed by the head of the femur and the acetabulum of
the hipbone.
2. Anatomical Components
a. Articular capsule
b. Iliofemoral ligament
c. Pubofemoral ligament
d. Ischiofemoral ligament
e. Ligament of the head of the femur
f. Acetabular labrum
g. Transverse ligament of the acetabulum
3. Movements at this joint include flexion, extension, abduction, adduction,
circumduction, and medial and lateral rotation of the thigh.
4. This is an extremely stable joint due to the bones that make up the joint and the
accessory ligaments and muscles.
E. Knee Joints
1. The knee joint is the largest and most complex joint of the body and consists of three
joints within a single synovial cavity.
2. Anatomical Components
a. Articular capsule
b. Medial and lateral patellar retinacula
c. Patellar ligament
d. Oblique popliteal ligament
 e. Arcuate popliteal ligament
f. Tibial collateral ligament
g. Fibular collateral ligament
h. Intracapsular ligaments
i. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
j. Articular discs (menisci)
k. The more important bursae of the knee include the following:
1) Prepatellar bursa between the patella and skin
2) Infrapatellar bursa between superior part of tibia and patellar
ligament
3) Suprapatellar bursa between inferior part of femur and deep surface
of quadriceps femoris muscle
3. Movements at this joint include flexion, extension, slight medial rotation, and lateral
rotation of the leg in a flexed position.
4. Clinical Connection: A common type of knee injury involves damage to the
ligaments and meniscus
XII. AGING AND JOINTS
A. Various aging effects on joints include decreased production of synovial fluid, thinning of the
articular cartilage, and loss of ligament length and flexibility.
B. The effects of aging on joints are due to genetic factors as well as wear and tear on joints.
XIII. ARTHROPLASTY
A. Arthroplasty is a procedure used to repair joints.
1. Hip replacements – involve both the acetabulum and the head of the femur.
2. Knee replacements – involve resurfacing of cartilage and can be partial or total.
XIV. DISORDERS: HOMEOSTATIC IMBALANCES
A. Common injuries to joints include: rotator cuff injuries, separated shoulder, tennis elbow, and
dislocation of the radial head and knee injuries.
B. Rheumatism and Arthritis
1. Rheumatism refers to any painful state of the supporting structures of the body -
bones, ligaments, joints, tendons, or muscles.
a. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune
system attacks its own cartilage and joint linings resulting in loss of joint
function.
 2. Arthritis is a form of rheumatism in which the joints become inflamed.
3. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease commonly known as “wear-and-tear”
arthritis. It is characterized by deterioration of articular cartilage and bone spur
formation. It is noninflammatory and primarily affects weight-bearing joints.
4. Gouty arthritis is a condition in which sodium urate crystals are deposited in soft
tissues of joints, causing inflammation, swelling, and pain. If not treated, bones at
affected joints will eventually fuse, rendering the joints immobile.
5. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted by deer ticks. Symptoms include
joint stiffness, fever and chills, headache, and low back pain
6. Sprain and Strain- a sprain is a forcible wrenching or twisting of the joint. Strains are
partially torn muscles or tendons.
7. Tenosynovitis is an inflammation of the tendons, sheaths, and synovial membranes
8. Dislocated Mandible is the displacement of a bone from a joint with tearing of
ligaments, tendons, and articular capsules.

C. MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY - Students should be alerted to the glossary of medical

terminology associated with joints.