JOINTS

Arthrology
• Bones are too rigid to bend. Flexible connective
tissues from joints and permit movement.
• A joint, also called articulation is a point of
contact.
• The scientific study of joints is called arthrology.
• The study of the motion of the human body is
called kinesiology.
 Joint Classification
• Structurally joints are classified as following:
– Fibrous joints : the bones are held together by
fibrous connective tissue that is rich in collagen
fibers. No synovial cavity.
– Cartilaginous joints: the bones are held together
by cartilage. No synovial cavity.
– Synovial joints: the bones forming the joint have
a synovial cavity and are united by dense
irregular connective tissue.
 Joint Classification
• Functionally, joints are classified as one of
the following:
– Synarthrosis: an immovable joint.
– Amphiarthrosis: a slightly movable joint.
– Diarthrosis: a freely movable joint. All
diarthroses are synovial joints.
 Fibrous Joints
• These are joints that lack a synovial cavity.
They permit little or no movement.
– Sutures: thin layer of dense connective issue.
Unites bones of the skull. Because a suture is
immovable, it is functionally classified as a
synarthrosis. Some sutures are replaced by
bone in the adult. Such a suture is called
synostosis.
 Fibrous Joints
– Syndesmoses: there is a greater distance
between the bones and more fibrous connective
tissue. The tissue is either arranged as a bundle
(ligament) or as a sheet (interosseus
membrane). Example tibia/fibula. Because it
permits slight movement, a syndesmosis is
classified functionally as an amphiarthrosis.
 Fibrous Joints
• Gomphoses- this is a type of fibrous joint in
which a cone-shaped peg fits into a socket.
The only example are the articulations of the
roots of the teeth with the sockets of the
alveolar processes of the maxillae and
mandible. The dense fibrous connective
tissue is called the periodonatal ligament.
This is functionally classified as a
synarthrosis.
 Cartilaginous Joints
• This also lacks a synovial cavity and
permits little or no movement.
– Synchondroses: here the connecting material is
hyaline cartilage. An example is the epiphyseal
plate that connects the epiphysis and diaphysis
of a growing bone. Another example is the joint
between the first rib and manubrium of the
sternum.
 Cartilaginous Joints
• Symphyses: here the ends of the
articulating bones are covered with hyaline
cartilage but the bones are connected by a
broad flat disc of fibrocartilage. Examples:
pubic symphysis, junction of the
manubrium and sternum, intervertebral
joints. Functionally, this is an
amphiarthrosis, a slightly movable joint.
 Synovial Joints
• These have a space called a synovial cavity
between the articulating bones. Classified
functionally as diarthroses.
– The bones at synovial joint are covered by an
articular cartilage. Consists of two layers, an outer
fibrous capsule and an inner synovial membrane.
– Fibrous capsule-ligaments
– Synovial membrane-areolar connective tissue with
elastic fibers. Adipose tissue-articular fat pads.
 Synovial Joints
• Synovial fluid: the synovial membrane
secretes this. Consists of hyaluronic acid and
interstitial fluid filtered from blood plasma.
Reduces friction by lubricating the joint.
Supplies nutrients and removes metabolic
wastes. Contains phagocytic cells. Benefits
of a “warm up” before exercise, is that it
stimulates the production and secretion of
synovial fluid.
 Synovial Joints
• Accessory ligaments and articular discs:
• Nerve and Blood Supply: contain many nerve
endings. Convey information to the brain and
spinal cord. Arteries penetrate the ligaments and
articular capsule to deliver oxygen and nutrients.
Veins remove carbon dioxide and wastes from
the joints. The articulating portions receive
nourishment from the fluid. Rest by blood
capillaries.
 Types of Synovial Joints
• Planar joints- the articulating surfaces are flat
or slightly curved. Example are intercarpal
joints, intertarsal joints, sternoclavicular joints,
acromioclavicular joints, sternocostal joints,
vertebrocostal joints.
• Hinge Joints-the convex surface of one fits into
the concave surface of another. Eg. Knee,
elbow, ankle, interphalangeal. Monaxial
(uniaxial).
 Types of Synovial Joints
• Pivot Joints-here the rounded or pointed surface
of one bone articulates with a ring formed partly
by another bone and partly by a ligament. This is
monaxial. Examples atlanto-axial joint, radioulnar
joint:turns palm anteriorly and posteriorly.
• Condyloid Joints-also called ellipsoidal joint.
The convex oval-shaped projection of one fits into
the oval-shaped depression of another. Eg. Wrist
and metacarpophalangeal joints. Biaxial.
 Types of Synovial Joints
• Saddle Joints-here the articular surface of
one bone is saddle-shaped and the articular
surface of the other fits into the “saddle”.
Eg. Carpometacarpal joint. Biaxial.
• Ball-and-Socket Joints- this consists of the
ball-like surface of one bone fitting into a
cuplike depression of another bone. Egs.
Shoulder and hip joints. Multiaxial.
 Bursae and Tendon Sheaths
• Bursae: saclike structures that reduce
friction. Located in the shoulder and knee
joints. Found between skin and bone,
tendons and bones, muscles and bones,
ligaments and bones.
• Tendon Sheaths: tubelike bursae that wrap
around tendons. Found at the wrist, ankle,
fingers and toes.
 Types of Movements
• Gliding:this consists of side-to-side and
back-and-forth movements.
• Angular movements: there is an increase
or decrease in the angle between
articulating movements. Includes flexion,
extension, lateral flexion, hyperextension.
 Types of Movements
• Abduction: this is the movement of a bone
away from the midline.
• Adduction: this is the movement of bone
toward the midline.
• Circumduction: this is the movement of
the distal end of a body part in a circle.
 Types of Movements
• Rotation: a bone revolves around its own
longitudinal axis. Pivot and ball-and-socket
joints permit rotation. Medial (internal)
rotation and lateral (external) rotation.
• Special movements: elevation, depression,
protraction, retraction, inversion, eversion,
dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, supination,
pronation, opposition.
 Factors affecting ROM at
Synovial Joints
• Structure or shape of the articulating bones
• Strength and tension of ligaments.
• Arrangement and tension of muscles
• Apposition of soft parts
• Hormones
• Disuse
 Aging and Joints
• Decreased production of synovial fluid
• Articular cartilage becomes thinner with
age, ligaments shortens and lose flexibility.
• Genetic factors
• Males commonly develop degenerative
changes in the vertebral column-hunched.
• Osteoarthritis-occurs over age 70.