Objectives

 Contrast the major categories of joints, and explain the

relationship between structures and functions for each
category
 Describe the basic structure of a synovial joint, and
describe common synovial joint accessoy structures and
their functions
 Describe how the anatomical and functional properties of
synovial joints permit dynamic movements of the skeleton
 Describe the structure and function of the shoulder joint
and the knee joint
 Decsribe the effects of aging on articulations, and discuss
the most common age-related clinical problems for
articulations
 Articulations
- also referred to as joints
- two bones interconnect
- determines the type and amount of movement
- reflects a comprise between the need for strength and
mobility
ex. intervertebral articulations: very strong but
relatively immobile
- categorized according to their range of motion (ROM) and
anatomical organization
 ROM Classifications of Joints:
Functional Group
 Synarthrosis
- immovable joints
- either fibrous or cartilaginous depending on nature of
connection
 Amphiarthrosis
- slightly movable
- either fibrous or cartilaginous depending on nature of
connection
 Diarthrosis
- freely movable
- subdivided according to the nature of the movement
permitted
 Anatomical Organization of Joint:
Structural Category
 Bony
 Fibrous
 Cartilaginous
 Synovial
 Synarthroses
- immovable
- bony edges close together even interlocked
- extremely strong joints
- four major types
 Sutures
- edges interlocked; bound together by connective
tissue
ex. bones of the skull
 Gomphosis
- binds teeth to bony sockets in the maxilla and mandible
- fibrous connection between a tooth and its socket is a
periodontal ligament
ex. between the teeth and jaws
 Synarthroses Cont.
 Synchondrosis
- ridged, cartilaginous bridge between two articulating
bones
ex. epiphyseal cartilage, 1st pair of
vertebrosternal ribs and sternum
 Synostosis
- immoveable joint
- created when two bones fuse and boundary disappears
ex: frontal bone, epiphyseal lines of mature long
bones
 Amphiarthroses
- allow more ROM than synarthroses
- stronger than diarthroses
- connected by collagen fibers or cartilage
- two major types
 Syndesmosis
- band or ligament connect bones
ex: distal articulation between tibia and fibula
 Symphysis
- wedge or pad of fibrous cartilage separates bones
ex. connection of pubic bones (pubic symphysis)
 Diarthroses
- allow a wide ROM
- typically located at the ends of long bones
 Synovial
- surrounded by a fibrous articular capsule with synovial
membrane
 Components of Synovial Joints
 Articular Cartilages
 Synovial Fluid
 Accessory Structures
 Components of Synovial Joints
 Articular Cartilages
- resemble hyaline cartilages in other areas of the body
- matrix contains more water
- no perichondrium
- surfaces are slick and smooth (reduces friction)
- do not touch each other, separated by a thin film of
synovial fluid within joint cavity (fluid acts as lubricant)
- if damaged matrix breaks down changes surface to rough
feltwork of bristly collagen fibers
 Synovial Fluid
- resembles interstitial fluid, clear viscous solution
- less than 3 mL even in large joints
- 3 primary functions
 Components of Synovial Joints
- lubrication:
- nutrient distribution:
- shock absorption:
 Accessory Structures
 Cartilages and Fat Pads
- meniscus: a crescent pad of fibrous cartilage situated
between opposing bones within a synovial joint
- subdivide a synovial cavity
- channel the flow of synovial fluid
- allow for variations in shape of articular surfaces
- fat pads: localized masses of adipose tissue covered by a
layer of synovial membrane
- protect articular cartilage
- act as packaging material by filling spaces as
cavity changes
 Components of Synovial Joints
Cont.
 Ligaments
- intrinsic: localized thickenings of the joint capsule
- extrinsic: separate from joint capsule
- support, strengthen, and reinforce synovial
joints
- can become sprained with excesses stretching
damaging collagen fibers
 Tendons
- not part of the articulation, pass across or
around joint
- may limit ROM
- provide mechanical support
 Components of Synovial Joints
Cont.
 Bursae
- small fluid filled pockets in connective tissue
- contain synovial fluid lined with membrane
- can be connected or separate from joint cavity
- form where tendons/ligaments rub against
tissues
- reduce friction
- act s shock absorbers
- bursea the develop in abnormal locations or
conditions are called adventitious
 Factors that Stabilze Synovial
Joints
 collagen fibers of the joint capsule and any accessory,
extracapsular, or intracapsular ligament
 shapes of the articulating surfaces and menisci, which may
prevent movement in specific directions
ex. hip joint; (head of femur projects into acetabulum)
 presence of other bones, skeletal muscles, or fat pads
around the joint
ex. elbow
 Tension in tendons attached to the articulating bones
 Injuries to Joints
 Dislocation or luxation
- joint experiences extreme stress, articular surfaces ar
forced out of position
- can damage cartilage, tear ligaments, or distort capsule
- very painful
 Subluxation
- partial dislocation
 Describing Dynamic Motion
 Linear Motion
- two lines of reference
- gliding forward to backward, side to side or diagonal

 Angular Motion
- two lines of reference
- change in angle of bone
- circumduction

 Rotation
- shaft of bone spins around its longitudinal axis
 Dynamic Motion Cont.
 Monaxial
- movement permitted along only one axis
 Biaxial
- movement permitted along two axis
 Triaxial
- movement permitted in combination of angular and rotation
Types of Movement: Synovial Joints
 Linear gliding
- two opposing surfaces slide past one another
- any direction
- movement is slight, rotation is generally prevented by
capsule and ligaments
ex. between carpals, & tarsals
between the clavicle and sternum
Types of Movement: Synovial Joints
 Angular Motion
 Flexion & Extension
- flexion: movement in the anterior-posterior plane
reducing the angle between the articulating elements
ex. head to chest
- extension: movement in the anterior-posterior place
increasing the angle between the articulating elements
ex. all major joints in anatomical position
- past the anatomical position called hyperextension
Types of Movement: Synovial Joints
 Abduction & Adduction
- abduction: movement away from the longitudinal axis in
the frontal plane
ex. swinging upper limb to the side
- adduction: movement towards the body
ex. bringing heel of hand and finger towards body

 Circumduction
- moving in a circular motion
ex. drawing a large circle on the chalkboard
Types of Movement: Synovial Joints
 Rotation
- Head:
- right or left
- Limb
- internal: anterior surface of the limb turns toward the
long axis of the trunk
- external: anterior surface of the limb turns away from
the long axis of the trunk
- pronation: turns the wrist and hand from palm facing
front to palm facing back
- supination: turns the wrist and hand to palm facing
front (wrist in anatomical position)
 Special Movements
- apply to specific articulations or unusual types of movement
 Inversion & Eversion
- inversion: twisting motion of the foot turning the sole of
the foot inward
- eversion: twisting motion of the foot turning the sole of
the foot outward

 Dorsiflexion & Plantar Flexion

- dorsiflexion: flexion at the ankle joint and elevation of the
sole
- plantar flexion: extends at the ankle joint and elevates
the heel
 Special Movements Cont.
 Opposition
- movement of thumb towards the surface of the palm or
the pads of the fingers
 Lateral flexion
- vertebral column bends side to side
 Protraction & Retraction
- protraction: moving a body part anteriorly in the
horizontal plane
- retraction: moving a body part posteriorly in the
horizontal plane
 Elevation and Depression
- elevation: structure moves in a superior direction
- depression: structure moves in a inferior direction
 Types of Synovial Joints
 Gliding (planar)
 Hinge
 Pivot
 Ellipsoid (condylar)
 Saddle (sellaris)
 Ball-and-socket
 Types of Synovial Joints
 Gliding
- flattened or slightly curved faces
- flat articular surfaces glide across one another
- movement is minimal
ex. sacroiliac joint, intercarpal/tarsals,
acromioclavicular and claviculosternal joints
 Hinge
- permit angular motion in a single plane
ex. elbow, knee, ankle, interphalangeal joints
 Pivot
- monoaxial rotation
ex. atlas/axis, proximal radioulnar joint
 Types of Synovial Joints
 Ellipsoid (condylar)
- oval articular surface nestles with a depression in the
opposing surface
- biaxial; along or across the length of the oval
ex. radiocarpal joint, metacarpophalangeal joints 2-5,
metatarsophalangeal joints
 Saddle(sellaris)
- each articular surface is concave along one axis and convex
along the other
- biaxial, permits angular motion, and circumduction
- no rotation
ex. 1st carpometacarpal joint
 Types of Synovial Joints
 Ball-and-socket
- round head of one bone rests within a cup-shaped
depression in another.
- all movements allowed
ex. shoulder, hip joint
 Structural Components of
Intervertebral Articulations
 Intervertebral Discs
- pad of fibrous cartilage separating veterbrae
- each disc has a tough outer layer of fibrous cartilage
called a anulus fibrous
- attach to the disc to the bodies of adjacent vertebrae
- surrounds the nucleus pulposus, a soft, elastic,
gelatinous core
- gives disc resiliency and enables it to absorb
shock
- movement compresses and displaces it in the
opposite direction
- account for about ¼ the length of column
- water content decreases with age causing injury
and shortening
 Structural Components of
Intervertebral Articulations
 Intervertebral Ligaments
 anterior longitudinal ligament
- connects the anterior surfaces of adjacent bodies
 posterior longitudinal ligament
- parallels the anterior longitudinal ligament and connect
the posterior surfaces of adjacent vertebral bodies
 Ligamentum flavum
- connects the laminae of adjacent vertebrae
 Interspinous ligament
- connects the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae
 Supraspinous ligament
- interconnects the tips of the spinous processes from
C7 to the sacrum
 Disc Conditions
 Slipped disc
- posterior longitudinal ligaments weaken (aging)
- compressed nucleus pulposus may distort the anulus
fibrous
- forces it partial into the canal
 Herniated disc
- nucleus pulposus breaks through the anulus fibrous
- may also protrude into canal
- sensory nerves are distorted, and the protuding mass can
also compress the nerves passing through the adjacent
intervertebral foramen
 Vertebral Movements
 Flexion; bending anteriorly
 Extension; bending posteriorly
 Lateral flexion; bending laterally
 Rotation
 Shoulder Joint / Glenohumeral
- ball-and-socket joint
- permits the greatest ROM of any joint
- dislocated frequently
- diarthrosis
- formed by the articulation of the head of the humerus with
the glenoid cavity of the scapula
- 5 ligaments
- glenohumeral
- coracohumeral
- coracoacromial
- coracoclavicular
- Acromioclavicular (injured during shoulder separation)
 Elbow Joint
- hinge joint
- between radius, ulna, humerus
- two joints: humero-ulnar, humeroradial
- extremely stable joint due to:
- interlocking of bones
- single thick articular capsule
- strong ligaments
- radial collateral ligament
- annular ligament
- ulnar collateral ligament
 Hip Joint
- ball and socket joint
- diarthrosis
- Five ligaments
- 3 broad ligaments reinforce the articular capsule
- Iliofemoral
- Pubofemoral
- Ischiofemoral
- 1 crosses the acetabular notch, filling in the gap
- transverse acetabular
- 1 attaches femoral head at fovea capitis to acetabulum
- ligament of the femoral head or ligamentum teres
 Knee Joint
- hinge joint
- contains three separate articulations
- two between the femur and tibia (condyles)
- one between the patella and patellar surface of the
femur
- articular capsule is thin, incomplete in some areas
- medial/lateral menisci between femoral and tibial surfaces
- 7 major ligaments stabilizing the knee
- quadriceps tendon passes over the anterior surface
- patella is located in this tendon
- patellar ligament continues from patella along the center
of knee attaching on tibia tuberosity
- patella retinaculae continue along the each side of patella
attaching on tibia
 Knee Joint Cont.
- 2 popliteal ligaments extending between femur and the
heads of the tibia and fibula on posterior surface
- anterior cruciate ligament connects lateral wall of the
intercondylar notch to the tibial plateau between the
tibial eminences
- posterior cruciate ligament connects medial femoral
condyle to the posterior tibia
- tibial collateral ligament (MCL) reinforces medial
surface, extending from the medial femoral epicondyle to
the tibia
- fibular collateral ligament (LCL) reinforces lateral
surface, extending from the lateral fermoral epicondyle
to the head of the fibula