Articulations / Joints Supplementary Information – Summary Guide

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions related to articulations and joints, sourced from the lecture notes.

Hyaline cartilage

Cartilage that provides support with flexibility and resilience, found in articular, costal, respiratory, and nasal cartilage.

Elastic cartilage

Cartilage characterized by a higher proportion of elastic fibers, found in the external ear and epiglottis.

Fibrocartilage

Cartilage that is compressible and has great tensile strength, found in the menisci of the knee and intervertebral discs.

Synarthroses

Joints that are immovable.

Amphiarthroses

Joints that are slightly movable.

Diarthroses

Joints that are freely movable and predominantly found in the appendicular skeleton.

Fibrous joints

Joints connected by collagen fibers of connective tissue, lacking a joint cavity, and are mostly immovable.

Sutures

Fibrous joints that are 'seams' located only between bones of the skull.

Syndesmosis

A type of fibrous joint connected by ligaments, found between the tibia and fibula.

Gomphosis

A peg-in-socket joint, such as the connection between a tooth and its bony alveolar socket.

Synovial joints

Freely movable joints characterized by a joint cavity containing synovial fluid, including features like articular cartilage and reinforcing ligaments.

Articular cartilage

Hyaline cartilage that covers the opposing bone surfaces in a synovial joint.

Synovial fluid

Fluid that reduces friction in a synovial joint.

Menisci

Crescent-shaped cartilage structures that provide stability and cushioning in the knee joint.

Osteoarthritis

The most common degenerative form of arthritis, characterized by irreversible joint damage and involves the breakdown of articular cartilage.

Rheumatoid arthritis

A chronic autoimmune disease causing inflammation of the synovial membrane and potential destruction of joint tissues.

Gouty arthritis

A form of arthritis characterized by the deposition of uric acid crystals in joints, leading to inflammation.

Bursitis

Inflammation of the bursa, often resulting in pain and swelling near joints.

ACL ligament injuries

Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament commonly associated with knee instability.