Types of Joints and Their Characteristics

These flashcards cover the structural types of joints, their characteristics, examples, and functionalities.

Structural Type

Classification of joints based on their structure: fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial.

Fibrous Joints

Type of joint with dense connective tissue and no cavity, examples include sutures and gomphoses.

Cartilaginous Joints

Type of joint with cartilage connecting bone ends, which can be synarthrotic or amphiarthrotic.

Synovial Joints

Type of joint that includes a cavity and is freely movable (diarthrotic) with examples found in limbs.

Sutures

An example of fibrous joint that is immovable (synarthrotic) found in the skull.

Gomphoses

A peg in socket joint type found in the periodontal ligaments; also considered synarthrotic.

Syndesmoses

A joint with short ligaments between bones, such as the radius/ulna and tibia/fibula; classified as amphiarthrotic.

Synchondroses

A type of cartilaginous joint where hyaline cartilage is present, such as the epiphyseal plate.

Symphyses

A type of cartilaginous joint that involves hyaline cartilage plus a fibrocartilage pad, such as the pubic symphysis.

Diarthrotic Joints

Freely movable joints that include synovial joints, characterized by their cavity.