Anatomy and Physiology - Joints and Movements

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to joints and their classifications, movements in anatomy, and specific types of joints.

Joint

The point of attachment between bones and cartilage.

Articulation

Another term for joints, also known as arthrosis.

Fibrous Joints

Joints joined by fibrous connective tissue, permitting little to no movement.

Cartilaginous Joints

Joints where bones are joined by cartilage.

Synovial Joints

Joints within a fluid-filled joint cavity, the most common type of joint.

Synarthrosis

A type of joint that allows little to no movement, such as skull sutures.

Amphiarthrosis

A type of joint allowing slight movement, such as the pubic symphysis.

Diarthrosis

Joints that allow significant movement, categorized into uniaxial, biaxial, and multiaxial.

Uniaxial Joint

A joint permitting movement in one plane, such as the elbow.

Biaxial Joint

A joint allowing movement in two planes, such as the metacarpophalangeal joint.

Multiaxial Joint

A joint allowing movement in three or more planes, such as the hip and shoulder joints.

Flexion

Movement that reduces the angle of a joint.

Extension

Movement that returns a joint to its resting position.

Abduction

Movement of a limb away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

Movement of a limb toward the midline of the body.

Circumduction

Circular movement combining flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.

Supination

Movement that turns the palm to face anteriorly.

Pronation

Movement that turns the palm to face posteriorly.

Dorsiflexion

Movement that raises the top of the foot toward the anterior leg.

Plantar Flexion

Movement that points the toes downward.

Opposition

Movement of the thumb to touch the tips of the fingers.

Protraction

Forward movement of a body part, such as the jaw.

Retraction

Backward movement of a body part, such as the scapula.