Joints

Fibrous Joints

Joints held together by dense connective tissue with little to no movement.

Cartilaginous Joints

Joints connected by cartilage allowing limited movement.

Synovial Joints

Joints characterized by a synovial cavity, allowing for a wide range of movement.

Synarthrosis

Immovable joints, such as sutures in the skull.

Amphiarthrosis

Slightly movable joints, such as the pubic symphysis.

Diarthrosis

Freely movable joints, including synovial joints like the knee and elbow.

Hinge Joints

Uniaxial joints allowing movement around one axis; examples include the elbow and knee.

Pivot Joints

Joints allowing rotation around a single axis; examples include the atlantoaxial joint.

Condyloid Joints

Biaxial joints allowing movement in two planes; examples include the wrist joint.

Saddle Joints

Biaxial joints allowing more freedom of movement than condyloid joints; example is the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb.

Ball-and-Socket Joints

Multiaxial joints allowing movement in multiple planes; examples include the shoulder and hip joints.

Range of Motion (ROM)

The distance and direction a joint can move to its full potential.

Flexion

Decreasing the angle between two body parts, such as bending the elbow.

Extension

Increasing the angle between two body parts, such as straightening the knee.

Abduction

Moving a limb away from the midline of the body, such as raising arms sideways.

Adduction

Moving a limb towards the midline of the body, such as lowering arms to the sides.

Rotation

Turning a body part around its axis, such as turning the head left or right.

Circumduction

Circular movement of a limb, combining flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction, such as making circles with the arms.

Pronation

Turning the palm down, such as turning the hand to face downward.

Supination

Turning the palm up, such as turning the hand to face upward.

Gliding Joints

Joints that allow sliding movements between flat surfaces; examples include the wrists and ankles.

Immovable Joints

Joints with no movement; primarily found in the skull.

Ligaments

Tissue that connects bones at a joint and provides stability.

Tendons

Tissue that connects muscles to bones, aiding in joint movement.

Menisci

Crescent-shaped cartilage in some joints, such as the knee, that absorb shock and stabilize the joint.

Synovial Fluid

A lubricating fluid within synovial joints that reduces friction.

Bursae

Small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between moving structures in joints.

What are joints?

Joints are places where two bones meet and help us move.

Why are joints important?

Joints allow our bodies to move, bend, and do activities like walking and playing.

What is a hinge joint?

A hinge joint works like a door that swings open and closed, like our knees and elbows.

What is a ball-and-socket joint?

A ball-and-socket joint lets us move in lots of ways, like our shoulders and hips.

What are ligaments?

Ligaments are like strong ropes that hold joints together.

What are tendons?

Tendons are like cords that connect our muscles to our bones to help us move.

What is synovial fluid?

Synovial fluid is like oil that helps joints move smoothly without hurting.

What are bursae?

Bursae are little sacs that help keep our joints from getting sore when we move.