Joints of the Body

Comprehensive flashcards covering the study of arthrology, including functional and structural joint classifications, types of connective tissues, and specific anatomical examples.

What is the definition of arthrology?

The study of the joints or articulations between bones.

What are the three functional classifications of joints based on mobility?

Synarthrosis (immovable), amphiarthrosis (limited movement), and diarthrosis (freely movable).

What criteria is used for the structural classification of joints?

The types of tissues that unite or bind the articulating bones.

What are the three distinct groups of structural joints?

Fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial.

What are the characteristics of fibrous joints?

They lack a joint cavity and are held together by fibrous connective tissue.

What are the three types of fibrous joints and their mobility levels?

Syndesmosis (slightly movable or amphiarthrodial), sutures (immovable or synarthrodial), and gomphoses (limited movement or amphiarthrodial).

What are examples of syndesmosis joints?

The distal tibiofibular joint, sacroiliac, carpal, and tarsal joints.

Where is a gomphosis joint found in the body?

The roots of the teeth lying in the alveolar sockets, held by fibrous periodontal ligaments.

How are articulating bones held together in cartilaginous joints?

They are held together tightly by hyaline or fibrocartilage and lack a joint cavity.

What are the two types of cartilaginous joints?

Symphyses (slightly movable or amphiarthrodial) and synchondroses (immovable or synarthrodial).

What are examples of symphysis joints?

Intervertebral joint spaces, the joint between the manubrium and body of the sternum, and the symphysis pubis.

What are examples of synchondroses joints?

Epiphysial plates and the acetabulum of the pelvis.

Which joint category is characterized by a fibrous capsule and a synovial membrane?

Synovial joints.

What is the function of synovial fluid?

It is a thick yellow viscous fluid that lubricates the joint space to reduce friction between bones.

Which type of cartilage covers the ends of adjacent bones in synovial joints?

Articular or hyaline cartilage.

What are hinge (ginglymus) joints and how much movement do they provide?

They allow uniaxial flexion and extension movement, providing no more than $180^{\circ}$ of movement.

What is the only saddle (sellar) joint in the human body?

The carpometacarpal joint between the trapezium and first metacarpal.

What defines a pivot (trochoid) joint?

Rotation around a single axis, where one bone with a rounded or pointed surface articulates within a ring formed by the other bone.

What are examples of condylar (ellipsoid) joints?

Metacarpophalangeal joints of the fingers, the radiocarpal (wrist) joint, and the metatarsophalangeal joints of the toes.

What is another name for ball and socket joints and what movements do they permit?

Spheroid joints; they permit multiaxial movement including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, circumduction, and rotation.

What are planar (gliding) joints?

Simplified synovial joints with flattened or slightly curved surfaces allowing slight uniaxial movement, such as intercarpal and intertarsal joints.

What mnemonic is used to remember the six types of synovial joints?

Healthy skeletons protect cartilage and bones perfectly (Hinge, Saddle, Pivot, Condylar, Ball and socket, Planar).