Types of Joints

Synovial Joint

The bones are not directly connected. They are separated by synovial fluid. This is the most common type of joint in the body, and it provides the highest degree of movement, especially ball-and-socket joints.

Fibrous/Fixed Joint

A joint where the bones are connected by connective tissue fibers, especially collagen. Some fibrous joints are also called fixed joints, because they do not allow movement. Suture joints in the skill are examples of fixed joints.

Cartilaginous Joint

A joint where the bones are connected by cartilage, a type of connective tissue. Cartilaginous joints allow some movement and this fall in between synovial joints and fibrous joints in terns of movement. Intervertebral discs are examples of cartilaginous joints.

Synarthrosis Joint

Immovable joints. Thus, fibrous joints, such as sutures in the skill.

Amphiarthrosis Joint

Slightly moveable joints. Thus, cartilaginous joints are amphiarthrosis joints.

Diathrosis Joint

Freely movable joints. All diathrosis joints are synovial joints, and thus these two terns are synonymous.

Ball and Socket Joint

This type of joint allows for the greatest degree of movement among all joints in the body. It allows for every kind of movement expect sliding/gliding. The hip joint is an example.

Condyloid Joint

Condyloid joints allow movement in several directions, but not rotation or gliding. This the condyloid joint is the second most moveable joint in the body. An example can be found the articulated hands, between the metacarpals of the hand and the phalanges of the fingers.

Pivot Joint

A joint where two bones slide against each other. The joint formed by the atlas and the axis *first and second cervical vertebrae, respectively) is an example.

Hinge Joint

In this type of joint movement is limited to only one plane. The elbow is an example.

Plane Joint

This is found between two nearly flat surfaces, like the bodies of two vertebrae. Some gliding of the two bones is possible, but very little flexion or rotation. (The plane joint is also called a gliding joint.)