Clinical Kinesiology - Articular System and Arthrokinematics

cartilaginous joints

primarily provide stability while allowing small amounts of movement, such as bending, twisting, and compression

diarthrodial joints

also termed synovial joints, allow relatively more movement than stability

non-axial joint (plane joint movement)

when present, tends to be linear instead of angular

the joint surfaces are relatively flat and glide on each other

uniaxial joint movement

angular movement occurring within one plane and about one axis, and thus has one degree of freedom

biaxial joint movement

angular movement occurring within two plane and about two axes, and thus has 2 degrees of fredom

plane joint

non-axial (gliding) intercarpal

hinge joint

uniaxial (flexion-extension) elbow, knee

Pivot joint

uniaxial (rotation) radius/ulna

condyloid (ellipsoidal) joint

biaxial (flexion-extension, abduction-adduction) wrist

sellar (saddle) joint

triaxial (flexion-extension, adduction-abduction, opposition) thumb

ball and socket joint

triaxial (flexion-extension, adduction-abduction, rotation) shoulder, hip

bones

usually two, articulate with each other

ligaments

bands of fibrous connective tissue, support and hold a joint together

also provide attachments for cartilage, fascia and in some cases muscle

capsule (capsular ligament)

surrounds and encases the joint

synovial membrane

a thick, vascular connective tissue that secretes synovial fluid

synovial fluid

thick, clear fluid (resembling egg whites), consisting primarily of water and dissolved protein

function of synovial fluid

lubricating articular cartilage to reduce friction between articular surface and serving as the major source of nutrition for articular cartilage

cartilage

dense and fibrous connective tissue that can withstand great amount of pressure and tension

hyaline cartilage (articular cartilage)

covers the ends of opposing bones within a synovial joint

with the help of synovial fluid, it provides a smooth articulating surface in all synovial joint

lacks blood and nerve supply (nutrition is provided by synovial fluid)

can’t repair itself when damaged

fibrocartilage

present in both synovial and cartilaginous joints

shock absorption is the primary function because of its very dense structure

elastic cartilage

design to help maintain a structure’s shape while allowing some flexibility

found in the external ear, eustachian tube and larynx

tendons

connect muscles to bone

may be cylindrical cords (biceps) or flat band (patellar)

roll

movement of one joint surface on another

glide (slide)

linear movement of one joint surface parallel to the other joint surface

spin

rotation of one joint surface on another

same point on each surface remains in contact