Joints and Bony Markings

This set covers vocabulary definitions for joint types, classifications, and bony markings as discussed in the anatomy lecture transcript.

Articulation

Another name for joints, which is the site where two bones come together or meet.

Ligaments

Connective tissues that connect bone to bone.

Tendons

Connective tissues that connect muscle to bone.

Synarthrosis

A functional classification for immovable joints, such as skull sutures or teeth in their sockets.

Amphiarthrosis

A functional classification for slightly movable joints that are typically held together tightly and have limited movement, like the vertebrae.

Diarthrosis

A functional classification for freely movable joints, such as ball and socket joints.

Fibrous Joints

A structural classification where bones are bound by tough fibrous tissue rich in collagen, allowing very little to no movement.

Gomphosis

A specific type of immovable fibrous joint found where the teeth articulate in the maxilla or mandible bones.

Syndesmosis

A slightly movable fibrous joint held together by an interosseous membrane, found between bones like the radius and ulnar.

Cartilaginous Joints

A structural classification where bones are united by fibrocartilage or hyaline cartilage; they are typically intermediate in mobility.

Synchondrosis

A primary cartilaginous joint typically connected by hyaline cartilage that is immovable, such as the epiphysial growth plates.

Symphysis

A secondary cartilaginous joint where bones are united by a layer of fibrocartilage, typically found in the medial plane of the body.

Synovial Joints

The most common and most movable joint type in the body, characterized by the presence of a joint cavity and a synovial membrane.

Articular Joint Capsule

A structure surrounding a synovial joint typically consisting of two layers: an outer fibrous membrane and an inner synovial membrane.

Synovial Fluid

A viscous, slippery filtrate of plasma and hyaluronic acid that lubricates the joint and nourishes the articular cartilage.

Periosteum

A surrounding layer of the bone that supplies blood, provides nerve innervation, and helps in growth and repair.

Periarticular Plexuses

A network of blood vessels located around an articular surface that produce the filtrate for synovial fluid.

Hinge Joint

A synovial joint that permits movement in only one plane, such as flexion and extension in the elbow or knee.

Saddle Joint

A joint characterized by opposing articular surfaces with reciprocal concave-convex shapes, such as the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb.

Plain Joint

Also known as a gliding joint, where relatively flat articular surfaces allow bones to glide over one another.

Pivot Joint

A joint formed by a central bony pivot surrounded by a ring, allowing only rotation, such as the atlantoaxial joint.

Condyloid Joint

Also known as an ellipsoid or biaxial joint, it contains a convex surface articulating with a concave elliptical cavity.

Ball and Socket Joint

A joint where a ball-shaped surface fits into a cup-like depression, permitting free movement in numerous axes.

Bony Markings

Anatomical regions on bone used to identify where muscle origins, insertions, blood vessels, and nerves are found.

Condyle

A rounded knob that forms an articulation with another bone.

Epicondyle

A bony area located just above a condyle, typically where muscles and ligaments attach.

Tuberosity

A large tubercle or small rounded prominence that acts as a site for tendon or ligament attachment.

Trochanter

A large projection found only in the femur bone of the leg, which includes the greater and lesser versions.

Process

A bulging outgrowth of a large bone, such as the mastoid process behind the ear.

Spine

A sharp, slender projection that often serves as a site for muscle or ligament attachment, such as the spine of the scapula.

Facet

A subtle, long, and narrow impression on a bone surface.

Crest

A prominent raised edge of a bone, such as the iliac crest.

Foramen

A hole through a bone; the plural form is known as foramina.

Meatus

An opening into a long canal, such as the external acoustic meatus of the ear.

Fissure

A narrow slit through bone that typically provides a passageway for nerves and blood vessels.

Fossa

A depression in the bone classified as an elongated basin, such as the subscapular fossa.

Fovea

A small pit or distinct depression, such as the fovea capitis found on the head of the femur.

Notch

A depression in a bone, such as the scapular notch through which the suprascapular nerve passes.

Sulcus

A type of groove along a bone, often used interchangeably with the term 'notch' or 'groove'.