Joints

Functional classification

degree of natural movement

Synarthrotic

immobile joints

Ampiarthrotic

slightly moveable joints

Diarthrotic

freely moveable

three structural classifications of joints

Fibrous, cartilagenous, synovial

Fibrous joints

Bones joined by dense connective tissue

Functional classification of fibrous joints and examples

Synarthrosis (ex. sutures & gomphoses (teeth)) & Amphiarthrosis (Syndesmoses (tib-fib distal joint))

Cartilaginous joints

Bones joined by hyaline cartilage or by fibrocartilage

Cartilaginous joints (hyaline cartilage) functional classification and examples

Synarthrosis (immovable); Synchondroses

(epiphyseal plate; ribs & sternum)

Cartilaginous joints (fibrocartilage) functional classification and examples

Amphiarthrosis (slightly movable); Symphyses (pubic symphysis, intervertebral discs)

Synovial joints

Articular hyaline cartilage on bones separated by a fluid-filled joint cavity

Synovial joints functional classification and examples

Diarthrosis (freely movable); Knee, shoulder, hip, elbow, fingers, etc.

Pivot joints

uniaxial, allowing rotational movement

examples of pivot joints

C1 & C2, Distal radius & ulna

Flexion

Decreasing angle between two bones

Extension

Increasing angle between two bones

Hyperextension

Extension beyond the “normal” range (e.g. head, wrist or thigh backwards)

Lateral flexion

vertebral column bends to side

Abduction

moving appendage away from midline

adduction

moving appendage toward the midline

circumduction

circular movement combining flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction (e.g. leg circles)

rotation

bone pivots around longitudinal axis

medial (internal) rotation

turns bone toward the midline (e.g. supinated palm turns medially)

lateral (external) rotation

turns bone away from midline

supination

Forearm rotates so the palm faces up​

pronation

Forearm rotates so the palm faces down​

dorsiflexion

Lifting the foot so the toes point upward​

Plantarflexion

Pointing the toes downward​

Inversion

Turning the sole of the foot inward

Eversion

Turning the sole of the foot outward​

Protraction

Moving a body part forward (e.g., jaw out)

Retraction

Moving a body part backward​

Elevation

Lifting a body part (e.g., shoulders shrugging up)​

Depression

Lowering a body part

Opposition

Thumb touches the fingertips​

Gliding joint motion, axes, and examples

gliding, nonaxial, (carpals, tarsals, sternoclavicular, intervertebral joint)

Hinge joint motion, axes, and examples

angular, uniaxial, (jaw, elbow, interphalangeal, knee, ankle)

Pivot joint motion, axes, and examples

rotation, uniaxial, (atlas & axis (no), proximal radius & ulna, distal radius & ulna

condyloid joint motion, axes, and examples

angular, biaxial, (occipital & atlas (yes), radius & carpals, metacarpals & phalanges, metatarsals & phalanges

saddle joint motion, axes, and examples

angular, biaxial, (carpal & metacarpal 1)

ball and socket joint motion, axes, and examples

angular (including circumduction) & rotational, multiaxial, (shoulder, hip)

bones making up the orbit

frontal, sphenoid, ethmoid, zygomatic, lacrimal, maxillae