Chapter 9: Joints and Articulations Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards defining joint classifications, movements, and specific anatomical joints and ligaments from Chapter 9.

amphiarthrosis

Slightly mobile joint.

articulation

Joint of the body (where two bone surfaces meet).

biaxial joint

Type of diarthrosis; a joint that allows for movements within two planes (two axes).

cartilaginous joint

Joint at which the bones are united by hyaline cartilage (synchondrosis) or fibrocartilage (symphysis).

diarthrosis

Freely mobile joint.

fibrous joint

Joint where the articulating areas of the adjacent bones are connected by fibrous connective tissue.

joint

Site at which two or more bones or bone and cartilage come together (articulate).

joint cavity

Space enclosed by the articular capsule of a synovial joint that is filled with synovial fluid and contains the articulating surfaces of the adjacent bones.

multiaxial joint

Type of diarthrosis; a joint that allows for movements within three planes (three axes).

synarthrosis

Immobile or nearly immobile joint.

synovial joint

Joint at which the articulating surfaces of the bones are located within a joint cavity formed by an articular capsule.

uniaxial joint

Type of diarthrosis; joint that allows for motion within only one plane (one axis).

fontanelle

Expanded areas of fibrous connective tissue that separate the braincase bones of the skull prior to birth and during the first year after birth.

gomphosis

Type of fibrous joint in which the root of a tooth is anchored into its bony jaw socket by strong periodontal ligaments.

interosseous membrane

Wide sheet of fibrous connective tissue that fills the gap between two parallel bones, forming a syndesmosis; found between the radius and ulna of the forearm and between the tibia and fibula of the leg.

symphysis

Type of cartilaginous joint where the bones are joined by fibrocartilage.

synchondrosis

Type of cartilaginous joint where the bones are joined by hyaline cartilage.

articular capsule

Connective tissue structure that encloses the joint cavity of a synovial joint.

articular cartilage

Thin layer of hyaline cartilage that covers articulating surfaces of bones at a synovial joint; reduces friction and acts as a shock absorber.

articular disc

Meniscus; a fibrocartilage structure found between the bones of some synovial joints; provides padding or smooths movements between the bones; strongly unites the bones together.

ball-and-socket joint

Synovial joint formed between the spherical end of one bone (the ball) that fits into the depression of a second bone (the socket); found at the hip and shoulder joints; functionally classified as a multiaxial joint.

bursa

Connective tissue sac containing lubricating fluid that prevents friction between adjacent structures, such as skin and bone, tendons and bone, or between muscles.

condyloid joint

Synovial joint in which the shallow depression at the end of one bone receives a rounded end from a second bone or a rounded structure formed by two bones; found at the metacarpophalangeal joints of the fingers or the radiocarpal joint of the wrist; functionally classified as a biaxial joint.

extrinsic ligament

Ligament located outside of the articular capsule of a synovial joint.

hinge joint

Synovial joint at which the convex surface of one bone articulates with the concave surface of a second bone; includes the elbow, knee, ankle, and interphalangeal joints; functionally classified as a uniaxial joint.

intracapsular ligament

Ligament that is located within the articular capsule of a synovial joint.

intrinsic ligament

Ligament that is fused to or incorporated into the wall of the articular capsule of a synovial joint.

meniscus

Articular disc.

pivot joint

Synovial joint at which the rounded portion of a bone rotates within a ring formed by a ligament and an articulating bone; functionally classified as uniaxial joint.

plane joint

Synovial joint formed between the flattened articulating surfaces of adjacent bones; functionally classified as a multiaxial joint.

proximal radioulnar joint

Formed by the articulation between the head of the radius and the radial notch of the ulna; uniaxial pivot joint that allows for rotation of radius during pronation/supination of forearm.

saddle joint

Synovial joint in which the articulating ends of both bones are convex and concave in shape, such as at the first carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb; functionally classified as a biaxial joint.

subcutaneous bursa

Bursa that prevents friction between skin and an underlying bone.

submuscular bursa

Bursa that prevents friction between bone and a muscle or between adjacent muscles.

subtendinous bursa

Bursa that prevents friction between bone and a muscle tendon.

synovial fluid

Thick, lubricating fluid that fills the interior of a synovial joint.

synovial membrane

Thin layer of connective tissue membrane that lines the cavities of synovial joints, producing synovial fluid for lubrication.

tendon

Dense connective tissue structure that anchors a muscle to bone.

tendon sheath

Connective tissue that surrounds a tendon at places where the tendon crosses a joint; contains a lubricating fluid to prevent friction and allow smooth movements of the tendon.

abduction

Movement in the coronal plane that moves a limb laterally away from the body; spreading of the fingers.

adduction

Movement in the coronal plane that moves a limb medially toward or across the midline of the body; bringing fingers together.

circumduction

Circular motion of the arm, thigh, hand, thumb, or finger that is produced by the sequential combination of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction.

depression

Downward (inferior) motion of the scapula or mandible.

dorsiflexion

Movement at the ankle that brings the top of the foot toward the anterior leg.

elevation

Upward (superior) motion of the scapula or mandible.

eversion

Foot movement involving the intertarsal joints of the foot in which the bottom of the foot is turned laterally, away from the midline.

extension

Movement in the sagittal plane that increases the angle of a joint (straightens the joint); motion involving posterior bending of the vertebral column or returning to the upright position from a flexed position.

flexion

Movement that decreases the angle between articulating bones.

hyperextension

Excessive extension of joint, beyond the normal range of movement.

hyperflexion

Excessive flexion of joint, beyond the normal range of movement.

inferior rotation

Movement of the scapula during upper limb adduction in which the glenoid cavity of the scapula moves in a downward direction as the medial end of the scapular spine moves in an upward direction.

inversion

Foot movement involving the intertarsal joints of the foot in which the bottom of the foot is turned toward the midline.

lateral excursion

Side-to-side movement of the mandible away from the midline, toward either the right or left side.

lateral flexion

Bending of the neck or body toward the right or left side.

lateral (external) rotation

Movement of the arm at the shoulder joint or the thigh at the hip joint that moves the anterior surface of the limb away from the midline of the body.

medial excursion

Side-to-side movement that returns the mandible to the midline.

medial (internal) rotation

Movement of the arm at the shoulder joint or the thigh at the hip joint that brings the anterior surface of the limb toward the midline of the body.

opposition

Thumb movement that brings the tip of the thumb in contact with the tip of a finger.

plantar flexion

Foot movement at the ankle in which the heel is lifted off of the ground.

pronated position

Forearm position in which the palm faces backward.

pronation

Forearm motion that moves the palm of the hand from the palm forward to the palm backward position.

protraction

Anterior motion of the scapula or mandible.

reposition

Movement of the thumb from opposition back to the anatomical position (next to index finger).

retraction

Posterior motion of the scapula or mandible.

rotation

Movement of a bone around a central axis (atlantoaxial joint) or around its long axis (proximal radioulnar joint; shoulder or hip joint); twisting of the vertebral column resulting from the summation of small motions between adjacent vertebrae.

superior rotation

Movement of the scapula during upper limb abduction in which the glenoid cavity of the scapula moves in an upward direction as the medial end of the scapular spine moves in a downward direction.

supinated position

Forearm position in which the palm faces anteriorly (anatomical position).

supination

Forearm motion that moves the palm of the hand from the palm backward to the palm forward position.

acetabular labrum

Lip of fibrocartilage that surrounds outer margin of the acetabulum on the hip bone.

annular ligament

Intrinsic ligament of the elbow articular capsule that surrounds and supports the head of the radius at the proximal radioulnar joint.

anterior cruciate ligament

Intracapsular ligament of the knee; extends from anterior, superior surface of the tibia to the inner aspect of the lateral condyle of the femur; resists hyperextension of knee.

anterior talofibular ligament

Intrinsic ligament located on the lateral side of the ankle joint, between talus bone and lateral malleolus of fibula; supports talus at the talocrural joint and resists excess inversion of the foot.

atlantoaxial joint

Series of three articulations between the atlas (C1) vertebra and the axis (C2) vertebra, consisting of the joints between the inferior articular processes of C1 and the superior articular processes of C2, and the articulation between the dens of C2 and the anterior arch of C1.

atlanto-occipital joint

Articulation between the occipital condyles of the skull and the superior articular processes of the atlas (C1 vertebra).

calcaneofibular ligament

Intrinsic ligament located on the lateral side of the ankle joint, between the calcaneus bone and lateral malleolus of the fibula; supports the talus bone at the ankle joint and resists excess inversion of the foot.

coracohumeral ligament

Intrinsic ligament of the shoulder joint; runs from the coracoid process of the scapula to the anterior humerus.

deltoid ligament

Broad intrinsic ligament located on the medial side of the ankle joint; supports the talus at the talocrural joint and resists excess eversion of the foot.

elbow joint

Joint located between the arm and forearm; formed by the articulations between the trochlea of the humerus and the trochlear notch of the ulna, and between the capitulum of the humerus and the head of the radius; includes the humeroulnar joint.

femoropatellar joint

Portion of the knee joint consisting of the articulation between the distal femur and the patella.

fibular collateral ligament

Extrinsic ligament of the knee joint that spans from the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the head of the fibula; resists hyperextension and rotation of the extended knee.

glenohumeral joint

(Also, shoulder joint) formed by the articulation between the glenoid cavity of the scapula and the head of the humerus; multiaxial ball-and-socket joint that allows for flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, circumduction, and medial/lateral rotation of the humerus.

glenohumeral ligament

One of the three intrinsic ligaments of the shoulder joint that strengthen the anterior articular capsule.

glenoid labrum

Lip of fibrocartilage located around the outside margin of the glenoid cavity of the scapula.

humeroradial joint

Articulation between the capitulum of the humerus and head of the radius.

humeroulnar joint

Articulation between the trochlea of humerus and the trochlear notch of the ulna; uniaxial hinge joint that allows for flexion/extension of the forearm.

iliofemoral ligament

Intrinsic ligament spanning from the ilium of the hip bone to the femur, on the superior-anterior aspect of the hip joint.

ischiofemoral ligament

Intrinsic ligament spanning from the ischium of the hip bone to the femur, on the posterior aspect of the hip joint.

lateral meniscus

C-shaped fibrocartilage articular disc located at the knee, between the lateral condyle of the femur and the lateral condyle of the tibia.

lateral tibiofemoral joint

Portion of the knee consisting of the articulation between the lateral condyle of the tibia and the lateral condyle of the femur; allows for flexion/extension at the knee.

ligament of the head of the femur

Intracapsular ligament that runs from the acetabulum of the hip bone to the fovea capitis of the femural head.

medial meniscus

C-shaped fibrocartilage articular disc located at the knee, between the medial condyle of the femur and medial condyle of the tibia.

medial tibiofemoral joint

Portion of the knee consisting of the articulation between the medial condyle of the tibia and the medial condyle of the femur; allows for flexion/extension at the knee.

patellar ligament

Ligament spanning from the patella to the anterior tibia; extension of the quadriceps tendon which serves as the distal attachment for the muscles of the quadriceps femoris.

posterior cruciate ligament

Intracapsular ligament of the knee; extends from the posterior, superior surface of the tibia to the inner aspect of the medial condyle of the femur; prevents anterior displacement of the femur when the knee is flexed and weight bearing.

posterior talofibular ligament

Intrinsic ligament located on the lateral side of the ankle joint, between the talus bone and lateral malleolus of the fibula; supports the talus at the talocrural joint and resists excess inversion of the foot.

pubofemoral ligament

Intrinsic ligament spanning from the pubis of the hip bone to the femur, on the anterior-inferior aspect of the hip joint.

radial collateral ligament

Intrinsic ligament on the lateral side of the elbow joint; runs from the lateral epicondyle of humerus to merge with the annular ligament.

rotator cuff

Strong connective tissue structure formed by the fusion of four rotator cuff muscle tendons to the articular capsule of the shoulder joint; surrounds and supports superior, anterior, lateral, and posterior sides of the humeral head.

subacromial bursa

Bursa that protects the supraspinatus muscle tendon and superior end of the humerus from rubbing against the acromion of the scapula.

subscapular bursa

Bursa that prevents rubbing of the subscapularis muscle tendon against the scapula.