Chapter 11. Joints
Priscilla Stewart
Unit Outline
Learning Objectives
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
I. Explain what is meant by the terms synarthrotic, diarthrotic, and amphiarthrotic as descriptions of the functional classes of joints.
II. Describe the structures, classifications, functions, and locations of the various types of joints in the human body.
III. Describe the structure of a synovial joint, and using the knee joint as an example, specify the functions of each component.
IV. Describe the movements allowed by synovial joints and specify examples of each.
V. Describe the structures and movements allowed by each type of synovial joint and also specify an example of each in the human body.
Part 1: Overview and Classification of Joints
The adult human body has 206 bones, and with the exception of the hyoid bone in the neck, each bone is connected to at least one other bone. Joints, or articulations, are the location where bones, or bone and cartilage, come together. Many joints allow for movement between the bones. At these joints, the articulating surfaces of the adjacent bones can move smoothly against each other. However, the bones of other joints may be joined to each other by connective tissue or cartilage. These joints are designed for stability and provide for little or no movement. Importantly, joint stability and movement are related to each other. This means that stable joints allow for little or no mobility between the adjacent bones. Conversely, joints that provide the most movement between bones are the least stable. Understanding the relationship between joint structure and function will help to explain why particular types of joints are found in certain areas of the body.
The articulating surfaces of bones at stable types of joints, with little or no mobility, are strongly united to each other. For example, most of the joints of the skull are held together by fibrous connective tissue and do not allow for movement between the adjacent bones. This lack of mobility is important, because the skull bones serve to protect the brain. Similarly, other joints united by fibrous connective tissue allow for very little movement, which provides stability and weight-bearing support for the body. For example, the tibia and fibula of the leg are tightly united to give stability to the body when standing. At other joints, the bones are held together by cartilage, which permits limited movements between the bones. Thus, the joints of the vertebral column only allow for small movements between adjacent vertebrae, but when added together, these movements provide the flexibility that allows your body to twist, or bend to the front, back, or side. In contrast, at joints that allow for wide ranges of motion, the articulating surfaces of the bones are not directly united to each other. Instead, these surfaces are enclosed within a space filled with lubricating fluid, which allows the bones to move smoothly against each other. The