All about joints

TYPES OF SYNOVIAL JOINTS-

BALL & SOCKET

The ball-like head of one bone fits into the socket-like head of another, permitting all movements.  Eg. shoulder and hip joints

SADDLE

The concave surfaces of two bones articulate with one another.  Forward and back and side-to-side movements are possible. Eg. The trapezium and metacarpal bones of the thumb

PIVOT

A ring of bone rotates about a process of bone.  Movement is limited to rotation.  Eg. skull on its atlas (1st cervical vertebra) rotates about the odontoid process of the axis (2nd cervical vertebra)

HINGE

The C-shaped surface of one bone swings about the rounded surface of another.  Movement is limited to flexion/extension.  Eg. elbow, interphalangeal joints

ELLIPSOID

This is a reduced ball and socket configuration in which rotation is not permitted.  Found between radius and ulna of the forearm where they articulate with the scaphoid and lunate carpals of the wrist

GLIDING

Bones glide across one another.  Eg. intercarpal joints

View all messages