Which joints permit the most possible movement

Knees, elbows, and shoulders are examples of synovial joints. The functional classification divides joints into three categories: synarthroses, amphiarthroses, and diarthroses. A synarthrosis is a joint that is immovable. This includes sutures, gomphoses, and synchondroses. Amphiarthroses are joints that allow slight movement, including syndesmoses and symphyses. Diarthroses are joints that allow for free movement of the joint, as in synovial joints. The wide range of movement allowed by synovial joints produces different types of movements.

The movement of synovial joints can be classified as one of four different types: gliding, angular, rotational, or special movement. Gliding movements occur as relatively flat bone surfaces move past each other. Gliding movements produce very little rotation or angular movement of the bones. The joints of the carpal and tarsal bones are examples of joints that produce gliding movements.

Angular movements are produced when the angle between the bones of a joint changes. There are several different types of angular movements, including flexion, extension, hyperextension, abduction, adduction, and circumduction. Flexion , or bending, occurs when the angle between the bones decreases. Moving the forearm upward at the elbow or moving the wrist to move the hand toward the forearm are examples of flexion.

Extension is the opposite of flexion in that the angle between the bones of a joint increases. Straightening a limb after flexion is an example of extension. Extension past the regular anatomical position is referred to as hyperextension.

This includes moving the neck back to look upward, or bending the wrist so that the hand moves away from the forearm.

Abduction occurs when a bone moves away from the midline of the body. Examples of abduction are moving the arms or legs laterally to lift them straight out to the side. Adduction is the movement of a bone toward the midline of the body. Movement of the limbs inward after abduction is an example of adduction.

Circumduction is the movement of a limb in a circular motion, as in moving the arm in a circular motion. Rotational movement is the movement of a bone as it rotates around its longitudinal axis.

Rotation can be toward the midline of the body, which is referred to as medial rotation , or away from the midline of the body, which is referred to as lateral rotation. Movement of the head from side to side is an example of rotation. Some movements that cannot be classified as gliding, angular, or rotational are called special movements.

Inversion involves the soles of the feet moving inward, toward the midline of the body. Eversion is the opposite of inversion, movement of the sole of the foot outward, away from the midline of the body.

Protraction is the anterior movement of a bone in the horizontal plane. Retraction occurs as a joint moves back into position after protraction. Protraction and retraction can be seen in the movement of the mandible as the jaw is thrust outwards and then back inwards. Elevation is the movement of a bone upward, such as when the shoulders are shrugged, lifting the scapulae.

Depression is the opposite of elevation—movement downward of a bone, such as after the shoulders are shrugged and the scapulae return to their normal position from an elevated position. Smooth cartilage prevents friction as the bones move against one another.

In freely movable joints, the entire joint is enclosed inside a membrane filled with lubricating synovial fluid, which helps to provide extra cushioning against impact. Muscles are attached to bones with thick, tough bands of connective tissue called tendons. Where tendons lie close to bone, tiny sacs called bursae sit between the tendon and the bone to reduce friction. A bursa is filled with synovial fluid. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:.

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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Rotation of the radius allows for forearm movements. In a hinge joint , the convex end of one bone articulates with the concave end of the adjoining bone see Figure 9.

This type of joint allows only for bending and straightening motions along a single axis, and thus hinge joints are functionally classified as uniaxial joints. A good example is the elbow joint, with the articulation between the trochlea of the humerus and the trochlear notch of the ulna. Other hinge joints of the body include the knee, ankle, and interphalangeal joints between the phalanges of the fingers and toes.

At a condyloid joint ellipsoid joint , the shallow depression at the end of one bone articulates with a rounded structure from an adjacent bone or bones see Figure 9. The knuckle metacarpophalangeal joints of the hand between the distal end of a metacarpal bone and the proximal phalanx are condyloid joints.

Another example is the radiocarpal joint of the wrist, between the shallow depression at the distal end of the radius bone and the rounded scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum carpal bones. In this case, the articulation area has a more oval elliptical shape. Functionally, condyloid joints are biaxial joints that allow for two planes of movement. One movement involves the bending and straightening of the fingers or the anterior-posterior movements of the hand.

The second movement is a side-to-side movement, which allows you to spread your fingers apart and bring them together, or to move your hand in a medial or lateral direction. At a saddle joint , both of the articulating surfaces for the bones have a saddle shape, which is concave in one direction and convex in the other see Figure 9.

This allows the two bones to fit together like a rider sitting on a saddle. Saddle joints are functionally classified as biaxial joints. The primary example is the first carpometacarpal joint, between the trapezium a carpal bone and the first metacarpal bone at the base of the thumb. This joint provides the thumb the ability to move away from the palm of the hand along two planes.

Thus, the thumb can move within the same plane as the palm of the hand, or it can jut out anteriorly, perpendicular to the palm. The sternoclavicular joint is also classified as a saddle joint. At a plane joint gliding joint , the articulating surfaces of the bones are flat or slightly curved and of approximately the same size, which allows the bones to slide against each other see Figure 9.

The motion at this type of joint is usually small and tightly constrained by surrounding ligaments. Based only on their shape, plane joints can allow multiple movements, including rotation and can be functionally classified as a multiaxial joint. However, not all of these movements are available to every plane joint due to limitations placed on it by ligaments or neighboring bones. Depending upon the specific joint of the body, a plane joint may exhibit movement in a single plane or in multiple planes.

Plane joints are found between the carpal bones intercarpal joints of the wrist or tarsal bones intertarsal joints of the foot, between the clavicle and acromion of the scapula acromioclavicular joint , and between the superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae zygapophysial joints. The joint with the greatest range of motion is the ball-and-socket joint. At these joints, the rounded head of one bone the ball fits into the concave articulation the socket of the adjacent bone see Figure 9.

The hip joint and the glenohumeral shoulder joint are the only ball-and-socket joints of the body. At the hip joint, the head of the femur articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone, and at the shoulder joint, the head of the humerus articulates with the glenoid cavity of the scapula. Ball-and-socket joints are classified functionally as multiaxial joints.

The femur and the humerus are able to move in both anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions and they can also rotate around their long axis. The shallow socket formed by the glenoid cavity allows the shoulder joint an extensive range of motion. In contrast, the deep socket of the acetabulum and the strong supporting ligaments of the hip joint serve to constrain movements of the femur, reflecting the need for stability and weight-bearing ability at the hip.

Watch this video to see an animation of synovial joints in action. Synovial joints are places where bones articulate with each other inside of a joint cavity. The different types of synovial joints are the ball-and-socket joint shoulder joint , hinge joint knee , pivot joint atlantoaxial joint, between C1 and C2 vertebrae of the neck , condyloid joint radiocarpal joint of the wrist , saddle joint first carpometacarpal joint, between the trapezium carpal bone and the first metacarpal bone, at the base of the thumb , and plane joint facet joints of vertebral column, between superior and inferior articular processes.

Which type of synovial joint allows for the widest range of motion? Risk factors that may lead to osteoarthritis later in life include injury to a joint; jobs that involve physical labor; sports with running, twisting, or throwing actions; and being overweight.

These factors put stress on the articular cartilage that covers the surfaces of bones at synovial joints, causing the cartilage to gradually become thinner. As the articular cartilage layer wears down, more pressure is placed on the bones. The joint responds by increasing production of the lubricating synovial fluid, but this can lead to swelling of the joint cavity, causing pain and joint stiffness as the articular capsule is stretched.

The bone tissue underlying the damaged articular cartilage also responds by thickening, producing irregularities and causing the articulating surface of the bone to become rough or bumpy.

Joint movement then results in pain and inflammation. In individuals with more advanced osteoarthritis, the affected joints can become more painful and therefore are difficult to use effectively, resulting in increased immobility. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but several treatments can help alleviate the pain.

Treatments may include lifestyle changes, such as weight loss and low-impact exercise, and over-the-counter or prescription medications that help to alleviate the pain and inflammation.

For severe cases, joint replacement surgery arthroplasty may be required. Joint replacement is a very invasive procedure, so other treatments are always tried before surgery. However arthroplasty can provide relief from chronic pain and can enhance mobility within a few months following the surgery.

This type of surgery involves replacing the articular surfaces of the bones with prosthesis artificial components. For example, in hip arthroplasty, the worn or damaged parts of the hip joint, including the head and neck of the femur and the acetabulum of the pelvis, are removed and replaced with artificial joint components.

Moving the limb or hand laterally away from the body, or spreading the fingers or toes, is abduction. Adduction brings the limb or hand toward or across the midline of the body or brings the fingers or toes together. Circumduction is the movement of the limb, hand, or fingers in a circular pattern, using the sequential combination of flexion, adduction, extension, and abduction motions.

Medial and lateral rotation of the upper limb at the shoulder or lower limb at the hip involves turning the anterior surface of the limb toward the midline of the body medial or internal rotation or away from the midline lateral or external rotation.

Rotational movement is the movement of a bone as it rotates around its longitudinal axis. Rotation can be toward the midline of the body, which is referred to as medial rotation, or away from the midline of the body, which is referred to as lateral rotation.

Movement of the head from side to side is an example of rotation. Some movements that cannot be classified as gliding, angular, or rotational are called special movements. Inversion involves moving the soles of the feet inward, toward the midline of the body. Eversion, the opposite of inversion, involves moving of the sole of the foot outward, away from the midline of the body.

Protraction is the anterior movement of a bone in the horizontal plane. Retraction occurs as a joint moves back into position after protraction. Protraction and retraction can be seen in the movement of the mandible as the jaw is thrust outwards and then back inwards.

Elevation is the movement of a bone upward, such as shrugging the shoulders, lifting the scapulae. Depression is the opposite of elevation and involves moving the bone downward, such as after the shoulders are shrugged and the scapulae return to their normal position from an elevated position. Dorsiflexion is a bending at the ankle such that the toes are lifted toward the knee.

Plantarflexion is a bending at the ankle when the heel is lifted, such as when standing on the toes. Supination is the movement of the radius and ulna bones of the forearm so that the palm faces forward or up.

Pronation is the opposite movement, in which the palm faces backward or down. Opposition is the movement of the thumb toward the fingers of the same hand, making it possible to grasp and hold objects. Synovial joints include planar, hinge, pivot, condyloid, saddle, and ball-and-socket joints, which allow varying types of movement.

Synovial joints are further classified into six different categories on the basis of the shape and structure of the joint. The shape of the joint affects the type of movement permitted by the joint.

These joints can be described as planar, hinge, pivot, condyloid, saddle, or ball-and-socket joints. Types of synovial joints : The six types of synovial joints allow the body to move in a variety of ways. Planar joints have bones with articulating surfaces that are flat or slightly curved.

These joints allow for gliding movements; therefore, the joints are sometimes referred to as gliding joints. The range of motion is limited and does not involve rotation. Planar joints are found in the carpal bones in the hand and the tarsal bones of the foot, as well as between vertebrae. In hinge joints, the slightly-rounded end of one bone fits into the slightly-hollow end of the other bone. In this way, one bone moves while the other remains stationary, similar to the hinge of a door.

The elbow is an example of a hinge joint. The knee is sometimes classified as a modified hinge joint. Pivot joints consist of the rounded end of one bone fitting into a ring formed by the other bone. This structure allows rotational movement, as the rounded bone moves around its own axis. An example of a pivot joint is the joint of the first and second vertebrae of the neck that allows the head to move back and forth.

The joint of the wrist that allows the palm of the hand to be turned up and down is also a pivot joint. Condyloid joints consist of an oval-shaped end of one bone fitting into a similarly oval-shaped hollow of another bone. This is also sometimes called an ellipsoidal joint. This type of joint allows angular movement along two axes, as seen in the joints of the wrist and fingers, which can move both side to side and up and down.

Condyloid : The metacarpophalangeal joints in the finger are examples of condyloid joints. Each bone in a saddle joint resembles a saddle, with concave and convex portions that fit together. Saddle joints allow angular movements similar to condyloid joints, but with a greater range of motion.

An example of a saddle joint is the thumb joint, which can move back and forth and up and down; it can move more freely than the wrist or fingers. Ball-and-socket joints possess a rounded, ball-like end of one bone fitting into a cup-like socket of another bone. This organization allows the greatest range of motion, as all movement types are possible in all directions.