Types of Joint

A joint is the point where two or more bones meet. There are three main types of joints; Fibrous (immoveable), Cartilagenous (partially moveable) and Synovial (freely moveable).

Fibrous joints

Fibrous (synarthrodial): This type of joint is held together by only a ligament. Examples are where the teeth are held to their bony sockets and at both the radioulnar and tibiofibular joints.

Cartilagenous

Cartilagenous (synchondroses and sympheses): These joints occur where the connection between the articulating bones is made up of cartilage for example between vertebrae in the spine.

Cartilagenous

A cartilagenous joint between two vertebrae

Synchondroses are temporary joints which are only present in children, up until the end of puberty. For example the epiphyseal plates in long bones. Symphesis joints are permanant cartilagenous joints, for example the pubic symphesis.

Synovial Joints

Synovial (diarthrosis): Synovial joints are by far the most common classification of joint within the human body. They are highly moveable and all have a synovial capsule (collagenous structure) surrounding the entire joint, a synovial membrane (the inner layer of the capsule) which secretes synovial fluid (a lubricating liquid) and cartilage known as hyaline cartilage which pads the ends of the articulating bones. There are 6 types of synovial joints which are classified by the shape of the joint and the movement available.

Types of Synovial Joint

Fibrous joint

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Joint Type	Movement at joint	Examples	Structure
Hinge	Flexion/Extension	Elbow/Knee	Hinge joint
Pivot	Rotation of one bone around another	Top of the neck (atlas and axis bones)	Pivot Joint
Ball and Socket	Flexion/Extension/Adduction/ Abduction/Internal & External Rotation	Shoulder/Hip	Ball and socket joint
Saddle	Flexion/Extension/Adduction/ Abduction/Circumduction	CMC joint of the thumb	Saddle joint
Condyloid	Flexion/Extension/Adduction/ Abduction/Circumduction	Wrist/MCP & MTP joints	Condyloid joint
Gliding	Gliding movements	Intercarpal joints	Gliding joint