AnatomyLesson 1 of 3 in the course Joints

Structural and Functional Classification of Joints and Motion Axes

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Joints, also called articulations, are places where bones meet each other or meet cartilage. This lesson introduces the two main ways joints are classified: by their structure and by how much movement they allow.

Structural classification depends on how adjacent bones are connected and whether a joint cavity is present.

Synovial joints are the most common joints in the body and allow free movement between the bones. In contrast, fibrous and cartilaginous joints are connected directly by connective tissue or cartilage.

All flashcards

What is a joint, or articulation?
A place where adjacent bones, or a bone and cartilage, come together to form a connection.
What defines a fibrous joint?
Adjacent bones are united by fibrous connective tissue.
What defines a cartilaginous joint?
The bones are joined by hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage.
What defines a synovial joint?
The articulating bone surfaces are not directly connected; they meet within a fluid-filled joint cavity.
How do structural and functional classifications differ?
Structural classification is based on how bones are connected and whether a joint cavity is present. Functional classification is based on how much movement the joint allows.

Quiz questions

  1. What functional category includes every synovial joint?Answer: Diarthrosis
  2. The elbow permits bending and straightening around how many axes?Answer: One axis
  3. A metacarpophalangeal joint permits finger movement around how many axes?Answer: Two axes
  4. The shoulder and hip permit movement around how many axes?Answer: Three axes
  5. What is the result of combining small movements between neighboring vertebrae?Answer: A larger range of movement along the vertebral column

Based on Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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