Bone & joints
General
Anatomy-joints
Author: Vijay Shankar, M.D.
Last author update: 1 December 2012
Last staff update: 26 November 2021
Copyright: 2002-2023, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Joints anatomy [title]
Cite this page: Shankar V. Anatomy-joints. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/jointsnormalanatomy.html. Accessed June 4th, 2023.
Definition / general
- Junction between adjacent bones that provide painless range of motion and stability
- Synovial or nonsynovial
- Synovial joints:
- Also called diarthroses
- Contain joint space between ends of bones formed by endochondral ossification
- Joints covered by hyaline cartilage, strengthened by dense fibrous capsule continuous with periosteum of bones and an inner synovial membrane
- Joint is reinforced by ligaments and muscles
- Presence of joint space allows wide range of motion and maintains stability during use
- Nonsynovial joints:
- Also called solid joint or synarthrosis
- No joint space present
- Provides structural integrity and minimal movement
- May be fibrous / synarthrosis (cranial sutures, bonds between roots of teeth and jaw bones) or cartilaginous / amphiarthrosis (manubriosternalis and pubic)
- Bursae:
- Found when muscles, tendons and skin glide over bony prominences
- Subject to same diseases as large joint spaces
- Menisci:
- Composed of collagen arranged circumferentially with some radial fibers
- In young adults, are white, translucent and supple
- Become more opaque, yellow, less supple in elderly
Diagrams / tables
Images hosted on other servers:
Shoulder joint
Different types of synovial joints
Gross images
Images hosted on other servers:
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Elbow joint; deep dissection; anterior view
Additional references
