Chapter 8 Joints: Study Guide
Vocabulary:
Review Questions:
How are joints classified?
 Movement of skeleton at points of articulation (joints) where two or more bones meet.
 Structural: whether a joint cavity is present
 Fibrous
 Cartilaginous
 Synovial
 Functional: the amount of movement
 Synarthroses: immoveable
 Amphiarthroses: slightly moveable
 Diarthroses: freely moveable joints
List and describe the three classes of fibrous joints, include an example of where each type is
found.
 Sutures
 Seams between bones (e.g. skull)/ bones are held together with very short
interconnecting fibers, and bone edges interlock.
 Syndesmoses
 Bones connected by a ligament, with little movement
 Gomphoses
 Peg-in-socket connection, found in teeth
Name and describe the two types of cartilaginous joints. Give an example of where each type is
found.
Which joint type is the most common in the body?
Diarthroses
List and explain the characteristics of synovial joints.
 Articular cartilage:
 hyaline cartilage covering of opposing bone surfaces
 Joint (synovial) cavity:
 space with synovial fluid
 Articular capsule:
 Fibrous capsule with a synovial membrane; adds strength to bones, keeping them
from being pulled apart
 Synovial fluid:
 slippery fluid in cavity, composed primarily of water and hyaluronic acid
 Reinforcing ligaments:
 reinforce joint
Describe the structure of synovial joints.
How is friction reduced in synovial joints?
 Bursae and tendon sheaths
 associated, but not part of the joint
 Bursae
 flattened fibrous sacs with synovial fluid
 Tendon sheath
 elongated bursa that wraps around a tendon (like a hot dog bun)
What factors influence the stability of synovial joints? How?
 Articular surfaces
 Shape determines movement, but NOT stability
 Ball and socket is an example of a stable, articular joint
 Ligaments
 Prevent undesirable movement, with more increasing the strength (most important
factor)
 Muscle tone
 Good increases stability, holding the tendons tense
List the four types of movement based on planes.
List and describe the synovial joint movements discussed in class.
 Plane:
 flat, gliding
 Hinge:
 cylinder and trough
 Pivot:
 rounded end into sleeve
 Condyloid:
 oval surfaces in depressions
 Saddle:
 similar to condyloid; more movement with concave and convex surfaces
 Ball-and-socket:
 spherical head with cuplike socket