Lab Joints
1. What are the two general ways in which joints are classified?
Joints are classified by structure and function. Structurally there are fibrous, cartilaginous, and
synovial joint structures. Functionally joints are classified by the amount of movement they allow.
There are synarthroses which are immovable, amphiarthroses which are slightly movable, and
diarthroses which are freely movable.
2. Why is the coxal joint more stable than the shoulder joint?
The shoulder joint gives up stability to provide the most freely movable joint of the body. The
head of the humerus fits in the small glenoid cavity like a golf ball sitting on a tee. The coxal joint
is a ball and socket joint like the shoulder but the head of the femur fits with the deeply cupped
acetabulum of the hip bone. These two bones fit together in a much deeper socket limiting range
of motion for stability.
3. For each of the following exercises, name two joints involved and one type of movement that occurs at
each joint:
a. Chin-ups: _Hinge joint- Flexion of arm to pull the body up to the bar. _______
__Pivot joint – Supination of the radioulnar joint to have the palms facing your face to
get them in he right position to perform the chin up.
b. Squats: _Hinge joint – Flexion of the knee to lower the body and extension to raise the body
back up.
Ball and Socket – Flexion of femur to lower body, extension of femur to raise body to
upright position.
4. Match each of the following joints with its structural classification(s).
___2__ a. atlantoaxial joint
1. suture
__11__ b. intervertebral joint
2. pivot joint
___3__ c. glenohumeral joint
3. ball-and-socket joint
___6__ d. interphalangeal joint
4. saddle joint
__8___ e. dentoalveolar joint
5. syndesmosis
11. plane joint
___11__ f. sacroiliac joint
6. hinge joint
___1__ g. frontonasal joint
7. synchondrosis
__11__ h. intertarsal joint
_10___ i. metacarpophalangeal joint
8. gomphosis
9. symphysis
10. condyloid joint
Identifying and classifying Joints
1. Using the list of structures provided, and a diagram, sketch a synovial joint in the space
provided and identify the structures.
synovial cavity
articular cartilage
periosteum
fibrous outer layer
articular (joint) capsule
inner synovial membrane
ligaments
2. Match each of the following joint structures with its description/function:
____2__ a. syndesmosis
1. contains periodontal ligament
____4__ b. suture
2. organized into a bad or sheet
____3__ c. synovial joint
3. contains joint cavity
____1__ d. gomphosis
4. is found only in the skull
____5__ e. synchondrosis
5. epiphyseal plate