Hole’s Human Anatomy
and Physiology
Twelfth Edition
Shier w Butler w Lewis
Chapter
8
Joints of the
Skeletal System
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1
8.1: Introduction
• Are known as articulations
• Functional junctions between bones
• Bind parts of skeletal system together
• Make bone growth possible
• Permit parts of the skeleton to change shape during
childbirth
• Enable body to move in response to skeletal muscle
contraction
• Three (3) classifications of joints will be considered
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8.2: Classification of Joints
• (1) Fibrous joints
• Dense connective tissues connect
bones
• Between bones in close contact
• (2) Cartilaginous joints
• Hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage
connect bones
• These joints are also known as:
• Synarthrotic joints
• Considered immovable
• Amphiarthrotic joints
• Slightly movable
• Diarthrotic joints
• Freely movable
• (3) Synovial joints
• Most complex
• Allow free movement
3
Fibrous Joints
• There are three (3) types of fibrous joints (synarthroses):
• Syndesmosis
• Suture
• Gomphosis
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Interosseus
membrane
of leg
• Syndesmosis:
• A sheet or bundle of fibrous
tissue connecting bones
• Lies between tibia and fibula
(interosseous membrane)
Fibula
Anterior
tibiofibular
ligament
(interosseus
ligament)
Tibia
Medial
malleolus
Lateral
malleolus
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Fibrous Joints
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• Suture:
• Between flat bones
• See teeth-like projections
• Thin layer of connective
tissue connects bones
• Skull
Parietal
bone
Margin of
suture
Sutural
bones
Suture
Occipital
bone
(a)
(b)
Courtesy of John W. Hole, Jr.
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Crown of
tooth
• Gomphosis:
• Cone-shaped bony process in a socket
• Tooth in jawbone
Alveolar
process of
mandible
Periodontal
ligament
Root of
tooth
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Cartilaginous Joints
• There are two (2) types of cartilaginous joints (amphiarthroses):
• Synchondrosis
• Symphysis
First rib
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Thoracic
vertebra
Costal cartilage
• Synchondrosis:
Manubrium
• Bands of hyaline cartilage unite
bones
• Epiphyseal plate (temporary)
• Between manubrium and the first
rib (costal cartilages)
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Cartilaginous Joints
• Symphysis:
• Pad of fibrocartilage between bones
• Pubic symphysis
• Joint between bodies of adjacent vertebrae
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Gelatinous
core
Band of
fibrocartilage
Spinous process
Body of
vertebra
Pubis
Intervertebral
discs
Fibrocartilage disc of symphysis pubis
(a)
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(b)
8.3: General Structure of a
Synovial Joint
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• Synovial joints are freely
moveable (diarthroses)
• There are three (3) types of
diarthroses
• There are specific parts of a
diarthroses:
• Articular cartilage
Joint cavity
• Joint cavity
filled with
synovial
• Joint capsule
fluid
• Synovial membrane
• Synovial fluid
• Meniscus
• Bursae
Spongy
bone
Joint
capsule
Articular
cartilage
Synovial
membrane
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8.4: Types of Synovial Joints
• Uni-axial
• Hinge joint
• Pivot or trochoid joint
• Bi-axial
• Saddle or sellar joint
• Condylar or ellipsoidal joint
• Multi-axial
• Ball and socket joint
• Gliding or plane joint
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Types of Synovial Joints
• Pivot Joint
• Between atlas (C1) and
the dens of axis (C2)
• Hinge Joint
• Elbow joint
• Between phalanges
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Dens
Transverse
ligament
Humerus
Radius
Atlas
Axis
Ulna
(e) Pivot joint
(d) Hinge joint
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Types of Synovial Joints
• Saddle Joint
• Between carpal and 1st
metacarpal (of thumb)
• Condylar Joint
• Between metacarpals and
phalanges
• Between radius and carpals
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Metacarpal
First
metacarpal
Trapezium
Phalanx
(f) Saddle
joint
(b) Condylar
joint
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Types of Synovial Joints
• Ball-and-Socket Joint
• Gliding Joint
• Hip joint
• Shoulder joint
• Between carpals
• Between tarsals
• Between facets of
adjacent vertebrae
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Hip bone
Head of femur
in acetabulum
Femur
Carpals
(a) Ball-and-socket
joint
(c) Plane
joint
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8.5: Types of Joint Movements
• Movement at a joint occurs when a muscle contracts
and its fibers pull its moveable end (insertion) towards its
fixed end (origin).
13
Types of Joint Movements
• Abduction/adduction
• Dorsiflexion/plantar flexion
• Flexion/extension/hyperextension
• Lateral flexion
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Hyperextension
Extension
Flexion
Flexion
Abduction
Extension
Adduction
Dorsiflexion
Plantar flexion
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14
Types of Joint Movements
• Rotation
• Circumduction
• Supination/pronation
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Circumduction
Supination
Medial
rotation
Lateral
rotation
© McGraw-Hill Companies / Womack Photography Ltd.
Pronation
15
Types of Joint Movements
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• Eversion/inversion
• Protraction/retraction
• Elevation/depression
Inversion
Eversion
Protraction
Retraction
Elevation
Depression
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16
8.6: Examples of Synovial Joints
• The shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee are large, freely
moveable joints.
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Shoulder Joint
• Ball-and-socket
• Head of humerus and glenoid
cavity of scapula
• Loose joint capsule
• Bursae
• Ligaments prevent
displacement
• Very wide range of
movement (circumduction)
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Clavicle
Acromion process
Subdeltoid bursa
Synovial membrane
Joint capsule
Joint cavity
Humerus
Articular cartilage
Scapula
(a)
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Shoulder Joint
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Joint capsule
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Joint cavity
Head of humerus
Articular cartilage
Scapula
Acromion process
Clavicle
Coracohumeral
ligament
Transverse
humeral
ligament
Coracoid
process
Joint
capsule
Clavicle Coracoid
process
Acromion
process
Subscapular
bursa
Glenohumeral
ligaments
Tendon of
biceps
brachii
(long head)
Glenoid
labrum
Glenoid cavity
Humerus
Humerus
(a)
Articular capsule
(glenohumeral
ligaments hidden)
Scapula
Scapula
Triceps
brachii
(long head)
(b)
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(b)
© Paul Reimann
Elbow Joint
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• Hinge joint
• Trochlea of humerus
• Trochlear notch of ulna
Humerus
Joint capsule
• Gliding joint
Synovial
membrane
Joint cavity
• Capitulum of humerus
• Head of radius
Articular cartilage
Coronoid process
• Flexion and extension
• Many reinforcing ligaments
• Stable joint
Anular
ligament
Radius
Ulna
(a)
Olecranon
process
Trochlea
20
Elbow Joint
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Humerus
Humerus
Tendon of biceps
brachii muscle
Medial
epicondyle
Lateral epicondyle
Radius
Anular ligament
Anular ligament
Radius
Ulna
(a)
Coronoid process
Ulnar collateral ligament
Olecranon process
Radial collateral ligament
(b)
21
Ulna
Hip Joint
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• Ball-and-socket joint
• Head of femur and
acetabulum of coxa
• Heavy joint capsule
• Many reinforcing ligaments
• Less freedom of movement
than shoulder joint
• Circumduction
Hip bone
Joint cavity
Articular cartilage
Synovial membrane
Ligamentum capitis
Joint capsule
Femur
(a)
22
Hip Joint
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Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Hip bone
Ilium
Ilium
Articular
cartilage
Joint cavity
Pubofemoral
ligament
Head of femur Iliofemoral
ligament
Greater
Joint capsule
trochanter
Pubis
Femur
Ischium
Femur
(a)
Iliofemoral
ligament
Ischiofemoral
ligament
Lesser
trochanter
Femur
(b)
(b)
© Paul Reimann
23
Knee Joint
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• Largest joint
• Most complex
• Medial and lateral condyles of distal end
of femur and
• Medial and lateral condyles of proximal
end of tibia and
• Femur articulates anteriorly with patella
• Strengthened by many ligaments and
tendons
• Menisci separate femur and tibia
• Bursae
Femur
Synovial membrane
Suprapatellar bursa
Quadriceps femoris tendon
(patellar tendon)
Patella
Prepatellar bursa
Joint cavity
Articular cartilage
Patellar ligament
Menisci
Infrapatellar bursa
Joint capsule
Tibia
(a)
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Knee Joint
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Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
Femur
Tendon of
adductor
magnus (cut)
Joint
capsule
Gastrocnemius
muscle
(cut)
Femur
Anterior cruciate
ligament
Femur
Lateral condyle
Posterior
cruciate
ligament
Medial
condyle
Lateral meniscus
Articular
cartilage
Lateral
condyle
Head of fibula
Tibia
Lateral
condyle
Lateral
meniscus
Lateral
condyle
Fibular
collateral
ligament
Fibula
Tibia
Fibula
(a)
(b)
Anterior
cruciate
ligament
Medial
meniscus
Medial
condyle
Tibial
collateral
ligament
Patellar
ligament
(cut)
Plantaris
muscle
(cut)
Tendon of
semimembranosus
(cut)
Oblique
popliteal
ligament
Tibial
collateral
ligament
Fibular
collateral
ligament
Popliteus
muscle
cut)
Arcuate
popliteal
ligament
Tibia
Fibula
(b)
© Paul Reimann
25
8.7: Lifespan Changes
• Joint stiffness is an early sign of aging
• Fibrous joints first to change; can strengthen however over a
lifetime
• Changes in symphysis joints of vertebral column diminish
flexibility and decrease height (remember water loss from the
IVDs)
• Synovial joints lose elasticity
• Disuse hampers the blood supply
• Activity and exercise can keep joints functional longer
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Important Points in Chapter 8:
Outcomes to be Assessed
8.1: Introduction
 List the functions of joints.
8.2: Classification of Joints
 Explain how joints can be classified according the type of tissue that
binds the bones together.
 Describe how bones of fibrous joints are held together.
 Describe how bones of cartilaginous joints are held together.
8.3: General Structure of a Synovial Joint
 Describe the general structure of a synovial joint.
8.4: Types of Synovial Joints
 Distinguish among the six types of synovial joints and give an example
of each type.
8.5: Types of Joint Movements
 Explain how skeletal muscles produce movements at joints, and
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identify several types of joint movements.
Important Points in Chapter 8:
Outcomes to be Assessed
8.6: Examples of Synovial Joints
 Describe the shoulder joint and explain how its articulating parts are
held together.
 Describe the elbow, hip, and knee joints and explain how their
articulating parts are held together.
8.7: Lifespan Changes
 Describe lifespan changes in joints.
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