Joints (anatomy)

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A joint is the location at which two or more bones make contact.^[1] They are constructed to allow movement and provide mechanical support, and are classified structurally and functionally.^[2]

Classification[]

Gray298 — Depiction of an intervertebral disk, a cartilaginous joint.

File:Illu synovial joint.jpg

Diagram of a synovial (diarthrosis) joint.

Joints are mainly classified structurally and functionally. Structural classification is determined by how the bones connect to each other, while functional classification is determined by the degree of movement between the articulating bones. In practice, there is significant overlap between the two types of classifications.

Terms ending in the suffix -sis are singular and refer to just one joint, while -ses is the suffix for pluralization.

Structural classification[]

Structural classification names and divides joints according to how the bones are connected to each other.^[3] There are three structural classifications of joints:

fibrous joint - joined by fibrous connective tissue
cartilaginous joint - joined by cartilage
synovial joint - not directly joined

Functional classification[]

Joints can also be classified functionally, by the degree of mobility they allow:^[4]

synarthrosis - permits little or no mobility. Most synarthrosis joints are fibrous joints.
amphiarthrosis - permits slight mobility. Most amphiarthrosis joints are cartilaginous joints.
diarthrosis - permits a variety of movements. All diarthrosis joints are synovial joints, and the terms "diarthrosis" and "synovial joint" are considered equivalent by Terminologia Anatomica.^[5]

Biomechanical classification[]

Joints can also be classified based on their anatomy or on their biomechanical properties. According to the anatomic classification, joints are subdivided into simple and compound, depending on the number of bones involved, and into complex and combination joints:^[6]

Simple Joint: 2 articulation surfaces (eg. shoulder joint, hip joint)
Compound Joint: 3 or more articulation surfaces (eg. radiocarpal joint)
Complex Joint: 2 or more articulation surfaces and an articular disc or meniscus (eg. knee joint)

Anatomical[]

The joints may be classified anatomically into the following groups:

articulations of hand
wrists
Elbow (Anatomy)
axillary articulations
sternoclavicular joints
vertebral articulations
temporomandibular joints
sacroiliac joints
hip joints
knee
articulations of foot

Arthritis[]

Main article: Arthritis

Arthritis and direct physical trauma to a joint are the causes of joint damage. Arthritis is a group of conditions where there is damage caused to the joints of the body. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people over the age of 55.

There are many different forms of arthritis, each of which has a different cause. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative joint disease) occurs following trauma to the joint, following an infection of the joint or simply as a result of aging. Furthermore, there is emerging evidence that abnormal anatomy may contribute to early development of osteoarthritis. Other forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, which are autoimmune diseases in which the body is attacking itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection. Gouty arthritis is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in the joint that results in subsequent inflammation. Additionally, there is a less common form of gout that is caused by the formation of rhomboidal shaped crystals of calcium pyrophosphate. This form of gout is known as pseudogout.

References[]

↑ eMedicine/Stedman Medical Dictionary Lookup!. URL accessed on 2008-01-29.
↑ Ellis, Harold; Susan Standring; Gray, Henry David (2005). Gray's anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice, 38, St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.
↑ Module - Introduction to Joints. URL accessed on 2008-01-29.
↑ Module - Introduction to Joints. URL accessed on 2008-01-29.
↑ Dorlands/Elsevier d_15/12293929
↑ Introductory Anatomy: Joints. URL accessed on 2008-01-29.

External links[]

This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).

[titleeMedicine/Stedman_Medical_Dictionary_Lookup!-1] Medicine/Stedman Medical Dictionary Lookup!. URL accessed on 2008-01-29.

[isbn0-443-07168-3-2] Ellis, Harold; Susan Standring; Gray, Henry David (2005). Gray's anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice, 38, St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

[titleModule_-_Introduction_to_Joints3-3] Module - Introduction to Joints. URL accessed on 2008-01-29.

[titleModule_-_Introduction_to_Joints2-4] Module - Introduction to Joints. URL accessed on 2008-01-29.

[5] Dorlands/Elsevier d_15/12293929

[titleIntroductory_Anatomy:_Joints-6] Introductory Anatomy: Joints. URL accessed on 2008-01-29.

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v·d·e Joints
Types of joints	Amphiarthrosis - Symphysis - Gomphosis - Synovial joint (Hinge joint, Pivot joint, Condyloid joint, Saddle joint, Ball and socket joint, Gliding joint)
Terminology	Kinesiology - Anatomical terms of motion - Agonist/Antagonist
Motions	Flexion/Extension - Adduction/Abduction - Internal rotation/External rotation - Supination/Pronation - Plantarflexion/Dorsiflexion - Eversion/Inversion - Elevation/Depression - Protraction/Retraction

v·d·e Joints and ligaments of Head and Neck
Atlanto-axial	anterior atlantoaxial ligament - posterior atlantoaxial ligament - cruciform ligament of atlas (transverse ligament of the atlas)
Atlanto-occipital	anterior atlantoöccipital membrane - posterior atlantoöccipital membrane - tectorial membrane - alar ligament - ligament of apex dentis
Temporomandibular	capsule - temporomandibular ligament - sphenomandibular ligament - stylomandibular ligament - articular disk

v·d·e Joints and ligaments of upper limbs
Shoulder	sternoclavicular: anterior sternoclavicular - posterior sternoclavicular - interclavicular - costoclavicular acromioclavicular: acromioclavicular - coracoclavicular (trapezoid, conoid) - coracoacromial - superior transverse scapular - inferior transverse of scapula glenohumeral: coracohumeral - glenohumeral (superior, middle, and inferior) - transverse humeral - glenoid labrum
Elbow	proximal radioulnar, humeroradial, humeroulnar: ulnar collateral - radial collateral - annular - oblique cord
Forearm	distal radioulnar: volar radioulnar - dorsal radioulnar wrist/radiocarpal: palmar radiocarpal - dorsal radiocarpal - ulnar collateral - radial collateral
Hand	intercarpal, midcarpal: pisohamate ligament - pisometacarpal ligament carpometacarpal: dorsal carpometacarpal - palmar carpometacarpal intermetacarpal: deep transverse metacarpal - superficial transverse metacarpal metacarpophalangeal, interphalangeal

v·d·e Joints and ligaments of torso
Vertebral column	articulations of vertebral bodies: anterior longitudinal ligament - posterior longitudinal ligament - intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus) articulations of vertebral arches : ligamenta flava - supraspinous ligament (nuchal ligament) - interspinal ligament - intertransverse ligament zygapophysial joint
Costovertebral	articulation of head of rib: radiate ligament - interarticular ligament costotransverse
Sternocostal	interarticular sternocostal ligament - radiate sternocostal ligaments - costoxiphoid ligaments interchondral, costochondral
Pelvis	articulation of the vertebral column with the pelvis: iliolumbar ligament sacroiliac: anterior sacroiliac ligament - posterior sacroiliac ligament - interosseous sacroiliac ligament ligaments connecting the sacrum and ischium: sacrotuberous ligament - sacrospinous ligament sacrococcygeal symphysis: anterior sacrococcygeal ligament - posterior sacrococcygeal ligament pubic symphysis: superior pubic ligament - inferior pubic ligament

v·d·e Joints and ligaments of lower limbs
Coxal/hip	iliofemoral - pubofemoral - ischiofemoral - head of femur - transverse acetabular
Knee-joint	patellar - popliteal (oblique, arcuate) - collateral (medial/tibial, lateral/fibular) - cruciate (anterior, posterior) - menisci (medial, lateral)
Tibiofibular	Superior tibiofibular: anterior of the head of the fibula - posterior of the head of the fibula Inferior tibiofibular: anterior of the lateral malleolus - posterior of the lateral malleolus
Talocrural/ankle	deltoid - external lateral of the ankle-joint (anterior talofibular, posterior talofibular, calcaneofibular)
Foot - intertarsal	Subtalar/talocalcaneal: anterior talocalcaneal - posterior talocalcaneal - lateral talocalcaneal - medial talocalcaneal - interosseous talocalcaneal Talocalcaneonavicular: dorsal talonavicular Calcaneocuboid: dorsal calcaneocuboid - bifurcated - long plantar - plantar calcaneocuboid Transverse tarsal: plantar calcaneonavicular/spring
Foot - other	Cuneonavicular, Cuboideonavicular, Intercuneiform and cuneocuboid, Tarsometatarsal/Lisfranc, Intermetatarsal, Metatarsophalangeal, Interphalangeal Arches of the foot (Longitudinal, Transverse)