Joint Types

Joint types

Joints of the body are classified both by movement and function. Functional classes of joints are, Synarthroses, Amphiarthroses, and Diarthroses.

Synarthroses are joints that do NOT move, while Amphiarthroses joints move slightly. Diarthroses joints on the other hand move as freely as they wish. Synarthroses and Amphiarthroses are found mainly in the axial skeleton, whereas movable joints, Diarthroses are found in limbs.

The structural classes of joints are Fibrous joints, cartilaginous joints, and Synovial joints. Fibrous joints include Sutures, syndesmosis, and gomphosis. They connect bones with a layer of dense regular connective tissues. Sutures joints are located in the skull, which allow fore growth in children, and close when they reach adulthood. Syndesmosis involves ligaments, which connect from bone to bone. There’s also Gomphosis, which are the immobile joints where the teeth connect to the jawbones.

Cartilaginous joints connect bones with cartilage, creating Synarthroses or Amphiarthroses. The type of movement allowed by their structure distinguishes synovial joints. For example, plane, hinge, pivot, condyloid, saddle, and ball and socket joints are synovial joints.