Question

1) Describe the various shapes of synovial joints (e.g. hinge, condyloid, ball and socket, etc.)

2) What types of movements can occur at synovial joints (e.g. gliding, angular, etc.)?

Answer 1

Synovial joints are classified into 6 different types, based on shape and structure.

1, Planar joint: flat or slightly curved faced bones. These joints allow gliding movements. They have limited range and does not involve rotation. These are found in carpal bones in hand and tarsal of foot.

2, Hinge joints: slightly rounded bones fits into the hollow end of other bones. One bone moves when other is stationary, like door hinge. Example include elbow joint. It allows one angular movement.

3,Pivot joints: it consists of rounded bone fitting into a ring of another’s bone, it allows for rotation movement. Example is joints and first and second vertebrae of neck, which allows head to move back and forth. Joints of wrists are also pivotal.

4, Condyloid joints: Oval shaped bone fitting into oval shaped hollow of another bone. It is also called Ellipsoidal join, it allows angular movement. Example include writs joints and fingers which can move up and down.

5, Saddle joint: It has bone with concave and convex portion of bones that fit together. These allow angular movements with greater range of motion. Example is thumb joint.

6, ball and socket joint: Has round ball link end of one bone into a cup like socket of another bone. Allows maximum motion in almost all directions, example shoulder and hip joints.

The second question is answered in the first itself.