1. Arthrology Dr. Archana Rani Associate Professor Department of Anatomy,
KGMU UP, Lucknow

2. Introduction Arthrology: Study of joints
Synonyms: Articulation (Latin)
Arthron (Greek)
Joint: a junction between two or more bones
or cartilages.
A device to permit movements

3. Classification of joints
Joints are classified according to structure and function-
(A) Functional (based on degree of mobility):
1.Synarthroses: immovable joints (cranial sutures in
adults, primary cartilaginous joints in
growing children).
2.Amphiarthroses: slightly movable joints (joints
between adjacent laminae of vertebrae).
3.Diarthroses: freely movable joints (synovial joints). 3

4. Functional classification (cont….)
Synarthroses
Amphiarthroses
Diarthroses

5. (B) Structural classification
Based on type of connecting tissue and presence or absence of joint cavity: 1. Fibrous: composed of intervening fibrous tissue with no joint cavity. Immovable or slightly movable. 2. Cartilaginous: articulating bones are united by cartilage (hyaline or fibrocartilage) with no joint cavity. 3. Synovial: articulating bones are separated by a fluid-filled joint cavity.

6. Structural classification (cont….)
Fibrous
Cartilaginous
Synovial

7. Fibrous joints
1. Sutures: articular surfaces are connected by a thin layer of
connective tissue. They are confined to the skull and
are immovable.
2. Syndesmoses: bones are connected by a considerably greater
amount of connective tissue than in sutures in
the form of interosseous ligaments and
membranes. Slight movement is permitted.
e.g. interosseous tibiofibular joints,
interroseous radioulnar joints.
3. Gomphoses (peg and socket joint): articulation of teeth in
alveolar sockets of mandible and maxilla by
periodontal ligament. 

8. Fibrous joints (cont….)
Sutures
Syndesmoses
Gomphoses

9. Sutures
Plane
Serrate
Denticulate
Squamous
Schindylesis

10. Cartilaginous joints
1.Primary (Synchondroses) 2.Secondary (Symphyses)

11. Synovial joints Most evolved and freely movable joints
Have a joint cavity filled with synovial fluid
Often termed as diarthrodial joints
Components:
1.  Fibrous capsule
2.  Synovial membrane
3.  Ligaments
4.  Articular cartilage
5. Articular disc or meniscus
6. Bursae
7. Fat pads (Haversian glands)

12. Classification of Synovial joints
(A) According to shape of articular surfaces: 1. Plane 2. Hinge 3. Pivot 4. Condylar 5. Ellipsoid 6. Saddle 7. Ball and socket

13. Plane joints Articular surfaces are nearly flat.
Allow gliding movements.
e.g. intercarpal and intertarsal joints.

14. Hinge joints (Ginglymus)
Articular surfaces are pulley shaped.
Movements are permitted only in one plane (transverse axis).
Most common joints.
e.g. elbow, knee, ankle and interphalangeal joints.

15. Pivot joints (Trochoid joints)
Rounded end of one bone fits into the concavity of another bone.
The rounded part is surrounded by a ligament.
Limited rotation around a central axis.
e.g. superior radio-ulnar and median atlanto-axial joints.

16. Condylar joints
Round articular surface of one bone fits into a socket-type articular surface of another bone.
Permit movements in two directions.
e.g. knee and temporo-mandibular joints.

17. Ellipsoid joints
Elliptical convex surface of one bone articulates with elliptical concave surface of another.
Permit movements in two directions.
Combination of movements cause circumduction.
e.g. wrist and atlanto-occipital joints.

18. Saddle (sellar) joints
Articular surfaces are reciprocally saddle shaped i.e. concavo-convex.
Allows a wide range of movement.
e.g. first carpo-metacarpal, sterno-clavicular, incudo-malleolar joints.

19. Ball and socket (spheroidal) joints
Rounded convex surface
of one bone fits into the cup-like socket of another bone.
Permits greatest range of movements.
e.g. shoulder, hip and incudo-stapedial joints.

20. (B) According to plane of movements
Uniaxial: Hinge and Pivot
Biaxial: Condylar, ellipsoid, saddle
Multiaxial: Ball and socket
Multiaxial
Uniaxial
Biaxial

21. (C) According to number of articulating bones
Simple (2 bones)
Compound (more than 2 bones)

22. Movements of synovial joints
1. Gliding (slipping) 2. Angular: flexion, extension, abduction, adduction 3. Rotary (circular): rotation (supination, pronation), circumduction

23. Special movements: 1. Inversion: movement of the foot medially 2
Special movements: 1. Inversion: movement of the foot medially 2. Eversion: movement of the foot laterally 3. Protraction: movement of the mandible forward 4. Retraction: movement of the protracted part back to its starting position 5. Elevation: lifting a body part superiorly 6. Depression: moving the elevated part inferiorly 7. Opposition: touching the thumb to the tips of other fingers

24. REFERENCES
1. Cunningham’s Manual of Practical Anatomy, Vol Grant’s Method of Anatomy, 11th Edition. 3. Vishram Singh. General Anatomy, 1st Edition.

25. MCQs 1. All of the following are examples of the fibrous joint except:
a) Suture
b) Syndesmosis
c) Symphysis
d) Gomphosis

26. MCQs
2. All of the following are examples of the synovial joint except:
a) Pivot
b) Saddle
c) Syndesmosis
d)Ellipsoid

27. MCQs 3. Subtype gomphosis is classified under:
a) Biaxial synovial joint
b) Symphysis
c) Fibrous joint
d) Synchondrosis

28. MCQs
4. All of the following are characteristic features of a synovial joint except: a)Articular surfaces are covered by a articular cartilage b) Have a joint cavity filled with synovial fluid c)Mostly are freely movable joints d) Articular cartilage are covered by synovial membrane

29. MCQs
5. All of the following secondary cartilaginous joints belong to axial skeleton except: a)Manubriosternal joint b) Intervertebral discs c) Symphysis pubis d) Symphysis menti