Types of Joints

The types of joints in the human body include ball and socket, elbow, gliding, hinge, hip, and saddle joints. The hand, wrist and spine also have a series of joints associated with them. A need for strength makes the bones rigid, but if the skeleton consisted of one solid bone, movement would be impossible. Nature has solved this problem by dividing the skeleton into many bones and creating joints where the bones intersect.

Joints come in a variety of designs, each especially built...

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Full Types of Joints Description

[Continued from above] . . . for the limb it serves. Joints permit bodily movement and are held together by fibers called ligaments. Joints are oiled continuously to prevent friction. Some joints, like those connecting the skull's series of bones, allow no movement. Others may permit only limited movement; the joints in the spine allow some movement in several directions. Most joints have a greater range of movement, and these are called synovial joints. The skeleton is made up of many kinds of movable joints. The bearing surface is made smooth by slippery cartilage to reduce friction. Larger joints are lubricated by synovial fluid. Connections called synovial joints are sturdy enough to hold the skeleton together while permitting a range of motions. The ends of these joints are coated with cartilages, which reduce friction and cushion against jolts. Between the bones, in a narrow space, is the joint cavity, which gives us freedom of movement.

Ligaments then bind these bones to prevent dislocations and limit the joint's movements. The bones are held in position and controlled in movement by the ligaments.