Joints

Question 1

Joints

Answer 1

Muscles are attached to bones; when the muscles contract, they pull on the bones and movement occurs. Where two or more bones meet, they form a joint.

Question 2

Types of Joints

Answer 2

• Fixed or fibrous
• Cartilaginous
• Synovial

Question 3

Fixed or fibrous

Answer 3

No movement e.g Skull, pelvis, radioulnar and tibiofibular
joints

Question 4

Cartilaginous

Answer 4

Slight movement e.g. Ribs attaching to sternum, lumbar vertebrae

Question 5

Synovial

Answer 5

Free moving e.g. Hip and knee joints, cervical and thoracic
vertebrae

Question 6

Types of Synovial Joints

Answer 6

• Pivot
• Gliding
• Ball and socket
• Hinge
• Saddle
• Condyloid

Question 7

Pivot

Answer 7

Structure: A uniaxial joint that only allows rotation
Movement: Rotation of one bone around another
Example: Atlas and Axis

Question 8

Gliding

Answer 8

Structure: Occurs where flat bones glide past each other, usually in a biaxial manner
Movement: Gliding movements
Example: Carpals / Tarsals

Question 9

Ball and Socket

Answer 9

Structure: Occurs where a rounded bone head articulates with a cup-shaped cavity
Movement: Flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, internal and external rotation
Example: Shoulder, hip

Question 10

Hinge

Answer 10

Structure: A uniaxial joint
Movement: Flexion, extension
Example: Knee, elbow

Question 11

Saddle

Answer 11

Structure: Occurs where concave and
convex bone surfaces align; generally biaxial
Movement: Flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, circumduction
Example: Carpo-metacarpal joint of thumb

Question 12

Condyloid

Answer 12

Structure: Very similar to a hinge joint
but also allows slight rotation; hence, is biaxial
Movement: Flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, circumduction
Example: Wrist

Question 13

Flexion

Answer 13

The angle between articulating bones is decreased and flexion occurs in the median plane about a horizontal axis

Question 14

Extension

Answer 14

The angle of the joint is increased and extension occurs in the median plane about a horizontal axis

Question 15

Abduction

Answer 15

This is movement of a body part away from an imaginary midline of the body

Question 16

Adduction

Answer 16

This is movement of a body part towards an imaginary midline of the body

Question 17

Rotation

Answer 17

Rotation occurs when a bone turns on its own axis within a joint. Rotation towards the body’s midline is known as medial or internal rotation; rotation away from the midline is known as lateral or external rotation

Question 18

Circumduction

Answer 18

Circumduction occurs when a limb moves in a circular fashion and is generally only possible at ball and socket joints because flexion, extension, abduction and adduction are required. This occurs in the median and frontal planes

Question 19

Supination

Answer 19

Supination occurs when the forearm is rotated, turning the hand from palm down to palm up, so that
the radius and ulna lie parallel to each other and are uncrossed

Question 20

Pronation

Answer 20

Pronation occurs when the forearm is rotated while the palm of the hand faces downwards. When this occurs, the radius and the ulna are crossed over each other

Question 21

Dorsiflexion

Answer 21

Dorsiflexion occurs at the ankle when the toes are pointing towards the tibia and are generally higher
than the heel. This occurs in the median plane about a horizontal axis

Question 22

Plantarflexion

Answer 22

Plantarflexion occurs at the ankle when the toes are pointed downwards and the heel is raised.
This occurs in the median plane about a horizontal axis

Question 23

Inversion

Answer 23

Inversion occurs when the sole of the foot is turned inwards towards the imaginary midline of the body. This occurs is in the frontal plane

Question 24

Eversion

Answer 24

Eversion occurs when the sole of the foot is turned outwards from the imaginary midline of the body. This occurs is in the frontal plane