Musculoskeletal - Joints Flashcards
(84 cards)
What is a joint?
A point where two or more bones interconnect
What are the functions of the joints?
Movement, force transmission and growth
What are the factors that affect joint movement?
The muscles that cross them
Ligament
Fat and skin
How do joints respond during force transmission compared to bone?
They are the weak points
What are the three main types of joints?
Synarthrosis, amphiarthrosis and diarthrosis
What is the relative stability and movement of the different types of joints?
Synarthrosis: high stability and low mobility amphiarthrosis: medium stability and mobility
diarthrosis: low stability and high mobility
Where do you find joints of high stability and low mobility?
In the axial skeleton
Where do you find joints of high mobility and low stability?
Appendicular skeleton
What happens to synarthrosis over time? What is this process called?
The joint will use, this is called ankylosis
What is an example of a synarthrosis joint?
The sutures in the skull –> no movement, only there to allow some growth during early development then fuse (ankylosis)
What is an example of an amphiarthrosis joint?
The vertebrate columns
How does the stability and mobility of the vertebrate change through the spine? Why?
At the top of the spine (i.e. the head) it has greater mobility and less stability. But further down the spinal cord there become more stability and less mobility
This is because lower down the spine it has more load bearing responsibilities so needs more stability
What limits the movement of the synarthrosis and amphiarthrosis joints?
The blocker tissue holding the joints together
What limits the movement of diarthrosis joints?
The attachment point of the articular capsule
What type of joint is a simply synovial joint?
Diarthrosis joint
Label the diagram, what is it showing?

A simple synovial joint

What prevents the bones from grinding on each other in a simple synovial joint? Why is it bad for the bones to grind on each other?
Articular cartilage
There are blood and nerve supplies near the joint
What attaches the bones together in a simple synovial joint? What is inside of this and what does it do?
Articular capsule (which forms a sleeve around the joint) contains synovial fluid to lubricate the joint
What are the four defining features of a diarhtorisis joint?
1 - Articular cartilage
2 - Articular capsule
3 - Joint cavity
4 - Synovial fluid
What is type of cartilage is articular?
It is a highly specialised type of hyaline cartilage
What are the different types of cartilage?
Hyaline, fibrous and elastic cartilage
What is the function of articular cartilage?
Protect the ends of bones in joints
Absorbs shocks in the joints
Can support heavy loads for long period of time
Near frictionless surface (when combined with synovial fluid)
What is the degradation of of articular tissue called?
Arthritis
What are the two main components of articular cartilage?
Cells and extracellular matrix






