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AnatomyBasicsIntroduction to the musculoskeletal systemEllipsoid joint
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AnatomyBasicsIntroduction to the musculoskeletal systemEllipsoid joint

Ellipsoid joint

Author: Danijel Tosovic, PhD • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios, MD, PhD
Last reviewed: April 15, 2024
Reading time: 1 minute

Recommended video: Types of synovial joints [18:19]
Synovial joints are the main type of joints found in the body.
Ellipsoid joint
Articulatio ellipsoidea
1/2
Synonyms: Condylar joint, Condyloid joint , show more...

Ellipsoid joints, also known as condylar or condyloid joints, are one of the six types of synovial joints, the others being plane, pivot, hinge, saddle and ball and socket. Ellipsoid joints consist of of an oval, convex shaped condyle of one bone articulating with an elliptical, concave cavity of another bone.

Ellipsoid joints permit movement about two axes and are thus termed as biaxial synovial joints. Similar to saddle joints, they permit flexion and extension, abduction and adduction as well as circumduction, however the latter is more restricted in ellipsoid joints than in saddle joints. Examples of ellipsoid joints include the radiocarpal (wrist) joint, metacarpophalangeal joints and the atlanto-occipital joint. 

Terminology English: Ellipsoid joint
Latin: Articulatio ellipsoidea
Calssification Biaxial synovial joint
Function Allows movement around two axes. Permits flexion-extension, abduction-adduction and circumduction movements. 

Learn more about synovial joints with this study unit (and article):

Synovial joints Explore study unit
Types of joints: Arthrology Read article

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.
  • Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. M. R. (2014). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Standring, S. (2016). Gray's Anatomy (41st ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone.

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