Synovial joints: want to learn more about it?
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Kim Bengochea, Regis University, Denver
Synovial joints
Learning objectives
Working through this study unit will allow you to:
- Name the 6 types of synovial joints.
- Identify examples for each synovial joint type.
- Discover the axes of movement allowed by each type of synovial joint.
Watch video
Synovial joints are the most common types of joints in the human body. They typically connect two bones (usually in the limbs) and they give the human body its mobility.
There are 6 different types of synovial joints, each of which is named for its shape. In the following video we will examine the structure of the synovial joint, the 6 types of synovial joints along with some examples of each type.
Take a quiz
Now that you’ve watched the video, test what you have learned with our tailored synovial joints quiz!
Test yourself even further with a fully customizable quiz on the joints of the human body!
Browse atlas
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Examine each component of a synovial joint with our atlas gallery:
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ball-and-socket-joint/r230ndsudSfv3l0exLPkog_Ball_and_Socket_Joint.png "Ball and socket joint (Articulatio sphaeroidea); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/gliding-joint/0l7RDXDr4OUdRaVojCsoQ_Gliding_Joint.png "Plane joint (Articulatio plana); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/hinge-joint/WF92kIRQyj3qzC0MBfHM9Q_Hinge_joint.png "Hinge joint (Ginglymus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/pivot-joint/6zYt0TJNvnk4Svr8eQjGTw_Pivot_Joint.png "Pivot joint (Articulatio trochoidea); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/saddle-joint/LU1bEcSp909Z0dQzfxdzg_Saddle_Joint.png "Saddle joint (Articulatio sellaris); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ellipsoid-joint/Em2W5Xz4fM597Hlb4A1g_Ellipsoid_Joint.png "Ellipsoid joint (Articulatio ellipsoidea); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/femur-8/JIupeAjCe7h2QGcCrbVLw_2femur.png "Femur (Os femoris); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tibia-9/N3stymAk0uuAQShUMtJA_999Tibia.png "Tibia; Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/articular-cavity/rGyPasV5Md8hp15Q4t7B6w_articular_cavity.png "Articular cavity (Cavitas articularis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/articular-cartilages-1/jJGAzqArVhSQXPTLgrOsaQ_articular_cartilage.png "Articular cartilage (Cartilago articularis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/synovial-membrane-1/hmPP3gBNm60C1Wi5FLoSng_synovial_membrane.png "Synovial membrane (Membrana synovialis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/articular-capsule-1/o3atVJQe1AqLvshKARIQLQ_articular_capsule.png "Articular capsule (Capsula articularis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/fat-pad/om4qmuY8dvausLPsDYlaaQ_infrapatellar_fat_pad.png "Fat pad (Corpus adiposum); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/bursae/OZTAuvB5Aj61I5rLd7awZA_deep_subtendinous_infrapatellar_bursa_magnified.png "Bursa; Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/tendon-1/ofPAiTzLsX0nSd4LUtzw_quadriceps_femoris_tendon.png "Tendon (Tendo); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/articular-disc/QxnkKuz6Fxq53UebfrtbQ_lateral_meniscus.png "Articular disc (Discus articularis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/reinforcing-ligaments/3nouDIVc6AHHpOsuUHQ_o7BpNne6fzXZklosCwCg_600patellar_ligament.png "Reinforcing ligament (Ligamentum capsulare); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Types | Plane, ellipsoid, hinge, ball and socket, pivot, saddle |
| Examples |
Plane joint: Acromioclavicular joint, intercarpal joints Ellipsoid joint: Radiocarpal joint, metacarpophalangeal joints Hinge joint: Elbow joint, knee joint, ankle joint Ball and socket joint: Hip joint, shoulder joint Pivot joint: Median atlantoaxial joint, radioulnar joints Saddle joint: Carpometacarpal joint of thumb |
| Main components of synovial joints |
Articular cartilage: Covers the ends of the articulating bones Articular capsule: Composed of an outer fibrous layer and inner synovial membrane Joint cavity: Filled with synovial fluid Reinforcing ligaments: Support the articular capsule |
Well done!
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Continue your learning
Now that you have mastered the anatomy of the synovial joints, dive deeper into the main joints of the body and types of movements that they can produce.
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