Condyloid Joint

Biaxial joint; allows flexion/extension, abduction/ adduction, and circumduction movements. Metacarpophalangeal (knuckle) joints of fingers; radiocarpal joint of wrist; metatarsophalangeal joints for toes.   At a condyloid joint (ellipsoid joint), the shallow...

Pivot Joint

Uniaxial joint: allows rotational movement. Examples: Atlantoaxial joint (C1–C2 vertebrae articulation); proximal radioulnar joint.   At a pivot joint, a rounded portion of a bone is enclosed within a ring formed partially by the articulation with another bone and...

Saddle Joint

Biaxial joint; allows flexion/extension, abduction/ adduction, and circumduction movements. Examples: First carpometacarpal joint of the thumb; sternoclavicular joint.   At a saddle joint, both of the articulating surfaces for the bones have a saddle shape, which is...

Hinge Joint – Ginglymoid Joint

Uniaxial joint; allows flexion/extension movements. Examples: Knee; elbow; ankle; interphalangeal joints of fingers and toes.   In a hinge joint, the convex end of one bone articulates with the concave end of the adjoining bone (Picture 1 b). This type of joint allows...

Symphysis

A cartilaginous joint where the bones are joined by fibrocartilage is called a symphysis (“growing together”). Fibrocartilage is very strong because it contains numerous bundles of thick collagen fibers, thus giving it a much greater ability to resist pulling and...

Gomphosis

A gomphosis (“fastened with bolts”) is the specialized fibrous joint that anchors the root of a tooth into its bony socket within the maxillary bone (upper jaw) or mandible bone (lower jaw) of the skull. A gomphosis is also known as a peg-and- socket joint. Spanning...