HUMAN ANATOMY &
PHYSIOLOGY (BIOL 235)
Comprehensive Lecture Notes of the
Joints (with all information you need
to pass) ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
,Chapter 9: Joints
Join/Articulation/Arthrosis
▪ Is a point of contact between two bones, between bone and cartilage, or between bone and
teeth.
9.1 Joint Classifications
Structural Classification
▪ Based on two criteria:
o Presence or absence of a space between the articulating bones, called synovial cavity.
o The type of connective tissue that binds the bones together.
1. Fibrous Joint
▪ No synovial cavity; bones held together by dense irregular connective tissue rich in
collagen fibers.
2. Cartilaginous Joint
▪ No synovial cavity; held together by cartilage.
3. Synovial Joint
▪ Bone have synovial cavity; held together by dense irregular connective tissue of an
articular capsule, often by accessory ligaments.
Functional Classification
1. Synarthrosis
▪ Immovable joint. (plural is synarthroses)
2. Amphiarthrosis
▪ Slightly movable joint. (plural is amphiarthroses)
3. Diarthrosis
▪ Freely movable joint, and all are synovial joints. Have a variety of shapes and permits
different movements. (plural is diarthroses)
9.2 Fibrous Joint
▪ No synovial cavity, held together by dense irregular connective tissue.
▪ Permits little or no movement.
Sutures
▪ Fibrous joint composed of a thin layer of dense irregular connective tissue.
▪ ONLY OCCURS BETWEEN THE BONES OF THE SKULL.
▪ Joints are formed as bones of the skull come in contact during development.
▪ Shock absorption in the skull.
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, Syndesmoses (-mosis for singular)
▪ Fibrous joint with more spaced out articulating surfaces and dense irregular connective tissue
than sutures.
▪ Tissue is arranged in a bundle (ligament) to permit limited movement.
▪ Example is distal fibular joint and Gomphosis or dentoalveolar joint, in which cone-shaped pegs
fit in a socket.
o Only example is the roots of teeth and its socket; healthy gomphosis permits no
movement.
Interosseous Membrane
▪ Substantial sheet of dense irregular connective tissue binding neighboring long bones, which
permits slight movement.
▪ Occurs in the radius and ulna in the forearm, and between tibia and fibula in the leg.
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PHYSIOLOGY (BIOL 235)
Comprehensive Lecture Notes of the
Joints (with all information you need
to pass) ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
,Chapter 9: Joints
Join/Articulation/Arthrosis
▪ Is a point of contact between two bones, between bone and cartilage, or between bone and
teeth.
9.1 Joint Classifications
Structural Classification
▪ Based on two criteria:
o Presence or absence of a space between the articulating bones, called synovial cavity.
o The type of connective tissue that binds the bones together.
1. Fibrous Joint
▪ No synovial cavity; bones held together by dense irregular connective tissue rich in
collagen fibers.
2. Cartilaginous Joint
▪ No synovial cavity; held together by cartilage.
3. Synovial Joint
▪ Bone have synovial cavity; held together by dense irregular connective tissue of an
articular capsule, often by accessory ligaments.
Functional Classification
1. Synarthrosis
▪ Immovable joint. (plural is synarthroses)
2. Amphiarthrosis
▪ Slightly movable joint. (plural is amphiarthroses)
3. Diarthrosis
▪ Freely movable joint, and all are synovial joints. Have a variety of shapes and permits
different movements. (plural is diarthroses)
9.2 Fibrous Joint
▪ No synovial cavity, held together by dense irregular connective tissue.
▪ Permits little or no movement.
Sutures
▪ Fibrous joint composed of a thin layer of dense irregular connective tissue.
▪ ONLY OCCURS BETWEEN THE BONES OF THE SKULL.
▪ Joints are formed as bones of the skull come in contact during development.
▪ Shock absorption in the skull.
1
, Syndesmoses (-mosis for singular)
▪ Fibrous joint with more spaced out articulating surfaces and dense irregular connective tissue
than sutures.
▪ Tissue is arranged in a bundle (ligament) to permit limited movement.
▪ Example is distal fibular joint and Gomphosis or dentoalveolar joint, in which cone-shaped pegs
fit in a socket.
o Only example is the roots of teeth and its socket; healthy gomphosis permits no
movement.
Interosseous Membrane
▪ Substantial sheet of dense irregular connective tissue binding neighboring long bones, which
permits slight movement.
▪ Occurs in the radius and ulna in the forearm, and between tibia and fibula in the leg.
2
