Joints

About the Joints

Joints articulations connect bones. Three types: synarthroses immovable skull sutures, amphiarthroses slightly movable symphysis pubis, intervertebral discs, diarthroses freely movable synovial joints. Synovial joints are the most common and complex, with a joint cavity containing synovial fluid, articular cartilage hyaline, joint capsule fibrous outer and synovial membrane inner, ligaments, and sometimes menisci knee, labrum shoulder and hip. Six types: hinge elbow, knee modified, pivot atlantoaxial, ball and socket shoulder, hip, plane intercarpal, condyloid MCP, saddle first CMC. Osteoarthritis, the most common joint disease, affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide, wearing away articular cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is autoimmune synovial inflammation. Joint replacement is common for hip, knee, and shoulder. Arthroscopy allows minimally invasive joint surgery. Range of motion is assessed by goniometry.