SYNOVIAL JOINTS

Catubay, Jaymee C.
Catubay, John Michael R.

Synovial Joints
The bones forming the joint have synovial cavity and are united by the dense irregular
connective tissue of an articular capsule, and often by accessory ligaments.

STRUCTURE OF SYNOVIAL JOINTS

synovial ( joint) cavity - space between the articulating bones

Synovial (joint) cavity

allows a joint to be freely movable (diarthroses)
articular cartilage - layer of hyaline cartilage
- covers the articulating surface of the bones with a
smooth, slippery surface but does not bind them
together
- reduces friction between bones in the joint during
movement
- helps to absorb shock

Articular Capsule
Sleevelike, surrounds a synovial joint, encloses the synovial cavity, and unites the
articulating bones
two layers: fibrous membrane (outer )
synovial membrane (inner )
fibrous membrane - dense irregular connective tissue that attaches to the periosteum
of the articulating bones.
- thickened continuation of the periosteum between the
bones
flexibility - permits considerable movement at a joint
great tensile strength - helps prevent the bones from dislocating

Fibrous membrane
fibers are arranged as parallel bundles of dense regular connective tissue that are highly
adapted for resisting strains
Ligaments - principal mechanical factors that hold bones close together in a synovial
joint.

Synovial membrane
areolar connective tissue with elastic fibers
articular fat pads - accumulations of adipose tissue

Synovial Fluid
a viscous, clear or pale yellow fluid named for its similarity in appearance and
consistency to uncooked egg white
hyaluronic acid secreted by fibroblast-like cells in the synovial membrane and
intersttial fluid filtered from blood plasma
forms a thin film over the surfaces within the articular capsule
reducing friction by lubricating the joint
absorbing shocks
supplying oxygen and nutrients to and removing carbon dioxide and metabolic wastes
from the chondrocytes within articular cartilage
Phagocytic cells that remove microbes and the debris that results from normal wear and
tear in the joint.
Accessory Ligaments
Extracapsular ligaments - lie outside the articular capsule
Intracapsular ligaments - within the articular capsule but are excluded from the
synovial cavity by folds of the synovial membrane.

knee, pads of fibrocartilage lie between the articular surfaces of the bones and
are attached to the fibrous capsule.

subdivide the synovial cavity into two spaces, allowing separate movements to occur in
each space
allow two bones of different shapes to fit together more tightly
help to maintain the stability of the joint and direct the flow of synovial fluid to the areas
of greatest friction.
Nerve and Blood Supply
Contain many nerve endings that are distributed to the articular capsule and associated
ligaments
Some convey information about pain from the joint to the spinal cord and brain for
processing
Other respond to the degree of movement and stretch at a joint
The spinal cord and brain - sending impulses through different nerves to the muscles to
adjust body movements.
avascular, arteries in the vicinity send out numerous branches that penetrate the
ligaments and articular capsule to deliver oxygen and nutrients
Veins remove carbon dioxide and wastes from the joints
arterial branches from several different arteries typically merge around a joint before
penetrating the articular capsule
chondrocytes - receive oxygen and nutrients from synovial fluid derived from blood
joint tissues are supplied directly by capillaries

Bursae and Tendon Sheaths

Bursae - Saclike structures, alleviate friction in some joints (shoulder and
knee joints)

no
t strictly part of synovial joints, but they do resemble joint capsules because their
walls consist of connective tissue lined by a synovial membrane
filled with a small amount of fluid that is similar to synovial fluid

 located between the skin and bones, tendons and bones, muscles and bones, or
ligaments and bones
fluid-filled bursal sacs cushion the movement of these body parts against one another
Tendon (synovial) sheaths
tubelike bursae that wrap around certain tendons that experience considerable friction
reduce friction at joints
occurs where tendons pass through synovial cavities, such as the tendon of the biceps
brachii muscle at the shoulder joint

Wrist and ankle, where many tendons come together in a confined space
in the fingers and toes, where there is a great deal of movement

TYPES OF MOVEMENTS AT SYNOVIAL JOINTS

Gliding
flat bone surfaces move back-and-forth and from side-to-side with respect to one
another

 no significant alteration of the angle between the bones

limited in range due to the structure of the articular capsule and associated ligaments
and bones
intercarpal and intertarsal joints

Angular Movements
increase or a decrease in the angle between articulating bones
flexion, extension, lateral flexion, hyperextension, abduction, adduction, and
circumduction
Flexion (- to bend) there is a decrease in the angle between articulating bones
Extension (- to stretch out) there is an increase in the angle between articulating bones

 lateral flexion - occurs along the frontal plane and involves the intervertebral joints

hyperextension ( beyond or excessive) ,continuation of extension beyond the

anatomical position

 Abduction (ab- away; -duct to lead) is the movement of a bone away from the midline
adduction ( ad- toward) is the movement of a bone toward the midline
along the frontal plane

Circumduction (circ- circle) is movement of the distal end of a body part in a circle

 not an isolated movement by itself but rather a continuous sequence of flexion,

abduction, extension, and adduction
does not occur along a separate axis or plane of movement
(rota- revolve), a bone revolves around its own longitudinal axis

Special movements
occur only at certain joints
elevation, depression, protraction, retraction, inversion, eversion, dorsiflexion, plantar
flexion, supination, pronation, and opposition

 Elevation ( to lift up) is an upward movement of a part of the body

Depression (to press down) is a downward movement of a part of the body

 Protraction ( to draw forth) is a movement of a part of the body anteriorly in the

transverse plane

Retraction (to draw back) is a movement of a protracted part of the body back to the
anatomical position

 Inversion (to turn inward) is movement of the sole medially at the intertarsal joints
(between the tarsals)

Eversion (to turn outward) is a movement of the sole laterally at the intertarsal joints

 Dorsiflexion - bending of the foot at the ankle or talocrural joint (between the tibia,
fibula, and talus) in the direction of the dorsum (superior surface)
Plantar flexion involves bending of the foot at the ankle joint in the direction of the
plantar or inferior surface

Supination - movement of the forearm at the proximal and distal radioulnar joints in
which the palm is turned anteriorly
Pronation - movement of the forearm at the proximal and distal radioulnar joints in
which the distal end of the radius crosses over the distal end of the ulna and the palm is
turned posteriorly

 Opposition - movement of the thumb at the carpometacarpal joint (between the

trapezium and metacarpal of the thumb) in which the thumb moves across the palm to
touch the tips of the fingers on the same hand

TYPES OF SYNOVIAL JOINTS

planar joint - are flat or slightly curved
primarily permit back-and-forth and side-to-side movements between the flat surfaces of
bones
Biaxial (many)

 hinge joint - the convex surface of one bone fits into the concave surface of another
bone
produce an angular, opening-and-closing motion like that of a hinged door
monaxial (uniaxial)
permit only flexion and extension

 pivot joint - the rounded or pointed surface of one bone articulates with a ring formed
partly by another bone and partly by a ligament
monaxial

condyloid joint (condyl- knuckle) or ellipsoidal joint, the convex oval-shaped

projection of one bone fits into the oval-shaped depression of another bone
Biaxial (flexionextension and abductionadduction)

 saddle joint - the articular surface of one bone is saddle shaped, and the articular
surface of the other bone fits into the saddle as a sitting rider would sit
modified condyloid joint in which the movement is somewhat freer
triaxial, (flexionextension, abductionadduction, and rotation)

b
all-and-socket joint - consists of the ball-like surface of one bone fitting into a cuplike
depression of another bone
triaxial, (flexionextension, abductionadduction, and rotation)

Factors affecting contact and range of motion at synovial joints

Structure or shape of the articulating bones
Strength and tension (tautness) of the joint ligaments
Arrangement and tension of the muscles
Contact of soft parts
Hormones
Disuse

Reference
Principles of Anatomy and Physiology 12th edition-Tortora pg 265-229