Types Of Joints

Front 1

Ball-and-socket joint

Back 1

Descripition:The ball-shaped head of one bone fits into a depression (socket) in another bone
Movement:Circular movements; joints can move in all planes, and rotation is possible
Ex:Shoulder, hip

Front 2

Condyloid joint

Back 2

Descripition:Oval-shaped condyle of one bone fits into oval-shaped cavity of another bone.
Movement:Can move in different planes but cannot rotate
Ex:Knuckles (joints between metacarpals and phalanges)

Front 3

Gliding joint

Back 3

Descripition:Flat or slightly curved surfaces join
Movement:Sliding or twisting in different planes
Ex:Joints between carpal bones (wrist) and between tarsal bones (ankle)

Front 4

Hinge joint

Back 4

Descripition:Convex surface joins with concave surface
Movement:Up and down motion in one plane
Ex:Elbow, knee

Front 5

Pivot joint

Back 5

Descripition:Cylinder-shaped projection on one bone is surrounded by a ring of another bone and ligament
Movement:Rotation is only movement possible
Ex:Joint between radius and ulna at elbow and joint between atlas and axis at top of vertebral column

Front 6

Saddle joint

Back 6

Description:Each bone is saddle shaped and fits into the saddle-shaped region of the opposite bone
Movement:Many movements are possible
Ex:Joint between carpal and metacarpal bones of the thumb