Types Of Joints

What are the different types of joints? Joints are, well, joints. They are what connect our bones to each other. There are three main classification types of joints – structural classification, functional classification, and regional classification. Under these classifications, there are many more types of joints under them.

Under the structural classification types of joints, we have the fibrous joints. These are the joints that are joins the bones through fibrous tissue. These fibrous tissues deem the bones they connect somehow immovable. If ever they can be moved, there is only a very little movement present. Under fibrous types of joints there are many other types of joints, first are the sutures. These are the joints that can be found in the skull. Of course, these are immovable joints. Syndesmosis joints on the other hand are the fibrous joints that are connected with ligaments that are interosseus. The third types of joints under the fibrous joints are gomphosis. These are also called socket joints or peg joints. These are the joints that are commonly found in the tooth.

Cartilaginous joints are other kinds of joints that are structural. As the name implies, these are the joints that have cartilages in between. These cartilages are what holds the bones and forms the joint. Cartilaginous joints are categorized into synchondrosis or primary cartilaginous, symphysis or the secondary cartilaginous, and the synovial joints.

Under the functional classification types of joints, we also have immovable joints that are called synarthroses. These are joints that are fixed and do not permit any movement.

There are also party movable ones. These are called amphiarthroses. These are functional types of joints that are only allowing slight movement. They are composed of some sort of cartilage pad that can be found between the surfaces of the bones. These cartilages are what acts as absorbers of shock when they are moved. Good examples of these kinds of joints are intervertebral discs that are found in bodies of vertebrae. These discs have cartilages that are strengthened by collagen fibers. The third types of joints under the functional classification are the freely moveable ones. These are called diarthroses. These are equal to the synovial joints when it comes to structural classification. They can be moved freely and if ever the movement is restricted it is because they are restricted by articulating surfaces as well as ligaments that keep them together. These are the ligaments that are elastic and connective.

Under the regional classification types of joints, we have three types. The first type of joints here are the skull type joints. These are the joints that can be seen on the skull. Of course, they are immovable joints. The second type of regional joints is the vertebral type. There are the joints that can be found in the vertebral column and they are slightly moveable. Lastly, we have the limb type of regional joints. These are joints that are, well, that can be found in the upper and the lower limbs. These are the joints that are freely movable.