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Classification
of joints in the body fall into one of three main categories:
1.
Fixed (Fibrous) Joint e.g. sutures of skull
2.
Slightly Moveable (Cartilaginous) Joint e.g. intervertebral
discs
3.
Freely Moveable (Synovial) Joint e.g. hip joint
Characteristics
of a synovial joint
Synovial
or freely moveable joints are characterised by the presence of a
number of features:
- A joint capsule
- which makes the inside of the joint self contained.
- A joint cavity
- space which allows fluid movement within the joint.
- Synovial
fluid - which flows inside the joint cavity and lubricates the
joint.
- Synovial
membrane - this secretes the joints synovial fluid.
Synovial joints
are subdivided according to their possible movements which are determined
by the bones within the joint.
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