Joints — table
Articulating surfaces, ligaments and movements of the major joints. 22 entries.
Skull — sutures & landmarks 1
| Joint | Articulations | Ligaments | Movements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cranial sutures | — | — | Bind skull bones while allowing slight flexibility in childhood; Allow moulding of the fetal head during birth; Sites of growth of the cranial vault |
Joints — classification 3
| Joint | Articulations | Ligaments | Movements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fibrous joints | — | — | Bind bones firmly together; Transmit forces between bones (e.g. interosseous membrane from radius to ulna); Allow growth at sutures in childhood |
| Cartilaginous joints | — | — | Allow bone growth (synchondroses); Permit limited movement with great strength and shock absorption (symphyses) |
| Synovial joints | — | — | Permit free, controlled movement between bones; Transmit and distribute loads with minimal friction; Provide proprioceptive information for posture and coordination |
Joints — axial skeleton 5
| Joint | Articulations | Ligaments | Movements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporomandibular joint | Head of the mandible ↔ mandibular fossa and articular tubercle of the temporal bone (with intervening disc). | Lateral (temporomandibular) ligament — main stabiliser, prevents posterior displacement; sphenomandibular ligament (spine of sphenoid → lingula); stylomandibular ligament (styloid → angle). | Opening and closing of the mouth; Protrusion, retraction and lateral grinding movements for mastication; Speech and swallowing |
| Atlanto-occipital joint | Occipital condyles ↔ superior articular facets of the atlas. | Anterior and posterior atlanto-occipital membranes; tectorial membrane; alar and apical ligaments (shared with the atlanto-axial joints). | Nodding (flexion–extension) of the head; Slight lateral flexion of the head; Transmits the weight of the head to the vertebral column |
| Atlanto-axial joint | Dens ↔ anterior arch of atlas and transverse ligament; lateral masses of atlas ↔ superior facets of axis. | Cruciform (transverse ligament + longitudinal bands), alar, apical, tectorial membrane, anterior atlanto-axial membrane, ligamentum flavum. | Rotation of the head (shaking the head "no"); Keeps the dens away from the spinal cord |
| Intervertebral joints | — | Anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, ligamenta flava, interspinous, supraspinous (ligamentum nuchae), intertransverse ligaments. | Allow flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation of the trunk; Transmit and absorb axial loads; Guide and limit movement to protect the spinal cord |
| Costovertebral joints | — | Radiate, intra-articular, costotransverse, lateral and superior costotransverse ligaments. | Anchor the ribs to the vertebral column; Allow rib rotation for pump-handle and bucket-handle breathing movements |
Joints — upper limb 7
| Joint | Articulations | Ligaments | Movements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sternoclavicular joint | Sternal end of the clavicle ↔ clavicular notch of the manubrium and 1st costal cartilage (with articular disc). | Anterior and posterior sternoclavicular ligaments, interclavicular ligament, costoclavicular ligament (strongest). | Sole bony connection between the upper limb and the axial skeleton; Allows movements of the clavicle that accompany scapular motion; Transmits forces from the upper limb to the sternum |
| Acromioclavicular joint | Acromial end of the clavicle ↔ acromion of the scapula. | Acromioclavicular ligament (capsular, horizontal stability); coracoclavicular ligament — conoid and trapezoid parts (vertical stability, main suspensory ligament of the upper limb). | Allows the scapula to rotate and glide on the clavicle during arm movements; Transmits forces from the upper limb to the clavicle |
| Shoulder joint | Head of humerus ↔ glenoid cavity of scapula. | Superior, middle and inferior glenohumeral ligaments; coracohumeral ligament; transverse humeral ligament; coracoacromial ligament (extrinsic). | Positions the hand in space with the greatest range of any joint; Flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation and circumduction of the arm |
| Elbow joint | Humerus ↔ ulna (humero-ulnar), humerus ↔ radius (humeroradial); proximal radioulnar joint in the same capsule. | Ulnar collateral, radial collateral and annular ligaments; quadrate ligament (radial neck to ulna). | Flexion and extension of the forearm (brachialis, biceps, brachioradialis / triceps, anconeus); Positions the hand toward or away from the body; Transmits forces between hand and shoulder |
| Radioulnar joints | Radial head ↔ radial notch of ulna (proximal); ulnar notch of radius ↔ ulnar head (distal). | Annular ligament, quadrate ligament, triangular fibrocartilage complex (dorsal and palmar radioulnar ligaments, articular disc), interosseous membrane. | Pronation and supination of the forearm and hand; Transfer of load from radius to ulna |
| Wrist joint | Radius and articular disc ↔ scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum. | Palmar and dorsal radiocarpal, ulnocarpal, radial and ulnar collateral ligaments of the wrist; intercarpal (scapholunate, lunotriquetral) ligaments. | Positions the hand for grip and fine manipulation; Flexion, extension, radial and ulnar deviation, circumduction; Transmits load from the hand to the forearm |
| Joints of the hand | — | Palmar (volar) plates, collateral ligaments, deep transverse metacarpal ligaments, dorsal and palmar CMC ligaments, anterior oblique ("beak") ligament of the thumb CMC. | Opposition, pinch and power grip; Flexion, extension, abduction and adduction of the digits; Cupping and flattening of the palm |
Joints — pelvis & lower limb 6
| Joint | Articulations | Ligaments | Movements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacroiliac joint | Auricular surface of the sacrum ↔ auricular surface of the ilium. | Anterior sacroiliac, interosseous sacroiliac (strongest), posterior sacroiliac; accessory: sacrotuberous, sacrospinous, iliolumbar. | Transmits the weight of the upper body from the vertebral column to the hip bones; Absorbs shock and allows slight pelvic flexibility (especially during childbirth) |
| Pubic symphysis | Symphyseal surface of the right pubis ↔ symphyseal surface of the left pubis (via the interpubic disc). | Superior pubic ligament, inferior (arcuate) pubic ligament, anterior and posterior pubic ligaments. | Joins the two hip bones anteriorly, completing the pelvic ring; Resists tensile, shearing and compressive forces during gait; Allows slight widening of the birth canal in pregnancy |
| Hip joint | Head of the femur ↔ lunate surface of the acetabulum. | Iliofemoral, pubofemoral, ischiofemoral, zona orbicularis, ligament of the head of the femur, transverse acetabular ligament, acetabular labrum. | Supports the weight of the head, upper limbs and trunk in standing and gait; Flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, rotation and circumduction of the thigh |
| Knee joint | Femoral condyles ↔ tibial condyles (via menisci); patella ↔ patellar surface of the femur. | Patellar ligament, medial and lateral patellar retinacula, tibial and fibular collateral ligaments, anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, oblique and arcuate popliteal ligaments, coronary and transverse ligaments (menisci),… | Flexion and extension of the leg; rotation when flexed; Supports body weight while allowing locomotion, squatting and jumping; Locks in extension for energy-efficient standing |
| Ankle joint | Distal tibia and fibula (malleoli) ↔ trochlea of the talus. | Deltoid ligament (medial); anterior talofibular, calcaneofibular and posterior talofibular ligaments (lateral); anterior and posterior inferior tibiofibular and interosseous ligaments (syndesmosis). | Dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the foot; Transmits body weight from the leg to the foot; Contributes to propulsion during gait |
| Subtalar joint | Talus ↔ calcaneus (posterior facet); talus ↔ calcaneus, navicular and spring ligament (talocalcaneonavicular). | Interosseous talocalcaneal, cervical, lateral and medial talocalcaneal ligaments; plantar calcaneonavicular (spring) ligament; bifurcate ligament. | Inversion and eversion of the foot; Adapts the foot to uneven surfaces; Converts rotation of the leg into pronation/supination of the foot during gait |