If the joints had no function, there would not have been any use of them in the human body. The joints play vital roles in maintaining what we call as a fit and aesthetically good body. It helps people run, jump, stretch and walk. Without joints being functional, it is tough to imagine the free kick of your favorite footballer!
The degree of movement that joints allow enables us to classify them on the basis of their functionality. They are classified into 3 functionalities:
Synarthrosis: This allows little or no movement at all. Most of the joints that are classified as such are made up of fibrous tissues that allow little or no mobility. Is it hard to imagine a joint which cannot move? Relax; the best example is the cranium structure – popularly known as the skull. The skull is not an intact and a molded shape but is made up of many joints.
These joints are immovable and are known as the synarthrosis joints.
Amphiarthrosis: Similar to the classification of joints on the basis of structure, this type of joint allows very little and limited mobility. These joints are generally supportive in nature and provide the mechanical stability and strength needed to keep the body in motion. Cartilaginous joints are called so.
A cartilage can be called a pseudo bone, i.e. it is not a bone at all. It is a gelatinous structure and provides lubrication and reduces friction in the bone joints. Such joints are slightly movable and are the motion is generally a "free-play" rather than a full range motion – i.e. it prevents from any mechanical shocks and has a shock absorbing effect.
Diarthrosis: Such joints allow a range of motion that is not seen in the previous two joint types. If you can rotate your arms fully and can stretch your legs – it is because of the joint. Such joints are synovial joints. This type of a joint is characterized by its strange shape. There is actually a cavity in between two bones and it is complemented by a cartilage, connective tissue and a lubricating fluid, known as the synovial fluid.
Other examples of joints which are this type are the hip, shoulder, elbow and knee joints. This is also known as the simple joint in biomechanical classification.
The diarthrosis is considered as the movement joint and the movement and the range of motion is greater than that of any other joints which are almost fixed. The joints can be further classified according to the number of articulation surface. This type of classification is known as the bio-mechanical classification as mentioned above.
It is hard to imagine what we would be like without joints and that too without their so many functionalities!
The degree of movement that joints allow enables us to classify them on the basis of their functionality. They are classified into 3 functionalities:
Synarthrosis: This allows little or no movement at all. Most of the joints that are classified as such are made up of fibrous tissues that allow little or no mobility. Is it hard to imagine a joint which cannot move? Relax; the best example is the cranium structure – popularly known as the skull. The skull is not an intact and a molded shape but is made up of many joints.
These joints are immovable and are known as the synarthrosis joints.
Amphiarthrosis: Similar to the classification of joints on the basis of structure, this type of joint allows very little and limited mobility. These joints are generally supportive in nature and provide the mechanical stability and strength needed to keep the body in motion. Cartilaginous joints are called so.
A cartilage can be called a pseudo bone, i.e. it is not a bone at all. It is a gelatinous structure and provides lubrication and reduces friction in the bone joints. Such joints are slightly movable and are the motion is generally a "free-play" rather than a full range motion – i.e. it prevents from any mechanical shocks and has a shock absorbing effect.
Diarthrosis: Such joints allow a range of motion that is not seen in the previous two joint types. If you can rotate your arms fully and can stretch your legs – it is because of the joint. Such joints are synovial joints. This type of a joint is characterized by its strange shape. There is actually a cavity in between two bones and it is complemented by a cartilage, connective tissue and a lubricating fluid, known as the synovial fluid.
Other examples of joints which are this type are the hip, shoulder, elbow and knee joints. This is also known as the simple joint in biomechanical classification.
The diarthrosis is considered as the movement joint and the movement and the range of motion is greater than that of any other joints which are almost fixed. The joints can be further classified according to the number of articulation surface. This type of classification is known as the bio-mechanical classification as mentioned above.
It is hard to imagine what we would be like without joints and that too without their so many functionalities!