Veterinary Anatomy : Arthrology

Joint = Articulation = Union of two or more bones
Classification:
1)Fibrous joints — immobile joints, united by fibrous tissue, may ossify with age.
Three types are recognized:
a) Suture = [L. seam] undulating seams between bones of the skull
b)Gomphosis = tooth in an alveolus, united by periodontal ligament
c) Syndesmosis = bones joined by ligaments, e.g., [radius & ulna] and [tibia & fibula]
2)Cartilaginous joints — immobile joints, united by cartilage, ossify with age.
Two types are recognized:
a)Symphysis = [G. grow together] fibrocartilage union,
e.g., pelvic symphysis; mandibular symphysis; (also, intervertebral disk)
b) Synchondrosis = hyaline cartilage union, e.g., physis
3)Synovial joints — mobile joints, fibrous tissue enclosing a synovial cavity
Classified on the basis of synovial joint
1) Number of bones:
Simple joint = formed by two bones, e.g., shoulder joint
Compound joint = formed by more than two bones, e.g.,
elbow joint, carpal joint
2)Shape:
Hinge (ginglymus) joint = movement in one plane
Ball & socket (spheroid) joint = capable of circumduction
Plane joint = gliding action, e.g., vertebral articular processes
also, Ellipsoid, Saddle, Condylar, Trochoid