Joints Anatomy

Sutures are only found in the skull, cranium and head were also acceptable answers.

Also known as the meeting of two bone, often referred to as a joint or articulation. Joint or Joints were acceptable answers.

Diathroses is a functional classification and not structural meaning there is slight movement in the joint.

Syndesmoses are fibrous joints (a structural and not functional classification) in which the bones are connected by ligaments.

The saddle-type carpometacarpal joint of the thumb allows you to twiddle your thumbs and this type of joint looks like a saddle.

Cartilage is avascular (without blood supply) and thus can't readily nourish itself to repair damage. Usually this type of damage is permanent.

All movements are possible depending on the joint.

The Atlantoaxial join is a pivot joint (rounded end protruding into a ring of bone or connective tissue). In this case it allows you to shake your head no.

All three of these structures may contain some amount of synovial fluid.

A gomphosis is a peg-in-socket fibrous joint that is only found in the articulation between a tooth and its bony alveolar (part of mandible/maxilla - jaw) socket. The connection in this case is the short periodontal ligament.

A ligament is a bone-to-bone fibrous connection of a cord or band of tissue. Ligament means syndesmos which explains why a syndesmoses is so named (it is a ligament connected fibrous joint).

Hyaluronic acid contributes to the viscous, egg-like consistency (synovi = joint egg) of the synovial fluid, which does thin as the joint sees activity and warms up.

The interosseus membrane connects the radius and ulna along their length (antebrachial = forearm) with ligament-like fibers that are long enough that the radius can rotate around the ulna. A syndesmoses is a type of fibrous joint, so both a and d were correct.

Intercarpal joints are plane joints (flat articular surfaces that allow slight gliding movements)

a synchondrosis is a "junction of cartilage" Virtually all synchondroses are synarthrotic (immovable). The most common example is the epiphyseal plate of youth which like most things of youth eventually ossifies (turns to bone).

Interphalangeal joints are hinge joints (cylindrical projection articulating with a trough-shaped surface resembling a door hinge)

The articular capsule is two-layered, consisting of a tough fibrous capsule external layer (the correct answer) which is composed of dense irregular connective tissue that is continuous with the periostea of articulating bones. The inner layer of the articular capsule (also known as a joint capsule) is called the synovial membrane. It is composed of loose connective tissue and covers all internal joint surfaces not covered with hyaline (articular) cartilage.

Syntoses are the ossified sutures of what are sometimes referred to as fontanels. The sutures allow for slight skull flexion but are completely ossified (turned to bone) by adulthood.

The radiocarpal joint is an example of a condyloid joint ( oval surface fitting into complementary depression = both articulations ovular)

All of the above are features of a synovial joint, but a synovial joint is the only structure containing a joint cavity. Synovial fluid is also found in bursae and in some articular cartilage. Ligaments are also found in syndesmoses and gomphoses. Articular cartilage is also found in all cartilaginous joints.

Acromioclavicular is a plane joint, the knee is not a ball and socket either (combo hinge/plane), and the coxal joint, although being a ball and socket doesn't have the range that the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint does.

This is a fairly common football injury caused by a tackle from the lateral side when the foot is planted and the knee is locked.

Symphyses are cartilaginous joints that are slightly movable (diarthrotic), so the answer was all of the above. Symphyses consist of hyaline cartilage covered articular surfaces fused to a pad or plate of fibrocartilage (which because it is compressible allows the slight movement).

The shape of articular bone surfaces is helpful for stability (especially in the case of the hip joint), and the number of ligaments (and size/strength of them) can contribute to stability, but the muscle tone of the muscles connected to the tendons attached to the joint is the most important factor.

okay, so this is kind of a trick question. Look up deltoid ligament before you send hate mail or kick the dog.

The deltoid ligament is the medial ligament of the talocrural (ankle) joint and is rarely sprained by forced eversion and is usually accompanied by cartilage and/or bone damage. My deltoid ligament is in the wrong place due to a skateboarding accident back in the early 90's.