Joints and movements
Joints connect skeletal elements and permit different amounts of movement. Their structural classification predicts typical mobility but not the entire range of functional motion.
Open interactive lesson & self-check ↗Joints and movements — learning map
Original conceptual SVG · scalableOriginal schematic relationship map for this topic; relationships are organized for study, not intended as an anatomical depiction or a diagnostic algorithm.
Fibrous and cartilaginous
Fibrous joints use dense connective tissue; cartilaginous joints link bones by cartilage. Movement varies by anatomical subtype.
Synovial joints
Articular hyaline cartilage covers joint surfaces; synovial membrane and capsule surround a fluid-filled joint cavity. Ligaments and muscle stabilize the articulation.
Movement vocabulary
Flexion and extension commonly occur around a transverse axis; abduction and adduction around an anteroposterior axis; rotation around a longitudinal axis.
Functional limitation
Ligament injury, muscle weakness, pain and joint surface disease can alter the active and passive movement achievable at a joint.
Reference and next reading
Explore the original curriculum and publisher-hosted resources for full-depth reading; this note is an original schematic introduction, not an exhaustive chapter.