Articulations,
Movement,
and Fractures
Unit 4
Miss Wheeler
Classification of Joints
› Joints
(articulations) are where two or
more bones come together. They allow
the skeleton to move
› Classified by structure and function
Fibrous- Immoveable joints
›  Example: sutures in between skull bones
2.  Cartilaginous- Slightly moveable; plates/discs
of cartilage
›  Example: intervertebral discs
3.  Synovial- Moveable joints
›  Example: all joints in the limbs
›  Types classified by movement and function
1. 
Types of Synovial Joints
1. 
2. 
Plane/Gliding joint- joining bone surfaces are
flat; only allow short gliding movements (no
rotation)
Hinge joint- ends are shaped like a hinge;
angular movement
Types of Synovial Joints
Condyloid joint- “Knuckle-like”; ends are oval
shaped, movement is side to side and back
and forth.
4. Saddle joint- ends are curved to fit together like a
saddle on a horse; same movement as
condyloid
3.
Types of Synovial Joints
Pivot joint- Ends are round and sleeve/ring shaped
to fit together
6. Ball & Socket joint- ends of bone are round and
has socket to fit together; movement in all
directions
5. 
Types of Movement
›  Some
joints are limited to one type of
movement, while others allow movement in
several directions
›  Types of movement:
1. 
2. 
3. 
Gliding
Angular
Circular
1. Gliding Movements
›  Simplest
type
›  Occur in plane joints
between two flat or
almost flat surfaces
where they glide over
each other
›  Example: carpal bones
2. Angular Movements
›  Flexion-
to bend
toward
›  Extension- to
straighten
›  Abductionmovement away
from midline of
body
›  Adductionmovement toward
the midline of the
body
3. Circular Movements
›  Rotation-
turning of a
structure around its
long axis
›  Pronation- rotation of
forearm so that the
palm faces inferiorly
›  Supination- rotation
of the forearm so that
the palm faces
superiorly
›  Circumductioncombination of
flexion, extension,
abduction, and
adduction
Circumduction
Bone Fractures
›  Fracture=
a break in a bone
›  Treatment:
›  Realignment
of the bone
›  Immobilization (casts)
Types of Fractures
›  Open
Fracture- bone breaks through the skin
›  Closed Fracture- bone does not break through the
skin
Open
Closed
Types of Fractures
›  Complete
Fracture- fracture goes completely across
the bone
›  Incomplete Fracture- fracture only goes across part
of bone
Complete
Incomplete
Types of Fractures
›  Linear
Fracture- fracture line runs parallel to the
bone
›  Transverse Fracture- fracture line is perpendicular to
the bone
›  Oblique Fracture- fracture line runs diagonally
across the bone
Linear
Transverse
Oblique
Bone Repair
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
Hematoma (blood-filled swelling) is
formed due to broken blood vessels
Fibrocartilage callus begins to form,
which supports the fracture. Capillaries
also form again.
Fibrocartilage callus is replaced by a
bony callus made of spongy bone
Bone callus is remodeled to form a
permanent patch
Bone Repair
Try This!
›  Let’s
try immobilizing a fracture with a splint.