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Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Joints00:58

Introduction to Joints

The adult human body usually has 206 bones, and except for the hyoid bone in the neck, each bone is connected to at least one other bone. Joints are the location where bones come together. Many joints allow for movement between the bones. At these joints, the articulating surfaces of the adjacent bones can move smoothly against each other. However, the bones of other joints may be joined by connective tissue or cartilage. These joints are designed for stability and provide little or no movement.
Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Development of the Limb Synovial Joints01:07

Development of the Limb Synovial Joints

Joints form during embryonic development in conjunction with the formation and growth of the associated bones. The embryonic tissue that gives rise to all bones, cartilage, and connective tissues of the body is called mesenchyme.
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
Joints01:26

Joints

Joints, also called articulations or articular surfaces, are points at which ligaments or other tissues connect adjacent bones. Joints permit movement and stability, and can be classified based on their structure or function.
Structural joint classifications are based on the material that makes up the joint as well as whether or not the joint contains a space between the bones. Joints are structurally classified as fibrous, cartilaginous, or synovial.
Fibrous Joints Are Immovable
The bones of a...
Functional Classification of Joints01:09

Functional Classification of Joints

Functional Classification of Joints
The functional classification of joints is determined by the amount of mobility between the adjacent bones. Joints are functionally classified as a synarthrosis or immobile joint, an amphiarthrosis or slightly moveable joint, or as a diarthrosis, a freely moveable joint. Fibrous and cartilaginous joints can be functionally classified as either synarthroses  or amphiarthroses, whereas all synovial joints are classified as diarthroses.
Synarthrosis
An immobile...
Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella01:16

Bones of the Lower Limb: Femur and Patella

The femur is the body's longest and strongest bone spanning the thigh region. Its head articulates with the acetabulum of the hip bone to form the hip joint. A minor indentation on the medial side of the femoral head, called the fovea capitis, serves as the site of attachment for the ligament of the head of the femur. This weak ligament spans the femur and acetabulum and supports the hip joint. The narrowed region below the head is the neck of the femur. The inclination angle between the neck...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Design and Use of an Apparatus for Presenting Graspable Objects in 3D Workspace
09:11

Design and Use of an Apparatus for Presenting Graspable Objects in 3D Workspace

Published on: August 8, 2019

Body size and joint posture in primates.

John D Polk1, Scott A Williams, Jeffrey V Peterson

  • 1Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA. jdpolk@illinois.edu

American Journal of Physical Anthropology
|May 9, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Larger primates tend to use more extended knee postures than smaller species. This body mass effect on joint posture is consistent across most primate groups, though smaller species show more varied postures.

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Area of Science:

  • Primate anatomy
  • Biomechanics
  • Paleontology

Background:

  • Body mass significantly influences joint posture in major limb joints.
  • Previous studies had limitations in sample size, size range, or indirect variable connections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To infer joint postures for a large primate sample using an experimentally validated method.
  • To test if larger primates utilize more extended joint postures compared to smaller species.

Main Methods:

  • Inferred primate knee joint postures by analyzing subchondral bone apparent density patterns on the medial femoral condyle.
  • Utilized CT scans of femora from 94 individuals across 28 wild-shot primate species.
  • Measured apparent density using AMIRA software and recorded the angular position of maximum density.

Main Results:

  • The hypothesis that larger-bodied primates exhibit more extended knee postures was generally supported.
  • Significant variation in knee posture was observed, especially in smaller-bodied species, indicating less constraint.
  • A size-related increase in inferred joint posture was evident across most major primate groups.

Conclusions:

  • Body size is a significant factor influencing knee joint posture in primates.
  • Biewener's model relating body size and joint posture is generally applicable across diverse primate groups.
  • Smaller primates display greater flexibility in knee joint posture due to less body size constraint.