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Related Concept Videos

Development of the Limb Synovial Joints01:07

Development of the Limb Synovial Joints

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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.
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Joints01:26

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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.
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Functional Classification of Joints01:09

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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.
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Knee Joint01:23

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The knee joint is the most complicated joint in the body. It consists of three articulations– two tibiofemoral and one patellofemoral. As is characteristic of synovial joints, the knee joint has a thin articular capsule that partially surrounds this joint cavity. Additionally, several ligaments, muscles, and cartilaginous structures support the movement of the knee.
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Introduction to Joints00:58

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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...
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Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus01:19

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The upper limb consists of the arm, forearm, wrist, and hand bones. The humerus is the single bone of the upper arm region. Proximally, it has a large, spherical, smooth head that articulates with the glenoid cavity of the scapula to form the glenohumeral or shoulder joint. The margin of the head is the anatomical neck, a residual epiphyseal plate. Laterally it extends to form bony projections called the greater tubercle and the lesser tubercle. Next to the tubercles is the surgical neck, a...
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Updated: Jul 16, 2025

Using a Knee Arthrometer to Evaluate Tissue-specific Contributions to Knee Flexion Contracture in the Rat
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Variation in human limb joint articular morphology.

Haley Horbaly1,2, Mark Hubbe3, Adam D Sylvester4

  • 1Department of Health and Human Performance, Congdon School of Health Sciences, High Point University, High Point, North Carolina, USA.

American Journal of Biological Anthropology
|September 13, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Human joint articular surfaces show varied shapes, with concave surfaces exhibiting greater variance than convex ones, regardless of sex or limb. This finding offers insights into joint development and evolution.

Keywords:
3D geometric morphometricsarticular surfacefunctional morphologymorphological variancesynovial joints

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Area of Science:

  • Human anatomy
  • Biomechanics
  • Evolutionary biology

Background:

  • Synovial joints balance mobility and stability, but how this affects articular shape variation is unclear.
  • Intraspecific variation in human limb joint articular surfaces remains poorly understood.
  • Conflicting functional demands shape joint morphology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify and compare morphological variance in human shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee articular surfaces.
  • To investigate patterns of variance related to joint function and range of motion.
  • To explore sex and side-based differences in articular shape variance.

Main Methods:

  • Geometric morphometrics applied to 3D CT scan data of 200 human skeletons.
  • Analysis of glenohumeral, humeroulnar, acetabulofemoral, and tibiofemoral joints.
  • Calculation of variance distributions using Procrustes shape coordinates and root mean-squared distances.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in variance were found between sexes or left/right articular surfaces.
  • Higher range of motion correlated with greater morphological variance.
  • Concave articular surfaces consistently showed statistically greater variance than convex counterparts.

Conclusions:

  • Differential variance between articulating joint surfaces suggests developmental disparities.
  • Higher variance in concave surfaces may support chondral modeling theory.
  • Understanding intraspecific variance is crucial for studying coordinated evolution of articular features.