Synovial joint
A synovial joint, also known as diarthrosis, joins bones or cartilage with a fibrous joint capsule that is continuous with the periosteum of the joined bones, constitutes the outer boundary of a synovial cavity, and surrounds the bones' articulating surfaces. The synovial cavity/joint is filled with synovial fluid. The joint capsule is made up of an outer layer, the articular capsule, which keeps the bones together structurally, and an inner layer, the synovial membrane, which seals in the synovial fluid.
They are the most common and most movable type of joint in the body of a mammal. As with most other joints, synovial joints achieve movement at the point of contact of the articulating bones.
Structure
Synovial joints contain the following structures:- Synovial cavity: all diarthroses have the characteristic space between the bones that is filled with synovial fluid
- Joint capsule: the fibrous capsule, continuous with the periosteum of articulating bones, surrounds the diarthrosis and unites the articulating bones; the joint capsule consists of two layers - the outer fibrous membrane that may contain ligaments and the inner synovial membrane that secretes the lubricating, shock absorbing, and joint-nourishing synovial fluid; the joint capsule is highly innervated, but without blood and lymph vessels, and receives nutrition from the surrounding blood supply via either diffusion or by convection, a far more efficient process achieved through exercise.
- Articular cartilage: the bones of a synovial joint are covered by this layer of hyaline cartilage that lines the epiphyses of joint end of bone with a smooth, slippery surface that does not bind them together; articular cartilage functions to absorb shock and reduce friction during movement.
- Articular discs or menisci - the fibrocartilage pads between opposing surfaces in a joint
- Articular fat pads - adipose tissue pads that protect the articular cartilage, as seen in the infrapatellar fat pad in the knee
- Tendons - cords of dense regular connective tissue composed of parallel bundles of collagen fibers
- Accessory ligaments - the fibers of some fibrous membranes are arranged in parallel bundles of dense regular connective tissue that are highly adapted for resisting strains to prevent extreme movements that may damage the articulation
- Bursae - saclike structures that are situated strategically to alleviate friction in some joints that are filled with fluid that is similar to synovial fluid
Blood supply
The blood supply of a synovial joint is derived from the arteries sharing in the anastomosis around the joint.Types
There are seven types of synovial joints. Some are relatively immobile, but are more stable. Others have multiple degrees of freedom, but at the expense of greater risk of injury. In ascending order of mobility, they are:| Name | Example | Description |
| Plane joints | carpals of the wrist, acromioclavicular joint | These joints allow only gliding or sliding movements, are multi-axial such as the articulation between vertebrae. |
| Hinge joints | elbow | These joints act as a door hinge does, allowing flexion and extension in just one plane |
| Pivot joints | atlanto-axial joint, proximal radioulnar joint, and distal radioulnar joint | One bone rotates about another |
| Condyloid joints | wrist joint | A condyloid joint is a modified ball and socket joint that allow primary movement within two perpendicular axes, passive or secondary movement may occur on a third axes. Some classifications make a distinction between condyloid and ellipsoid joints; these joints allow flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction movements. |
| Saddle joints | Carpometacarpal or trapeziometacarpal joint of thumb, sternoclavicular joint | Saddle joints, where the two surfaces are reciprocally concave/convex in shape, which resemble a saddle, permit the same movements as the condyloid joints but allows greater movement. |
"universal Joint" | shoulder and hip joints | These allow for all movements except gliding |
| Compound joints / bicondyloid joints | knee joint | condylar joint and saddle joint |
Function
The movements possible with synovial joints are:- abduction: movement away from the mid-line of the body
- adduction: movement toward the mid-line of the body
- extension: straightening limbs at a joint
- flexion: bending the limbs at a joint
- rotation: a circular movement around a fixed point
Clinical significance
In rheumatoid arthritis, the clinical manifestations are primarily synovial inflammation and joint damage. The fibroblast-like synoviocytes, highly specialized mesenchymal cells found in the synovial membrane, have an active and prominent role in the pathogenic processes in the rheumatic joints. Therapies that target these cells are emerging as promising therapeutic tools, raising hope for future applications in rheumatoid arthritis.