Synovial Joints

• Strength & Stability of Synovial Joints

  joints, esp synovial joints, r the weakest parts of the skeleton

  nonetheless, their structure resists various forces, like crushing/tearing that threaten to force them out of alignment

  cos these joints r contantly stretched + compressed, they must be stabilised so that they don't dislocate
• Factors Affecting the Stability of Synovial Joints

  the shapes of the articular surfaces

  the number + positioning of ligaments

  muscle tone
• Factors Affecting Stability - Articular Surfaces

  the shapes of articular surfaces determine what movements r possible at a joint

  but articular surfaces play only a minor role in joint stability

  many joints have shallow sockets/noncomplementary articulating surfaces that hinder joint stability

  when articular surfaces r large + fit snugly together, or when the socket is deep, stability is vastly improved

  = ball + socket joint of the hip joint, made extremely stable by the shape of its articular surfaces