Synovial joints

• Synovial joint diagram:

  A) bone

  B) joint capsule

  C) Bursae

  D) Ligament

  E) tendon

  F) Cartilage

  G) synovial membrane

  H) Synovial fluid

  
• What attaches bone to bone?

  Ligaments
• What attaches muscle to bone?

  Tendons
• What are tendons?

  Strong, non-elastic and creates movement
• What is a joint capsule?

  Fibrous, encloses the joint and stops fluid escaping.
• What is a synovial membrane?

  A membrane that lines the joint capsule and secretes synovial fluid.
• What is synovial fluid?

  Lubricating fluid in joints that stops friction and allows easy movement.
• What is cartilage?

  Flexible tissue at the end of the bone, cushions and prevents friction.
• What are ligaments?

  Elastic tissues that provide stability and support to joints.
• What are bursae?

  Fluid-filled sacs that prevent the damage of hard structures.
• Synovial joint

  Freely moveable joints
• examples of synovial joints

  shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, ankle
• parts of a synovial joint

  tendon, ligaments, joint capsule, synovial fluid, synovial membrane, cartilage, bursae
• tendon

  very strong, non-elastic cord that joins muscle to bone
• ligaments

  bands of elastic fibre that attach a bone to bone, keeping the joints stable by restricting movement
• joint capsule

  tissue that stops synovial fluid from escaping and encloses, supports and holds the bones together
• synovial fluid

  a clear and slippery liquid that lubricates the joint and stops the bones rubbing together
• synovial membrane

  the lining inside the joint capsule that secretes synovial fluid
• cartilage

  a tough but flexible tissue that acts as buffer between the bones, preventing bones rubbing together and causing friction
• bursae

  a sac filled with liquid, floating inside the joint to reduce friction between tendon and bones
• extension

  straightening or extending a limb 'increasing' an angle e.g. the arm can be extended at the elbow
• flexion

  bending or flexing a limb 'decreasing' the angle e.g. the leg can be flexed at the knee
• abduction

  moving a limb away from the centre line of the body
• adduction

  moving a limb towards the centre line of the body
• rotation

  a circular movement around a joint and in one plane e.g. the arm can move in circles at the shoulder in bowling in cricket
• circumduction


  Movement of a bone or limb in a circular pattern; and in more than one plane. A combination of flexion, extension, adduction and abduction e.g. butterfly in swimming
• dorsiflexion

  flexes the foot upwards
• plantar flexion

  points the toes e.g. gymnastics