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• Articular cartilage


  • Covers the articulating surfaces of bones forming the joint
  • Provides smooth surface for movement
• Articular disc


  Divides the synovial cavity into two compartments, directing fluid into greatest functioning areas
• Bursae (synovial fluid sacks)


  • Prevent friction between bone, ligament, and skin where tendon meets a bone and inside a joint
• Several factors affect the smooth functioning of a joint
• Ligaments

  • Hold bones together in many joints
• Synovial joints

  • Articular surface of bones
  • Fit of articulating bones
  • Strength of joint ligaments holding bones together
  • Tension provided by the muscles around the joint
• Flexion (bending)

  1. Decreases angle between articulating bones

  2. Bones come closer together
• Extension (straightening)

  1. Increases angle between the articular bones

  2. Bones move further apart
• Abduction


  Movement away from the midline
• Adduction

  Movement towards the midline
• Rotation


  Movement of a bone around its long axis