Different types of joints in the human body

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Hinge joint

Hinge Joints

A hinge joint connects two bones, allowing them to move only from side to side. There are many hinge joints in your limbs.

They’re pretty much everywhere—at your shoulder, elbows, wrist, knuckles...even at your knees and ankles.

The most important ones for you to know about are your elbow (also called a radiocarpal joint) and your knee (called a tibiofemoral joint).

Both connect two bones that bend together and straighten out again. As with all hinge joints, their role is easy:

Help you bend (and unbend) at those spots so you can use your limbs effectively! Also called ginglymoid joints.

Condyloid joint

Condyloid Joints

A condyloid joint is a type of synovial joint that connects two bones at one point and allows for movement.

Because these joints allow for rotation, such as your ankle or wrist, they are found mostly on long bones.

They are similar to hinge joints but can only move in one direction without having more than one plane; unlike a hinge joint, which can bend and rotate equally in two planes.

Condyloid joints (or saddle-shaped) exist near either end of a bone but only have movement on one side—the inside surface.

These synovial cavities are lined with hyaline cartilage and surrounded by fibrous tissue that holds it all together.

Saddle joint

Saddle Joints

A saddle joint (articulatio sellers) is a synovial plane joint that connects two flat bones with a central depression, allowing them to glide smoothly over each other.

Saddle joints are found at several locations in your body including: at the base of your skull where your occipital bone joins your vertebrae; between the first, second, and third vertebrae to make up your neck; between certain upper ribs with attached cartilage called costal cartilages; and at either side of you knee where two flat bones join together.

The knee saddle joint is found within your patellofemoral compartment.

Ball and Socket Joint

Ball and Socket Joints

Ball-and-socket joint. This is a kind of hinge joint. It's present between your upper arm bone (humerus) and the shoulder blade (scapula).

It allows a wide range of movement but allows for little force to be applied. For example, you wouldn't use ball-and-socket joints when lifting heavy weights—your shoulder may pop out!

The same goes for your hips, which are also ball-and-socket joints. Imagine trying to lift something heavy without being able to lock your knees!

Your hips are some of your most important joints—they keep you balanced and stable when you walk or run—so damaging them by using them incorrectly would mean an early end to many sports careers.

Gliding joint

Gliding Joints

In gliding joints, two bones articulate to form a plane between them; movement occurs due to one bone sliding over another.

These joints help disperse weight while also allowing for a little movement. Gliding joints include the articular surfaces of our ribs, vertebrae, sternum, and pelvic bones.

As such, their purpose is to protect other bodily structures. The smoothness at which these particular surfaces move is important for many bodily functions – not just keeping us upright.

It also helps us regulate blood pressure, digest food, eliminate waste, and even breathe air efficiently into our lungs.

In addition to its functional purposes, a gliding joint’s ability to move smoothly can even help prevent injury from chronic conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

N.B – The content provided is for information and education purposes only.