How does gliding joint work

In all honesty, we rely on a variety of different physiological systems working together to move or do anything at all. And if any of these biological systems have an issue, our ability to move becomes greatly impeded. While there is a variety of different physiological systems in your body that drive and control your ability to move, today we are going to discuss a specific type of joints that is exceptionally important for stability and fine movements. Most of us understand how important a joint can be for our ability to move.

This is especially true if a person has suffered any type of joint injury before. It can be quite surprising how such a small part of your body can control such incredible and significant ranges of motion while also causing such problems when damaged. Joints, also known as articular surfaces and articulations, are connectors between bones in the body. Joints connect the skeletal system and allow it to work as a functionally moving whole. They lay the foundation for gliding joint movement in the area of the body where the joint is located.

As we said before, we are going to delve deeper into a specific type of joints here below. The joint type that we are going to discuss is known as the gliding joint. Joints are primarily classified as either structural or functional. A joint that is classified as structural is determined by the manner that the bones attach to each other, while a functional joint is determined by the degree and type of gliding joint movement allowed between the articulating bones.

Synovial joints are predominant in your limbs where mobility is important. Ligaments help provide their stability and muscles contract to produce movement.

The most common synovial joints are listed below:. Home Explore the BBC. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving. Prehistoric Life. The mind The body. Protraction and retraction can be seen in the movement of the mandible as the jaw is thrust outwards and then back inwards. Elevation is the movement of a bone upward, such as when the shoulders are shrugged, lifting the scapulae.

Depression is the opposite of elevation—movement downward of a bone, such as after the shoulders are shrugged and the scapulae return to their normal position from an elevated position. Dorsiflexion is a bending at the ankle such that the toes are lifted toward the knee. Plantar flexion is a bending at the ankle when the heel is lifted, such as when standing on the toes.

Supination is the movement of the radius and ulna bones of the forearm so that the palm faces forward. Pronation is the opposite movement, in which the palm faces backward. Opposition is the movement of the thumb toward the fingers of the same hand, making it possible to grasp and hold objects. Synovial joints are further classified into six different categories on the basis of the shape and structure of the joint.

The shape of the joint affects the type of movement permitted by the joint Figure These joints can be described as planar, hinge, pivot, condyloid, saddle, or ball-and-socket joints.

Planar joints have bones with articulating surfaces that are flat or slightly curved faces. These joints allow for gliding movements, and so the joints are sometimes referred to as gliding joints.

The range of motion is limited in these joints and does not involve rotation. Planar joints are found in the carpal bones in the hand and the tarsal bones of the foot, as well as between vertebrae Figure In hinge joints , the slightly rounded end of one bone fits into the slightly hollow end of the other bone. In this way, one bone moves while the other remains stationary, like the hinge of a door.

The elbow is an example of a hinge joint. The knee is sometimes classified as a modified hinge joint Figure Pivot joints consist of the rounded end of one bone fitting into a ring formed by the other bone. This structure allows rotational movement, as the rounded bone moves around its own axis.

An example of a pivot joint is the joint of the first and second vertebrae of the neck that allows the head to move back and forth Figure The joint of the wrist that allows the palm of the hand to be turned up and down is also a pivot joint. Condyloid joints consist of an oval-shaped end of one bone fitting into a similarly oval-shaped hollow of another bone Figure This is also sometimes called an ellipsoidal joint.

This type of joint allows angular movement along two axes, as seen in the joints of the wrist and fingers, which can move both side to side and up and down. Saddle joints are so named because the ends of each bone resemble a saddle, with concave and convex portions that fit together. Saddle joints allow angular movements similar to condyloid joints but with a greater range of motion. An example of a saddle joint is the thumb joint, which can move back and forth and up and down, but more freely than the wrist or fingers Figure Ball-and-socket joints possess a rounded, ball-like end of one bone fitting into a cuplike socket of another bone.

This organization allows the greatest range of motion, as all movement types are possible in all directions. Examples of ball-and-socket joints are the shoulder and hip joints Figure Watch this animation showing the six types of synovial joints. Rheumatologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the joints, muscles, and bones. They diagnose and treat diseases such as arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis RA is an inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the synovial joints of the hands, feet, and cervical spine. Affected joints become swollen, stiff, and painful.

Immune cells from the blood enter joints and the synovium causing cartilage breakdown, swelling, and inflammation of the joint lining. Breakdown of cartilage causes bones to rub against each other causing pain. RA is more common in women than men and the age of onset is usually 40—50 years of age. Rheumatologists can diagnose RA on the basis of symptoms such as joint inflammation and pain, X-ray and MRI imaging, and blood tests. Arthrography is a type of medical imaging of joints that uses a contrast agent, such as a dye, that is opaque to X-rays.

This allows the soft tissue structures of joints—such as cartilage, tendons, and ligaments—to be visualized. An arthrogram differs from a regular X-ray by showing the surface of soft tissues lining the joint in addition to joint bones.

An arthrogram allows early degenerative changes in joint cartilage to be detected before bones become affected. There is currently no cure for RA; however, rheumatologists have a number of treatment options available. Early stages can be treated with rest of the affected joints by using a cane or by using joint splints that minimize inflammation.