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Anatomy & Physiology: Joints and Movements

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  • What is a bony joint or synostosis?

    A joint where the gap between two bones ossifies into one bone, making it immovable. Examples include the mandible, frontal bone, and os coxae.

  • Define fibrous joints or synarthrosis.

    Two bones bound by collagen fibers. Includes sutures (immovable), gomphosis (slightly movable, e.g., tooth in socket), and syndesmoses (more movable, e.g., tibia & fibula).

  • What is the relationship between joint movement and strength?

    The less movement a joint has, the stronger it is; the more movement, the weaker it is.

  • What characterizes amphiarthrosis joints?

    Bones linked by cartilage. Includes synchondrosis (hyaline cartilage, e.g., epiphysis & diaphysis) and symphysis (fibrocartilage, e.g., pubic symphysis, vertebrae).

  • What defines synovial joints?

    Freely movable joints where two bones are separated by a synovial fluid-filled cavity, allowing the greatest range of motion.

  • What is the function of synovial fluid?

    It nourishes joint cartilages, removes waste, and contains phagocytes that clean debris from wear and tear.

  • Describe the articular cartilage in synovial joints.

    Hyaline cartilage that covers bone surfaces, providing an almost friction-free joint with synovial fluid.

  • What is the joint/articular capsule?

    A structure enclosing the joint cavity, retaining synovial fluid, with an outer fibrous capsule and inner synovial membrane that secretes synovial fluid.

  • What are menisci and their function?

    C-shaped cartilages in the knee that absorb shock and prevent lateral and medial movement of the femur.

  • Differentiate between tendons and ligaments.

    Tendons connect bone to muscle; ligaments connect bone to bone. Both are tough collagenous connective tissues.

  • What is a bursa and its role?

    A fibrous sac filled with synovial fluid located between muscles or between tendon and bone to cushion and reduce friction.

  • Define flexion and extension movements.

    Flexion decreases the angle of a joint (toward 90°), while extension increases the angle (toward 180°).

  • What is hyperextension?

    Movement of a joint beyond 180°.

  • Explain abduction and adduction.

    Abduction moves a limb away from the body midline; adduction moves it toward the midline.

  • What are elevation and depression movements?

    Elevation raises a body part; depression lowers it.

  • Describe protraction and retraction.

    Protraction is anterior movement of a body part; retraction is posterior movement.

  • What is circumduction?

    Movement of a limb in a circular or conical shape.

  • Define rotation in joint movement.

    Bone spinning on its longitudinal axis.

  • What are supination and pronation?

    Supination turns the palm anteriorly ('begging for money'); pronation turns the palm posteriorly ('hand being slapped').

  • What is the function of the rotator cuff in the shoulder joint?

    Tendons from four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis) that stabilize the shoulder joint.

  • What is the role of the acetabular labrum in the hip joint?

    A ring of fibrocartilage around the acetabulum that deepens the socket for the femur head.

  • What ligaments prevent knee rotation?

    The fibular (lateral) collateral ligament and tibial (medial) collateral ligament prevent knee rotation.

  • What is the function of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in the knee?

    They prevent the femur and tibia from sliding off each other.