How the bones stay connected!

How the bones stay connected! Joints, Tendons, Ligaments and Cartilage

What would happen if our bones were not connected?

Fortunately they are connected and protected! • Joints • Ligaments • Tendons • Cartilage

Joints – the junction of two bones that permits movement • There are 5 major categories of joints • Fixed • Hinge • Gliding • Ball and Socket • Pivot/facet

Fixed – Immoveable - Fibrous • Fixed joint an oxymoron • very very limited movement • Found in the skull and parts of the pelvis

Baby’s Skull

Hinge Joints • Allows movement in one direction – back and forth or flex and extend • Examples: elbows, knees, fingers, toes

Gliding Joints • Most often a sideways movement • Bones slide past each other • Examples: the carpals and metacarpals of the wrist and hand

Ball and socket joints – rotational motion. Can rotate 360 o

Pivot Joint • Twisting motion • The knee and elbow have a partial pivot motion

Facet Joints • Found between the vertebrae

http://www.jeffsims.net/flash/skeleton.html

Ligaments – connect bone to bone • Bands of connective tissue that hold bones together

Tendons – connect muscle to bone

Cartilage – cushions between bones • Flexible, soft and strong connective tissue • Helps prevent rubbing and friction between bones • All bones start as cartilage

How the bones stay connected!