Types of Skeletal Joints

Joints are where the bones in our body meet, holding the skeleton together and allowing it to move in several ways. 

These vital connections form the foundation for all physical movement - from simple daily tasks like walking and writing to more complex actions such as running, lifting, or playing an instrument. Without them, our skeleton would be a rigid framework with no flexibility or motion.

The points where bones connect can be grouped based on how much movement they permit or how they are constructed. Some allow a wide range of motion, while others are built for strength and stability, allowing only limited movement or none at all. Each type plays a specific role in maintaining posture, supporting body weight, and enabling precise movement.

Understanding these classifications and how different types of connections function is essential for anyone studying human anatomy, working in healthcare, or pursuing careers in sports science, physiotherapy, or medicine. It’s not just about movement - these structures also play a critical part in absorbing shock, distributing load, and protecting vital structures like nerves and blood vessels.

If you're looking to strengthen your understanding of human anatomy, our curated collection of anatomical charts and posters can help. Featuring beautifully detailed illustrations, these resources are ideal for students, instructors, and healthcare professionals alike. Whether used for revision or display in clinical settings, they provide an accessible and effective way to study key anatomical structures and concepts.

Functional classification is based on the type of joint movement: synarthrosis (immovable), amphiarthrosis (partly movable) and diarthrosis (movable).

• Synarthrosis joints include fibrous joints; an example of this include the sutures of the skull, such as the coronal suture.
• Amphiarthrosis joints include cartilaginous joints; an example of this includes the pubic symphysis, a slightly mobile joint that unites the bones of the hip with fibrocartilage. Diarthrosis joints include synovial joints; examples of these include the shoulder and elbow.

Structural classification is based on the three tissue types that make up the joint: synovial, fibrous or cartilaginous. 

Synovial joints allow for several different ranges of motion throughout the body. They can be broken into more categories based on the shape and structures of the joints, including hinge, saddle, condyloid, ball and socket, and plane joints.

• Hinge joints can be likened to a door hinge. They allow bones to move in a single back-and-forth motion. The elbow joint is a strong hinge joint involving the humerus, radius and ulna, that allows the flexion and extension of the forearm.
• Saddle joints involve two bones having a concave-convex surface which interlock like two opposing saddles. They are highly flexible - an example including the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint, where the first metacarpal bone (thumb) meets the trapezium of the wrist.
• Condyloid joints refer to when a shallow, curved depression of one bone is met by a round end of another bone or bones. They allow for flexion, extension as well as limited lateral movement. The radiocarpal joint is a condyloid joint where the radius bone (shallow depression) meets the scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum (rounded carpal bones).
• Ball and Socket joints are where the rounded surface of a bone moves within the depression of another bone. Examples include the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder where the humerus meets the scapula and the hip, where the femur meets the acetabulum of the pelvis.
• Plane joints are also referred to as gliding joints. This type of joint is formed between two flat or mostly flat articular surfaces of bones that enable them to slide over each other. An example of this includes the tarsal bones of the foot.

Fibrous joints are bound by strong, fibrous tissue. Two examples of this include suture and gomphosis joints.

• Suture joints are a fibrous joint that occur only in the skull, holding the bony plates together, called cranial sutures, including the coronal, sagittal, lambdoid and squamosal sutures. These sutures remain flexible in infants until their skulls have fully grown, usually around the age of two.
• A gomphosis joint is a fibrous, mobile socket joint. The only examples of this type of joint include the roots of teeth that fit into the sockets of the maxilla and mandible of the skull.

Cartilaginous joints refer to when the bones are joined entirely by either fibrocartilage or hyaline cartilage. Two examples of this joint include synchondrosis and symphysis.

• Synchondrosis joints are immovable (synarthrosis) joints where the bone is joined together by hyaline cartilage. An example of a synchondrosis joint is the first rib and sternum.
• Symphysis joints are fibrocartilaginous joints where the body of a bone meets the body of another bone, connected by cartilage. Two examples of this type of joint include the intervertebral discs of the vertebral column and the pubic symphysis of the pelvis.

Explore our range of human anatomy models to gain deeper insight into skeletal joints. These highly detailed replicas allow users to visualise joint types and how they contribute to movement throughout the body. Perfect for medical students, physiotherapists, or anatomy educators, these models support both teaching and self-guided study by offering a tactile and realistic view of the skeletal system.

Learning about the types of skeletal joints becomes more engaging and effective when accompanied by high-quality visual aids. Our anatomical models and educational resources bring theoretical knowledge to life, offering a hands-on approach to studying skeletal anatomy. Whether you're preparing for exams, giving a lecture, or supporting patient education, our tools are designed to enhance comprehension and retention.