Definition of Joint

Joint:A joint is where two bones connect, allowing different parts of the body to move. Typically, these connections are made up of fibrous materials and other components. Joints are categorized based on how they move: ball-and-socket joints, hinge joints, condyloid joints that allow all angular movements except axial rotation, pivot joints, gliding joints, and saddle joints. Movements at joints occur in four main ways: gliding, where one bone surface slides over another without creating angles or rotations; angular, which happens between long bones and changes the angle between them; circumduction, found in joints with a bone head and a cavity, forming a cone shape as the long bone moves in circles; and rotation, where a bone rotates around a central axis without shifting from that axis. These joints are also referred to by other names.

Medical Definition & Meaning