According to certain standard structural and functional features, joints are classified into three different types in animals. In this short article, I will describe the three different types of joints in animals.
Dear anatomy lover, do you want to learn the different types of joints in animals body? Okay, you will learn the definition of joint, classification of joints in animals from this article. I will provide the basic idea of the fibrous joints, cartilaginous joints and synovial joint in animals.
All these 3 types of joints are important to know for further syndesmology study. Fine, let’s get into the article – types of joints in animals, with example.
Simple joint definition
First, you might know the well definition of a joint in animals. Okay, I am going to provide the key features of a simple joint in animals. You might keep these key features in your joint definition.
- #1. The joint is formed by the union of two or more articular ends of bones or cartilages
- #2. By the uniting medium or binding materials (that may be fibrous tissue or cartilage or ligaments)
- #3. Responsible for different types of movements of the animal skeleton (that actually helps in locomotion)
Now, you may modify your definition with these keywords. Do you know who maintains the joints stability in animals? Well, The joint stability depends on the following structures –
- #1. It depends on the bony configuration
- #2. Ligaments involvements and structures of these ligaments and
- #3. Different types of muscles in that joint
Now, I am going to the main part of today’s article – classification of joints in animals.
- Types of joints in animals
You know, there are three types of joints in animals – fibrous or synarthrosis, cartilaginous joint or amphiarthosis and synovial joint or diaarthosis.
- #1. Fibrous joint – these are immovable joints in animals.
- #2. Cartilaginous joints – these are the joints with restricted movements and
- #3. Synovial joints – these are the movable joints in animals.
So, do you want to know the key features of these three types of joints in animals?
Fibrous joint features
The main anatomical features of fibrous joint in animals are listed below. You might know these feature to differentiate fibrous joints from other different types of joints anatomy.
#1. Fibrous joints are immovable joints
#2. There are no joint cavities in fibrous joints
#3. Most of them are temporary joints in animals
#4. The uniting medium being invaded by the ossification process
Classification of fibrous joints in animals
Fibrous joints in animals are chiefly divided into suture joints, syndesmosis and gomphosis joints. I will describe different types of fibrous joints in animals.
#1. Suture joints are the joints of the skull, and the uniting medium is mainly the fibrous tissue known as sutural ligaments. The example and classification of suture joints will describe below.
#2. Gomphosis articulation – This term refers to describe the implantation of teeth in the alveolar socket. This is not a joint at all because teeth are not the parts of the skeleton.
#3. Syndesmosis joint or articulation – In the syndesmosis articulation, you will find the white fibrous or elastic tissue or maixture of both uniting medium. Example of syndemosis joints – union of shaft of metacarpal bones, fusion of bodies of radius and ulna; tibia and fibula bones.
Types of suture joints
There are different types of suture joints in animals, and they are –
#1. Suture serrate – edge of the bone having irregular interlocking margin (serrated or teeth of a saw); Example – frontal suture.
#2. Suture squamosal – edge of the bones are thin plate-like; example – the joint between squamous parts of temporal and parietal bones.
#3. Sutura plana or Harmonia – edge of the bones are plane or slightly roughened; example – internasal suture, the suture between horizontal parts of palatine bones.
#4. Suture foliate – edge of the bone fits into the fissures of the adjacents bones; example – the junction between vomar and sphenoid bones.
Cartilaginous joints in animals
The bones are articulated by fibro-cartilage or hyaline cartilage or a combination of both. These joints have limited movement. The amount and kind of movement determined by the shape of joints surface and amount and pliability of uniting medium.
Cartilaginous joints are classified into two different types in animals –
#1. Synchondrosis joints and
#2. Symphysis joints
Synchondrosis joints are articulated by hyaline cartilage, and they are temporary joints. Cartilage in this joint converted into bone in the later stage. Example of synchondrosis joints – joint between basilar part of occipital bone with the body of basisphenoid bone.
Symphysis is the fibrocartilaginous joints between symmetric bones in an animals body. These are also known as the secondary cartilaginous joint. Example of symphysis joints – pelvic symphysis joints.
Synovial joints in animals
These synovial joints in animals are moveable joints, and they have joint cavities. I have described the structure of a synovial joint here in anatomy leaner blog. You might learn the different structures of a synovial joint from there.
In a synovial joint, you will find the following different structures (describe in another article)
Articular surface, articular cartilage, articular capsule (capsular ligaments and synovial membrane), ligaments, articular discs and marginal cartilage.
Synovial joint diagram
Here in the diagram, you will find all the structures of a synovial joints in animals. If you need more diagram like this synovial joint then, you may follow anatomy learner blog or social media.
Again, you might read other different article related to veterinary osteology or syndesmology with the anatomy learner. Hope, all the resources (information, images, and videos) will help you learn basic veterinary anatomy (osteology, syndesmology, and others organs systems) properly.
#1. Anatomical features of forelimb bones of animals
#2. Osteological features of hindlimb bones of different animals
#3. Animals joints anatomy with bones involvements
Conclusion
I think this is the best guide to understand the anatomy of different types of joints in animals. If you found this guide helpful, you may share it with your friends who want to learn 3 types of joints anatomy with a diagram.
Again, if you need more information on fibrous joints or synovial joint, then let me know. Okay, thanks for staying with anatomy learner and learning the classification of joints in animals with me.
