JOINTS

A joint is the meeting point of two bones, held together by strong tissues. Joint s provide flexibility as well as stability to the body. There are several joints in our body.

Joints, on the basis of their movements, are classified as immovable and movable joints. Immovable joints cannot move, such as the joints in the skull. Movable joints can move and perform different types of movements. The movable joints are detailed as follows:

Movable joints

Ball and socket joints

The ball and socket joint is present at the hip and shoulder. It helps us swing our arm and leg. These joints help in the maximum movement as shown in the case of ballet dancers.

In this type of joint, a bone ending in a ball gets fitted into the socket of the other one.

Gliding joint

The gliding joint is present in the wrist and ankles. In this type of joint, one bone can slide over another. Due to the presence of the gliding joint, we are able to bend, twist and turn our back.

Hinge joint

The hinge joint is present at the knee and elbow. It functions just like the hinges of a door. This type of joint helps us to move our bones only in a single direction.

Pivot joint

The pivot joint is present at the neck. It helps the side-to-side movement of the head.