Four important synovial joints
Four important synovial joints used in most sporting actions are the elbow and shoulder joints in the arm, and the knee and hip joints in the leg.
The elbow and knee joints are both hinge joints. A hinge joint is a type of synovial joint that works like the hinge on a door, allowing bending and straightening only.
The shoulder and hip joints are both ball and socket joints. A ball and socket joint is a type of synovial joint that allows movement in almost every direction. A ball and socket joint is made up of a round end of one bone that fits into a small cup-like area of another bone.
Elbow joint
- Hinge joint.
- Articulating bones are humerus, radius and ulna.
- Allows bending (flexion) and straightening (extension).
- Muscles which move the elbow are biceps and triceps.
The different components of the elbow joint that allow a hinge action
Knee joint
- Hinge joint.
- Articulating bones are femur and tibia (the patella is not classed as part of the joint, nor is the fibula).
- Allows bending (flexion) and straightening (extension).
- Muscles which move the knee are quadriceps and hamstrings.
The different components of the knee joint
Hip joint
- Ball and socket joint
- Articulating bones are pelvis and femur (head of femur is 'ball' and cup in pelvis is 'socket')
- Allows a large range of movement in all directions
- Many muscles are used to move the hip joint, including the gluteals
The different components of the hip joint
Shoulder joint
- Ball and socket joint.
- Articulating bones are humerus and scapula (the clavicle is not part of the shoulder joint).
- Allows a great range of movement in all directions.
- Many muscles are used to move the shoulder joint, including the deltoid, trapezius and latissimus dorsi.
The different components of the shoulder joint