TissueDB/Structures/Joint
License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 by Gabriel Mota
A joint is a region where two bones make contact. Joints are classified by the connective tissue between the bones — fibrous, cartilaginous or synovial — and by the movement they permit: immovable, slightly movable or freely movable. The freely movable synovial joint described here is not a single tissue but a combination of tissues — the articular cartilage covering the bone ends, the ligaments binding the bones together, and the underlying bone itself — whose differing mechanical properties must be reproduced together to realistically simulate articulation, joint positioning, and range-of-motion handling.
Component Tissues
| Tissue | Layer/Position | Key Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Bone | Articulating ends | Rigid; forms the load-bearing surfaces that meet at the joint |
| Articular cartilage | Covering the bone ends | Hyaline cartilage; a smooth, lubricated, low-friction surface that transmits load to the underlying subchondral bone |
| Ligament | Spanning the joint, bone to bone | Fibrous connective tissue joining bone to bone; limits the joint's range of motion |
References
[edit source]Sources consulted for this page but not cited at a specific claim:
- Juneja P, Munjal A, Hubbard JB. "Anatomy, Joints." StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026. PMID 29939670
- Sophia Fox AJ, Bedi A, Rodeo SA. "The basic science of articular cartilage: structure, composition, and function." Sports Health. 2009;1(6):461-468. PMID 23015907