JIMMAUNIVERSITY

School of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Gross Anatomy I
(Arthrology or Syndesmology Part)
By: Dese Kefyalew (DVM, MVSc, Ass.
Professor of veterinary Surgery and Diagnostic
Imaging)
ARTICULAR SYSTEM
 Arthrology/syndesmology; is the study of the articulations or
unions between bones, which are commonly called joints.
 The tissue that unites the bones of a joint is generally fibrous tissue
or cartilage.
Importance of studying about articular system
 Helps to understand the normal physiology of joints
 Helps to identify proper site for treatment of joint disease
 For the collection of synovial fluid samples
CLASSIFICATION OF JOINTS
1. Joints can be classified in several ways
including:
A. The number of articulating bones,
 Simple (two bones) joint- coxo-femoral joint
 compound (more than two bones) joints- carpal
joints
B. Based on structural and functional units of them,
joints may be classified as:

1. Fibrous joint (Synarthrotic)– Allow no

movement

2. Cartilaginous joint (Amphiarthrotic)- Provide

slight movement

3. Synovial joint (Diarthrotic)- Allow free

movement
 STRUCTURAL CLASSIFICATION
1.Fibrous joint
 Contains a lot of dense fibrous connective tissue
 Have no joint cavity.
 for connecting bones that don’t require a lot of
movement
 There are three types of fibrous joint
A. Syndesmoses:
 Is that permits only slight movement.
 Example, splint bones and cannon bone, ulna and radius, tibia and
fibula .
B. Suture: is only found in the skull.
 Suture in which bones are tightly bound together by fibrous
connective tissue so as to prevent movement between them.
 Sutures often completely ossify in maturity
C. Gomphoses: found only in the mouth
 Is articulation of teeth in their alveoli (sockets) in
the mandible and maxilla.
 The collagenous tissues and fibroblasts mediums
of union constitute the periodental ligament
 2. Cartilaginous Joints
 Are united by cartilage
 Lack a joint cavity.
 There two types of cartilaginous joint

A. Synchondroses ( Hyaline cartilage) joint- is an immovable joint in

which the uniting medium is hyaline cartilage.
 The union of the diaphysis and epiphysis of an immature bone are
example.
B. Symphyeses: are made of fibrocartilage
 This is compressible, so these joints are meant to
be shock absorbers e.g. joint found between
vertebrae, sternum and in pelvic
 There is very little and variable amount of movement
b/n them.

Pelvic symphysis
 3. Synovial joints
 Most synovial joints have similar general structure, which
includes articular surfaces, articular cartilages,
articular cavity, joint capsule, and ligaments.
 The articular surfaces are specialized layers of compact
bone on the surfaces that articulate with other bones.
 The articular cartilage is a layer of hyaline cartilage
covering the articular surface.
 The articular cavity is a space between the adjacent
bones of the joint surrounded by the joint capsule. This
space is small and filled with synovial fluid called
Synovium which is a smooth, slippery substance that
prevents rubbing b/n bones and the joints
 Ligaments are connective tissue bands that connect bone
to bone.
 Tendons are connective tissue bands that connect muscle
to bone.
MOVEMENTS OF JOINTS

 Synovial joints may exhibit one or more of the following

movements gliding or sliding, flexion, extension,
hyperextension, rotation, adduction, Abduction and
circumduction.
1. Gliding or sliding: - movement occurs between two or
more flat surfaces in plane joints. E.g. joint between carpal
bones.
2. Flexion: - a movement in the sagittal plane that tends to
decrease the angle between segments making up a joint.
3. Extension: - is the reverse of flexion and refers to movement in
sagittal plane that tends to increase the angle between segments
forming the joint.
4. Adduction – is movement of an extremity toward the median plane.
5. Abduction- is movement of an extremity away from the median
plane.
Classification of synovial joints

Synovial joints can be classified in many ways:

A. Based on the number of bones involved:

Simple joint: formed by two bones, e.g.,

shoulder joint, coxo-femoral joint etc

Compound joint: formed by more than two

bones, e.g. elbow joint, carpal joint, tarsal
joint
B. Based on shape of joint surfaces and types
of movements
Uniaxial (one orthogonal)
Plane joint
Hinge Joint
Pivot joint
Biaxial (two orthogonal)
Condyloid (ellipsoidal) joint
Saddle joint
Multiaxial (three orthogonal axes)
Ball-and-socket joint
Cont’d
 Types of synovial joints commonly found in domestic animals

include: -

1. Ginglymus (hinge) joints: - moves only in the sagital plane the

possible movements are flexion, extension and in some joints,

hyperextension. Example fetlock joint.

2. Arthrodial (plane) joint: - have only a slight gliding
movement between relatively flat apposed surfaces. These
surfaces are called facets. E. g the joints between carpal
bones, cervical vertebrae.
3. Trochoid (pivot) joint: - is one in which rotary movement
occurs around one axis. E.g Atlanto – axial joint
4. Spheroid (ball-and- socket, enarthrodial) joint: - permits
movement in nearly any direction.
 A spherical head on one bone fits in to a cup – shaped
depression in the other segment of the joint, coxo -
femoral (hip) joint and shoulder joints are best example
5. Condyloid (ellipsoidal) joint
 Freely movable allowing flexion, extension, abduction
and adduction. Best example is radio-carpal joints
6. Saddle joint
 Each articulating surface has both concave and
convex areas, resembling a saddle; freely movable.
 Carpo-metacarpal joint of thumb in man.

1. Ball and socket

2. Condyloid
joint
3. Saddle joint
4. Hinge joint
5. Pivot joint
 Joints of regional skeleton
JOINTS OF THE AXIAL SKELETON

Joints of the skull

 Are chiefly sutures types of joint (brain case and upper

jaw of facial part), with adjacent bones united by fibrous

tissue.

 In old age these typically ossify, becoming synostoses.

 Symphysis joint between of the bodies of mandible,

pelvic, sternum and vertebrae.

The synchondrosis at the junction of the
sphenoid bone and occipital bone at the base of
the skull.
The ginglymus joint between squamus temporal
bone and condyloid process of mandibular rami
(temporomandibular joint) as well as between
the occipital bone of the skull and first cervical
vertebra (the atlas) (atlanto-occipital joint).
 The atlanto-occipital joint, which is between the occipital
bone of the skull and first cervical vertebra /atlas is
strictly a ginglymus (Hinge) joint.
 Two condyles on the occipital bone fit into corresponding
depressions in the atlas.
 The only movements possible are flexion and extension in
the sagittal plane, as in nodding the head “yes” and is
termed as “Yes joint.”
 The Atlanto-axial joint

 Is the joint b/n the 1st (Atlas) and the 2nd (Axis) cervical veterbrae

 Rotation of the head occurs between the atlas and axis, at the
atlantoaxial joint.
 The dens, a tooth like projection from the cranial extremity of the
axis, projects into the vertebral foramen of the atlas, where it is
held by a group of strong ligaments that permit considerable rotary
movement.
 The atlantoaxial joint is the best example of a pivot joint, in which
one segment rotates around the long axis of another. It is also
termed as “No joint”.
The symphyseal joints

 The symphyseal joints- are fibro-cartilaginous

joints between adjacent vertebrae throughout the
rest of the vertebral column which exhibit
relatively little motion.
 The bodies of adjacent vertebrae are united by a
heavy disk of fibrocartilage, the intervertebral
disk (IVD), that is flexible enough to permit some
bending in any direction, even twisting.
 Costo-vertebral joints: there are two types of articulations

between the ribs and the vertebral column.

 The head of each rib forms a ball-and-socket type of synovial

joint, with the coastal fovea of adjacent vertebrae.

 The tubercle of each rib forms a plane type of synovial joint

with the transverse process of the corresponding rib(costo-

transversal joint)

Sterno-costal joints: there is a pivot type of synovial joint

between the first eight costal cartilages and the sternum.
 Each joint has a joint capsule and ligaments
JOINTS OF THE APPENDICULAR SKELETON

1. Joints of the thoracic limb

 The scapula has no true bony connection with the thorax.
 It is held in place by a number of muscles and ligaments. This

type of joint is sometimes called a synsarcosis.

2. The shoulder /scapulohumeral joint
 is freely movable a ball-and-socket type of synovial joint.
 The head of the hummers articulates with the glenoid
cavity of the scapula.
3. Elbow joint (humero-radio-ulnar)-
is a true ginglymus
(Hinge) joint formed by the humeral condyle
meeting the proximal ends of the radius and ulna.
joint allowing chiefly flexion and extension
movements.
While additionally in humans and to a lesser
degree in carnivores, the joint between the radius
and ulna permits supination and pronation.
The medial and lateral collateral ligaments
located on the sides of the joint restrict the
movement to flexion and extension
4. Carpal joint: consists of three main joints
including the antebrachiocarpal, midcarpal, and
carpo- metacarpal joint.
The carpal joint is a hinged type of synovial joint.
The antebrachiocarpal joint consists of an
articulation between the distal radius and ulna and
the proximal row of carpal bones.
The distal row of carpal bones articulate with the
metacarpal bones constituting the
carpometacarpal joint.
The midcarpal joint is between the two rows of
carpal bones.
5. Carpometacarpal joint - is the joint between the
distal row of carpal bones and the metacarpus which is
almost entirely a plane joint, allowing only limited
gliding.

6. Metacarpophalangeal /fetlock joint- of the horse is

formed by the distal end of the metacarpus; the proximal end of
the first phalanx, or long pastern bone; and the two proximal
sesamoid bones.

It is a ginglymus joint that in the normal standing position is

hyperextended.
7. Proximal interphalangeal /pastern joint- It is a
ginglymus joint between the first and second phalanges (the
long and the short pastern bones). Although it is a
ginglymus joint, it is rather limited in motion.
8. Distal interphalangeal joint /coffin joint
 Is formed by the second and third phalanges and
the distal sesamoid /navicular bone.
 The coffin joint is largely encased within the hoof
and is essentially a ginglymus joint.
 A similar pattern of articulations is followed for
each digit in animals possessing more than one
digit per foot (e.g., ruminants and pigs).
Joints of the pelvic Limb
1. The sacroiliac joint
 It is the only bony connection between the axial and appendicular
skeletons.

 The articular surface of the sacrum is held in tight apposition

to the wing of the ilium by a number of short, strong ligaments.

 The sacroiliac joint can be partially separated (a sacroiliac
subluxation) by a fall or other trauma.
 Such an injury produces pain and muscle spasm and often becomes

a source of chronic soreness.

Pelvic symphysis
 is a slightly movable fibro-cartilaginous joint between the hip
bones (os coxae).
 The front portion is formed by the pubic symphysis between the
two pubic bones; the caudal portion is formed by the ischial
symphysis between the two ischial bones.
2. Coxo-femoral /hip joint
 Is the best example of a spheroid (ball and socket) joint.
 It is a freely movable (diarthrodial) joint allowing
universal movement (i.e., flexion, extension,
abduction, adduction, lateral rotation, and
circumduction).
 It has no collateral ligaments; instead, its stability
depends on
a strong joint capsule and
a large muscle mass surrounding it.
Cofin jint
3. Stifle joint
 Corresponds to the human knee joint
 It is a hinge type of synovial joint allowing
flexion and extension with little rotation
 It comprises of the condyles of the distal femur,
the patella, and the proximal tibia.
 The joint between the patella and femur is called
the femoro-patellar joint, and contains a large
joint capsule.
 The patellar ligament runs between the patella
and the tibial tuberosity.
 The femorotibial joint is the articulation between the
femur condyles and the tibia, and has an interposed
menisci.
The femoral condyles are separated from the
proximal tibia by two intra-articular (medial and
lateral) menisci.
 These menisci help keep the joint congruent and absorb
shock.
The stifle is stabilized:
 by medial and lateral collateral ligaments and
 by two intra-capsular cruciate ligaments that form
an X as they cross from the tibia to the femur in the
middle of the joint.
4. Tarsus /hock joint
 The tarsus or hock, is a compound hinge type of
synovial joint.
 It allows only flexion and extension.
 The tibio-tarsal portion of the tarsus is the most
movable joint, and is an articulation between the
proximal row of tarsal bones (i.e., the talus and
calcaneus), and the fibula and tibia.
 This portion of the joint is held together by
strong medial and lateral collateral ligaments of
the hock.
 The calcaneus projects proximad and caudad to form a lever for
attachment of the common calcaneal tendon (Achilles tendon),
which is the common insertional tendon of the extensor muscles
of the hock.

 The calcaneus is firmly attached to the other tarsal bones by

many short, strong ligaments.
 Distal to the hock, the joints are similar to those of the forelimb.

Notes;
 Hinge joint- is a joint that allows movement in only one plane,
e.g. a knee or elbow joint (ginglymus joint)
 Pivot joint – a joint where one segment rotates around the long
 The proximal inter-tarsal joint is the
articulation between the proximal row of tarsal
bones and the central and fourth tarsal bones.
 The distal inter-tarsal joint includes the
articulation between the central tarsal and tarsal
bones I, II, and III.
 In the horse, movement between adjacent tarsal
bones is limited to a very small degree of
gliding.
 However, in the ox, sheep, and pig, the proximal
inter-tarsal joint has some hinge movement
while the gliding in others.
 Individual assignment
Those joints distal to hock.
Fetlock joint
Pastern
Coffin
THANK YOU!!