Diarthroses or Synovial Joints

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Diarthroses (Synovial Joints): Joints which allow a great deal of movement, such as the elbows, knees, and shoulders. The main joints about which movements occur, which includes the majority of joints in the body. These are either uniaxial, biaxial, or multiaxial joints. Also called diarthrodial joints they are further divided into six groups, according to the type of movement that occurs in them. The basic types are gliding (plane; arthrodial), hinge (ginglymus), pivot (screw; trochoidal), condyloid, saddle, and ball and socket.

In diarthroses or synovial joints, the ends of the bones are covered with a thin layer of hyaline cartilage and no cartilaginous tissue connects the bones together, so they are free to move in relation to one another. The bones are indirectly connected by a joint capsule that covers and encloses the joint. This joint capsule is formed by fibrous material and this capsule enclose the joint cavity, the inner surface of which is lined with synovial material.