Types of Joints
Ball and Socket
The ball-and-socket joint is the only one with three types of movement. The rounded surface of one bone moves within a depression on another bone, thus allowing greater freedom of movement than any other kind of joint. It is most highly developed in the large hip and shoulder joints of mammals.
Pivot
The pivot joint rotates from side to side. The moving bone rotates within a ring that is formed from a second bone and adjoining ligament. A pivot joint can be found directly under the skull which allows the head to turn from side to side. They can also be found between the radius and ulna that rotate your forearm.
Hinged
A hinge joint is a common class of joint that includes the ankle, elbow, and knee joints. Hinge joints are formed between two or more bones where the bones can only move along one axis to flex or extend.
Fixed
Fixed joints are the joints that provide stability to certain areas of the body, such as the joints of the bones of the skull and pelvis.
From Molecules to Organisms