9.8: Key Terms

Example and Directions

Words (or words that have the same definition)	The definition is case sensitive	(Optional) Image to display with the definition [Not displayed in Glossary, only in pop-up on pages]	(Optional) Caption for Image	(Optional) External or Internal Link	(Optional) Source for Definition
(Eg. "Genetic, Hereditary, DNA ...")	(Eg. "Relating to genes or heredity")		The infamous double helix	https://bio.libretexts.org/	CC-BY-SA; Delmar Larsen

Glossary Entries

Word(s)	Definition	Image	Caption	Link	Source
abduction	movement in the coronal plane that moves a limb laterally away from the body; spreading of the fingers
acetabular labrum	lip of fibrocartilage that surrounds outer margin of the acetabulum on the hip bone
adduction	movement in the coronal plane that moves a limb medially toward or across the midline of the body; bringing fingers together
amphiarthrosis	slightly mobile joint
annular ligament	intrinsic ligament of the elbow articular capsule that surrounds and supports the head of the radius at the proximal radioulnar joint
anterior cruciate ligament	intracapsular ligament of the knee; extends from anterior, superior surface of the tibia to the inner aspect of the lateral condyle of the femur; resists hyperextension of knee
anterior talofibular ligament	intrinsic ligament located on the lateral side of the ankle joint, between talus bone and lateral malleolus of fibula; supports talus at the talocrural joint and resists excess inversion of the foot
articular capsule	connective tissue structure that encloses the joint cavity of a synovial joint
articular cartilage	thin layer of hyaline cartilage that covers the articulating surfaces of bones at a synovial joint
articular disc	meniscus; a fibrocartilage structure found between the bones of some synovial joints; provides padding or smooths movements between the bones; strongly unites the bones together
articulation	joint of the body
atlanto-occipital joint	articulation between the occipital condyles of the skull and the superior articular processes of the atlas (C1 vertebra)
atlantoaxial joint	series of three articulations between the atlas (C1) vertebra and the axis (C2) vertebra, consisting of the joints between the inferior articular processes of C1 and the superior articular processes of C2, and the articulation between the dens of C2 and the anterior arch of C1
ball-and-socket joint	synovial joint formed between the spherical end of one bone (the ball) that fits into the depression of a second bone (the socket); found at the hip and shoulder joints; functionally classified as a multiaxial joint
biaxial joint	type of diarthrosis; a joint that allows for movements within two planes (two axes)
bursa	connective tissue sac containing lubricating fluid that prevents friction between adjacent structures, such as skin and bone, tendons and bone, or between muscles
calcaneofibular ligament	intrinsic ligament located on the lateral side of the ankle joint, between the calcaneus bone and lateral malleolus of the fibula; supports the talus bone at the ankle joint and resists excess inversion of the foot
cartilaginous joint	joint at which the bones are united by hyaline cartilage (synchondrosis) or fibrocartilage (symphysis)
circumduction	circular motion of the arm, thigh, hand, thumb, or finger that is produced by the sequential combination of flexion, abduction, extension, and adduction
condyloid joint	synovial joint in which the shallow depression at the end of one bone receives a rounded end from a second bone or a rounded structure formed by two bones; found at the metacarpophalangeal joints of the fingers or the radiocarpal joint of the wrist; functionally classified as a biaxial joint
coracohumeral ligament	intrinsic ligament of the shoulder joint; runs from the coracoid process of the scapula to the anterior humerus
deltoid ligament	broad intrinsic ligament located on the medial side of the ankle joint; supports the talus at the talocrural joint and resists excess eversion of the foot
depression	downward (inferior) motion of the scapula or mandible
diarthrosis	freely mobile joint
dorsiflexion	movement at the ankle that brings the top of the foot toward the anterior leg
elbow joint	humeroulnar joint
elevation	upward (superior) motion of the scapula or mandible
eversion	foot movement involving the intertarsal joints of the foot in which the bottom of the foot is turned laterally, away from the midline
extension	movement in the sagittal plane that increases the angle of a joint (straightens the joint); motion involving posterior bending of the vertebral column or returning to the upright position from a flexed position
extrinsic ligament	ligament located outside of the articular capsule of a synovial joint
femoropatellar joint	portion of the knee joint consisting of the articulation between the distal femur and the patella
fibrous joint	joint where the articulating areas of the adjacent bones are connected by fibrous connective tissue
fibular collateral ligament	extrinsic ligament of the knee joint that spans from the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the head of the fibula; resists hyperextension and rotation of the extended knee
flexion	movement in the sagittal plane that decreases the angle of a joint (bends the joint); motion involving anterior bending of the vertebral column
fontanelles	expanded areas of fibrous connective tissue that separate the braincase bones of the skull prior to birth and during the first year after birth
glenohumeral joint	shoulder joint; articulation between the glenoid cavity of the scapula and head of the humerus; multiaxial ball-and-socket joint that allows for flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, circumduction, and medial/lateral rotation of the humerus
glenohumeral ligament	one of the three intrinsic ligaments of the shoulder joint that strengthen the anterior articular capsule
glenoid labrum	lip of fibrocartilage located around the outside margin of the glenoid cavity of the scapula
gomphosis	type of fibrous joint in which the root of a tooth is anchored into its bony jaw socket by strong periodontal ligaments
hinge joint	synovial joint at which the convex surface of one bone articulates with the concave surface of a second bone; includes the elbow, knee, ankle, and interphalangeal joints; functionally classified as a uniaxial joint
humeroradial joint	articulation between the capitulum of the humerus and head of the radius
humeroulnar joint	articulation between the trochlea of humerus and the trochlear notch of the ulna; uniaxial hinge joint that allows for flexion/extension of the forearm
hyperextension	excessive extension of joint, beyond the normal range of movement
hyperflexion	excessive flexion of joint, beyond the normal range of movement
iliofemoral ligament	intrinsic ligament spanning from the ilium of the hip bone to the femur, on the superior-anterior aspect of the hip joint
inferior rotation	movement of the scapula during upper limb adduction in which the glenoid cavity of the scapula moves in a downward direction as the medial end of the scapular spine moves in an upward direction
interosseous membrane	wide sheet of fibrous connective tissue that fills the gap between two parallel bones, forming a syndesmosis; found between the radius and ulna of the forearm and between the tibia and fibula of the leg
intracapsular ligament	ligament that is located within the articular capsule of a synovial joint
intrinsic ligament	ligament that is fused to or incorporated into the wall of the articular capsule of a synovial joint
inversion	foot movement involving the intertarsal joints of the foot in which the bottom of the foot is turned toward the midline
ischiofemoral ligament	intrinsic ligament spanning from the ischium of the hip bone to the femur, on the posterior aspect of the hip joint
joint	site at which two or more bones or bone and cartilage come together (articulate)
joint cavity	space enclosed by the articular capsule of a synovial joint that is filled with synovial fluid and contains the articulating surfaces of the adjacent bones
joint interzone	site within a growing embryonic limb bud that will become a synovial joint
lateral (external) rotation	movement of the arm at the shoulder joint or the thigh at the hip joint that moves the anterior surface of the limb away from the midline of the body
lateral excursion	side-to-side movement of the mandible away from the midline, toward either the right or left side
lateral flexion	bending of the neck or body toward the right or left side
lateral meniscus	C-shaped fibrocartilage articular disc located at the knee, between the lateral condyle of the femur and the lateral condyle of the tibia
lateral tibiofemoral joint	portion of the knee consisting of the articulation between the lateral condyle of the tibia and the lateral condyle of the femur; allows for flexion/extension at the knee
ligament	strong band of dense connective tissue spanning between bones
ligament of the head of the femur	intracapsular ligament that runs from the acetabulum of the hip bone to the head of the femur
medial (internal) rotation	movement of the arm at the shoulder joint or the thigh at the hip joint that brings the anterior surface of the limb toward the midline of the body
medial excursion	side-to-side movement that returns the mandible to the midline
medial meniscus	C-shaped fibrocartilage articular disc located at the knee, between the medial condyle of the femur and medial condyle of the tibia
medial tibiofemoral joint	portion of the knee consisting of the articulation between the medial condyle of the tibia and the medial condyle of the femur; allows for flexion/extension at the knee
meniscus	articular disc
multiaxial joint	type of diarthrosis; a joint that allows for movements within three planes (three axes)
opposition	thumb movement that brings the tip of the thumb in contact with the tip of a finger
patellar ligament	ligament spanning from the patella to the anterior tibia; serves as the final attachment for the quadriceps femoris muscle
periodontal ligament	band of dense connective tissue that anchors the root of a tooth into the bony jaw socket
pivot joint	synovial joint at which the rounded portion of a bone rotates within a ring formed by a ligament and an articulating bone; functionally classified as uniaxial joint
plane joint	synovial joint formed between the flattened articulating surfaces of adjacent bones; functionally classified as a multiaxial joint
plantar flexion	foot movement at the ankle in which the heel is lifted off of the ground
posterior cruciate ligament	intracapsular ligament of the knee; extends from the posterior, superior surface of the tibia to the inner aspect of the medial condyle of the femur; prevents anterior displacement of the femur when the knee is flexed and weight bearing
posterior talofibular ligament	intrinsic ligament located on the lateral side of the ankle joint, between the talus bone and lateral malleolus of the fibula; supports the talus at the talocrural joint and resists excess inversion of the foot
pronated position	forearm position in which the palm faces backward
pronation	forearm motion that moves the palm of the hand from the palm forward to the palm backward position
protraction	anterior motion of the scapula or mandible
proximal radioulnar joint	articulation between head of radius and radial notch of ulna; uniaxial pivot joint that allows for rotation of radius during pronation/supination of forearm
pubofemoral ligament	intrinsic ligament spanning from the pubis of the hip bone to the femur, on the anterior-inferior aspect of the hip joint
radial collateral ligament	intrinsic ligament on the lateral side of the elbow joint; runs from the lateral epicondyle of humerus to merge with the annular ligament
reposition	movement of the thumb from opposition back to the anatomical position (next to index finger)
retraction	posterior motion of the scapula or mandible
rotation	movement of a bone around a central axis (atlantoaxial joint) or around its long axis (proximal radioulnar joint; shoulder or hip joint); twisting of the vertebral column resulting from the summation of small motions between adjacent vertebrae
rotator cuff	strong connective tissue structure formed by the fusion of four rotator cuff muscle tendons to the articular capsule of the shoulder joint; surrounds and supports superior, anterior, lateral, and posterior sides of the humeral head
saddle joint	synovial joint in which the articulating ends of both bones are convex and concave in shape, such as at the first carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb; functionally classified as a biaxial joint
subacromial bursa	bursa that protects the supraspinatus muscle tendon and superior end of the humerus from rubbing against the acromion of the scapula
subcutaneous bursa	bursa that prevents friction between skin and an underlying bone
submuscular bursa	bursa that prevents friction between bone and a muscle or between adjacent muscles
subscapular bursa	bursa that prevents rubbing of the subscapularis muscle tendon against the scapula
subtalar joint	articulation between the talus and calcaneus bones of the foot; allows motions that contribute to inversion/eversion of the foot
subtendinous bursa	bursa that prevents friction between bone and a muscle tendon
superior rotation	movement of the scapula during upper limb abduction in which the glenoid cavity of the scapula moves in an upward direction as the medial end of the scapular spine moves in a downward direction
supinated position	forearm position in which the palm faces anteriorly (anatomical position)
supination	forearm motion that moves the palm of the hand from the palm backward to the palm forward position
suture	fibrous joint that connects the bones of the skull (except the mandible); an immobile joint (synarthrosis)
symphysis	type of cartilaginous joint where the bones are joined by fibrocartilage
synarthrosis	immobile or nearly immobile joint
synchondrosis	type of cartilaginous joint where the bones are joined by hyaline cartilage
syndesmosis	type of fibrous joint in which two separated, parallel bones are connected by an interosseous membrane
synostosis	site at which adjacent bones or bony components have fused together
synovial fluid	thick, lubricating fluid that fills the interior of a synovial joint
synovial joint	joint at which the articulating surfaces of the bones are located within a joint cavity formed by an articular capsule
synovial membrane	thin layer that lines the inner surface of the joint cavity at a synovial joint; produces the synovial fluid
talocrural joint	ankle joint; articulation between the talus bone of the foot and medial malleolus of the tibia, distal tibia, and lateral malleolus of the fibula; a uniaxial hinge joint that allows only for dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of the foot
temporomandibular joint (TMJ)	articulation between the condyle of the mandible and the mandibular fossa and articular tubercle of the temporal bone of the skull; allows for depression/elevation (opening/closing of mouth), protraction/retraction, and side-to-side motions of the mandible
tendon	dense connective tissue structure that anchors a muscle to bone
tendon sheath	connective tissue that surrounds a tendon at places where the tendon crosses a joint; contains a lubricating fluid to prevent friction and allow smooth movements of the tendon
tibial collateral ligament	extrinsic ligament of knee joint that spans from the medial epicondyle of the femur to the medial tibia; resists hyperextension and rotation of extended knee
ulnar collateral ligament	intrinsic ligament on the medial side of the elbow joint; spans from the medial epicondyle of the humerus to the medial ulna
uniaxial joint	type of diarthrosis; joint that allows for motion within only one plane (one axis)
zygapophysial joints	facet joints; plane joints between the superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebrae that provide for only limited motions between the vertebrae