FEATURES OF MAJOR JOINTS 

©David B. Fankhauser, Ph.D.
Professor of Biology and Chemistry
University of Cincinnati Clermont College,
Batavia OH 45103
 shoulder, superior view
This page has been accessed Counter times since 19 November 2002. 
12 November 1992, rvsd 20 Sept 94, 12 Sept 96, 14 Nov 96, 15 Sept 99, 19 Nov 99, 19 Sept 00
knee, extended 
posterior view

Examine the models provided and identify the following features of these joints. Articulated joints will be brought in from a local butcher, and you should identify these features on them and illustrate the specimen. Note that wordstems will help you tremendously in locating and understanding the connections these features make.menisci

Here are pictures taken of a dissected knee and hip from a deer (thanks to Kathy and Andy):
 

SYNOVIAL JOINT FEATURES:

These are common to all synovial joints: (Martini's 6th, p 266)
 

synovial capsule A collagenous structure which encloses, supports and protects the joint.
It often incorporates ligaments into its walls.
synovial membrane Forms the inner lining of capsule, secretes synovial fluid
articular cartilage Hyaline cartilage padding on the articulating surfaces of joined bones
synovial fluid A lubricating, nourishing fluid rich in mucopolysaccharide. Contained within the capsule. 

Illustrate each joint from the perspective specified, label features you can see, not the ones in brackets which cannot be seen:
 

superior view of shoulder:

Here is a labeled version		 SHOULDER (glenohumeral): (lateral view) (Martini's 6th, p 277)
clavicle, scapula, humerus
glenohumeral ligament
     [coracohumeral ligament (not on model) ]
     [glenoid labrum (hidden on model) ]
transverse humeral ligament
tendon of long head biceps brachii
tendon sheath of long head of biceps brachii
     [musculotendinous cuff (not on model)]

Here is a labeled version

ELBOW: (superior, anterior view)  (Martini's 6th, p 278)

humerus, ulna, radius
radial (or lateral) collateral ligament
lateral epicondyle 
annular ligament and radia notch on ulna
ulnar (or medial) collateral ligament
medial epicondyle
     [coronoid process , hhidden by anterior ligament]
     [tendon of triceps (not on model, would be attached to
      olecranon process)]
lateral view of knee 
lateral view       medial view

posterior view		 KNEE JOINT: (lateral view)  (Martini's 6th, pp 281). 

femur, patella, tibia, fibula
lateral collateral ligament
    [medial collateral ligament, seen in medial view]
anterior cruciate ligament: indicate with dotted lines
posterior cruciate ligament : indicate with dotted lines
popliteal ligaments
patellar ligament
lateral meniscus
     [medial meniscus, seen in medial view]

Here is a labeled view of the proximal tibial features of the knee joint from a deer.

flexed knee            extended knee
Here is a labeled version, extended
Here is a labled version flexed		 Knee, showing the way that the: 
anterior cruciate ligament tightens upon extension of the leg
posterior cruciate ligament prevents femur from sliding forward on the tibial surface, especially during flexion of the leg.

HIP JOINT:		 Illustrate two views of the hip, anterior and posterior.

Here is the dissected hip joint labeled.

anterior view 		 HIP JOINT ANTERIOR:
(Martini's 6th , p 279) 

capsule strengthened by these ligaments:

anteriorly:
iliofemoral ligament (numbered #3 on the model)
pubofemoral (or pubocapsular ) ligament (numbered #4)

posterior view		 HIP JOINT, POSTERIOR: (Martini's 6th , p 279) 

posterior view, capsule strengthened by these ligaments:

ischiofemoral (or ischiocapsular ) ligament (numbered #5)
iliofemoral ligament (at the top)
     [ligamentum teres ties femur to os coxa, hidden by ligaments]
     [acetabular labrum lip of cartilage, hidden by ligaments ]

medial view
Medial view of the os coxa with a portion cut out to
show the head of the femur and the ligamentum teres
(numbered #6).  It also shows the obturator ligament

Illustrate two views of the hip, anterior and posterior: