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WHAT DO JOINTS DO?

A joint is formed where two or more bones meet. The bone ends are covered with a smooth, shiny tissue called cartilage. This protects the bone from excessive force or pressure, and allows it to move easily without pain. The joint is then enclosed in a capsule that has a smooth lining called the synovium. This lining produces a lubricating fluid called synovial fluid, which helps to reduce friction and wear in the joint. Connecting the bones to each other are ligaments, which serve to keep the bones together and stabilize the joint. Crossing the joint are muscles and tendons whose main function is to move the joint. They also provide stability for the joint along with the ligaments. A typical joint looks like the illustration on the top, left.


THE KNEE JOINT

The knee joint operates like a hinge. It also has a slight ability to move from side to side and to rotate. It is formed when the lower end of the thigh bone (femur) meets the upper end of the shin bone (tibia). The femur has two sections at its end that sit in the saucer-like shapes at the top of the tibia. It is a much shallower joint than the hip joint. The front of the knee is protected by the knee cap, which is held in place by muscles, tendons and ligaments.


THE HIP JOINT

The hip is a closed ball and socket joint, with the socket (acetabulum) located in the pelvis and the head of the thigh bone (femur) forming the ball. Covering the surface of these bones is a smooth and compressible gristle (articular cartilage).

This joint is deep in the body, well protected by large muscles. It is a very stable joint and has a relatively small range of motion as compared to the shoulder.