The skeleton is a robust internal framework of bones, which aid movement, give the body its shape, and offer protection and support to internal organs, including the brain, and the spinal cord. A joint is an area where bones meet with each other, making the skeleton flexible (Chung, 2019). The three types of joints are synovial, cartilaginous, and fibrous. All of these are important as they work together to help the skeleton in its functioning.
Synovial joints are the most functionally significant, and they are found in the entire body in all adjoining bones. According to Chung (2019), these joints contain synovial fluid for lubrication and reduction of friction, thereby, allowing for more significant motion. It should be noted that they also have articular cartilage with connective tissue, allowing resistance to dislocation. The synovial joints in the shoulders, elbows, and knees help the skeleton in movement.
The partially movable and immovable joints aid the skeleton in protecting internal organs such as the heart and the brain. In cartilaginous joints, the bones are covered by cartilage, without any joint cavity (Chung, 2019). As for the long bones, during childhood, their ends are cartilaginous, but it disappears with age. These joints are subdivided into synchondroses and symphyses. Conversely, fibrous joints are bound by connective tissue and are immovable because they do not have a cavity or space between the bones, for example, sutures between skull bones, which protect the brain tissue. Additionally, gomphosis between the teeth and their sockets help maintain the cheek’s shape (Chung, 2019). Therefore, the immovable and partially movable joints’ function is to help the skeleton protect internal organs and maintain the body shape.
Reference
Chung, A. (2019). Skeletal system | Skeleton bones, joints, cartilage, ligaments, bursae. Health Pages.