Dorothy FarrarJoints
A joint is a connection between two or more bones , whereby an anatomical distinction is made between real and fake joints.
Definition
Joints represent a connection between cartilaginous or bony skeletal elements. They ensure mobility and stability and form the framework of the human body.
The human skeleton has several different forms of joints, which differ in their function and structure. Typical types of joints in this context are ball joints, saddle joints, egg joints, wheel joints and hinge joints.
Anatomy
Anatomically, a distinction is made between fake and real joints. Fake joints are bone connections that don’t have a gap, which limits mobility. Fake joints include: cartilaginous bone connections such as intervertebral discs or costal cartilage connective tissue bone connections such as ulna and radius or skull bones bony fusions such as the coccyx or sacrum connections of bones due to the skeletal muscles Real joints consist of a joint capsule , a joint space and articular cartilage. The joint cavity is enclosed by the joint capsule. Due to the cartilage layer, the bones do not rub against each other, which is very important, especially in hip or knee joints. The joint capsule seals the joint airtight.
The capsule has an inner and outer layer. The inner layer contains nerves and blood vessels , and the outer layer is made of fibrous tissue. The capsule contains what is known as the synovia, or “joint fluid”. When a joint becomes inflamed, it can fill with synovial fluid, causing pain that can be treated with a puncture.
Function
A joint is a junction between bones that allows the human body to move. There are a total of more than 100 articulated joints whose task it is to dampen or cushion the effects of pressure. The direction in which a joint can be moved depends on the joint surfaces, ligaments and muscles .
In addition, the range of motion of bones, muscles or soft tissue is limited. The cartilage serves as a lubricant and also partly has a shock-absorbing function. The joint is stabilized by the capsule, while the synovial membrane supplies the gap with synovia.
Diseases
- Bacterial joint inflammation
- Psoriasis-Arthritis
Mainly older people, but also young people, suffer from joint pain that occurs as a result of wear and tear. These signs of wear and tear are referred to as osteoarthritis. The hips , the knee joints and the small finger joints are mainly affected , whereby the wear and tear is mainly due to severe overloading.
However, joints can also become inflamed, in which case one speaks of arthritis. The joint can be swollen and inflamed, but the affected joints can also be destroyed by rheumatoid arthritis.
Knee and hip joints are often affected by bacterial joint inflammation, with the bacteria infecting the joint here due to an injury. With gout, the concentration of uric acid in the blood rises and is then deposited in the joints. The joints are then swollen and painful.
Chronic incorrect loading or infections often lead to bursitis , which mainly occurs in the knee joint or in the elbow area.
Lyme disease can also lead to joint inflammation, and the joints are also sometimes involved in psoriasis , in which case one speaks of psoriatic arthritis. In addition, joint inflammation also occurs in Bechterew’s disease and Reiter’s disease. In the case of Reiter’s syndrome, there are also skin changes, urethritis and conjunctivitis (conjunctivitis of the eye).
Joint pain is extremely diverse. If it occurs suddenly, it is called acute joint pain, but if it develops over several weeks, it is called chronic joint pain. If the pain continues to progress, it is referred to as a chronic-progressive course, if it is only intermittent, it is called acute-remitting. Often only one joint is affected by the pain, but it can also be the case that the pain extends to several joints.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.