Primary cartilaginous joints
Cartilaginous joints are a type of joint where the bones are entirely joined by cartilage, either hyaline cartilage or fibrocartilage. These joints generally allow more movement than fibrous joints but less movement than synovial joints.
Primary cartilaginous joint
These cartilaginous joints are composed entirely of hyaline cartilage and are known as synchondroses. Most exist between ossification centers of developing bones and are absent in the mature skeleton, but a few persist in adults.
Examples
- growth plates
- synchondroses related to apophyses
- synchondroses of the pelvis eg. ischiopubic synchondrosis
- synchondroses of the skull base eg. petro-occipital synchondrosis
- first sternocostal joint between first rib and manubrium (all other sternocostal joints are plane synovial joints)
Secondary cartilaginous joint
These are permanent joints called symphyses and are composed of fibrocartilage. They are considered amphiarthroses, meaning that they allow only slight movement and are all found at the skeletal midline.
Examples
- symphysis pubis between the right and left pubic bones
- manubriosternal joint between the sternal body and the manubrium
- intervertebral discs
- sacrococcygeal symphysis
