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Home > Articles > Saddle Joint: Definitions, Examples, Origin, Features, Movement, Functions, Structure, and Associated Problems
Updated on 21st September, 2023 , 8 min read
One of the three types of joints in the body are synovial joint. Because they have a fibrous joint capsule filled with synovial fluid, synovial joints are special. Synovial joints come in the form of hinge and ball-and-socket joints. Another variety of synovial joints is saddle joints.
A joint is often defined as a location where two or more objects are joined. It is the location where two bones meet in this instance. A joint is an articulation, or, to put it another way, a solid link holding the teeth, cartilage, and bones together. It is required for all bone-related movements in the body. Movement is accomplished through a variety of joints using the force produced by muscles. Numerous diverse elements affect how easily and to what extent particular joints may move. They could be categorized according to two separate criteria.
A saddle joint, also known as a sellar joint, enables several motions in numerous directions. One concave bone shaped like a saddle, and another convex bone, fashioned like a rider perched on a horse's saddle, make up a saddle joint. A saddle joint's construction aids in maintaining its stability and lessens the possibility of damage from repeated use. Your body only has a few saddle joints. These joints may be found in the inner ear, the thumb, and the shoulder.
The following are some of the examples of a saddle joint-
This joint joins the malleus and incus, two little bones that are found in the inner ear. Your hearing depends on both of them. The primary role of the incudomalleolar joint is to aid in the transfer of vibrations in your ear that your brain interprets as sounds. Injuries to the head, ongoing ear infections, and improperly inserted foreign objects can all harm this joint and impair your hearing.
The manubrium, which is the top of your sternum (breastbone), joins your clavicle (collarbone) at this junction. Along with other motions, it supports your shoulder and enables you to raise your arm above your head. The sternoclavicular joint is surrounded by some of your body's strongest ligaments, making it difficult to be hurt. However, your sternoclavicular joint might be harmed by high-impact collisions, falls, or automobile accidents.
The trapeziometacarpal joint at the base of your thumb is the best illustration of a saddle joint. It joins your thumb's metacarpal bone and trapezium. Your thumb may stretch out widely to help you grab huge things thanks to the flexion-extension and abduction-adduction properties of this joint. It can also slide inside to snugly contact each of your other fingers. Osteoarthritis can also affect your thumb and inner wrist at this location, resulting in discomfort, weakness, and stiffness.
The interplay of the concave and convex bone surfaces is referred to as a "saddle" because both bone surfaces resemble a saddle on a horse. The sellar joint is another name for the saddle joint.
The following are some of the features of the saddle joint-
The human body has three saddle joints. The following places where you may locate them are as follows-
Saddle joints, in contrast to hinge joints like the ones between the bones in your fingers, offer a considerably wider range of motion than a simple backward and forward movement. The primary movements of saddle joints are flexion-extension and abduction-adduction. Although flexion and extension are opposing motions, they are simple to picture. The angle between the upper arm and forearm is reduced as the elbow is bent. This is flexion in action. Your arm extends when you straighten it, creating a wider angle between your upper and lower arms. Movements involving the midline of a structure are referred to as abduction and adduction. For instance, extending your fingers widely causes them to shift away from the hand's midline.
Like saddle joints, the majority of joints permit mobility. A saddle joint provides flexibility to move in a wide range of motions, including movement back and forth and side to side, while stabilizing the bones in the joint. The following table gives details about the functions of saddle joints-
When one bone surface is concave and the other is convex, a saddle joint is created. The stability is greatly impacted by this.
The motions of saddle joints, which include flexion, extension, adduction, abduction, and circumduction, are comparable to those of the condyloid joint. Axial rotation is not permitted, though. Biaxial saddle joints are claimed to enable mobility in both the sagittal and frontal planes. The carpometacarpal joint in the thumb, the sternoclavicular joint in the thorax, the incudomalleolar joint in the middle ear, the calcaneocuboid joint in the heel, and other joints in the human body are examples of saddle joints.
The following are some of the conditions associated with saddle joint-
Arthritis, a prevalent condition that affects all synovial joints, can affect saddle joints. More than 100 different forms of arthritis exist. These ailments can be brought on by misuse, aging-related wear and tear, autoimmune disorders, metabolic disorders, heredity, or infections. The most prevalent kind of arthritis is osteoarthritis. The cartilage may deteriorate as a result, leaving the saddle joint's two bones' ends exposed. Bones rubbing against one another when we walk can result in inflammation, stiffness, and discomfort in the joints. The following are other kinds of arthritis that can impact the saddle joints-
The effects of arthritis can develop, causing crippling agony and eventually causing the bones in the joint to deteriorate. As a result, the disease may make it difficult for you to utilize the afflicted joint and carry out daily activities. The following effects of arthritis in saddle joints are possible-
The following are the most typical reasons for damage to the incudomalleolar joint-
When the ligaments supporting the thumb are stretched beyond what they should be, it results in a sprained thumb. When you fall, your thumb may bend backward, away from the palm of your hand, or you may land on an outstretched hand. A sprained thumb is sometimes referred to as a "skier's thumb" since it frequently occurs when you fall while holding a ski pole in your hand. It is referred to as "gamekeeper's thumb" when this ailment develops over time due to repeated misuse. The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), which is situated inside the carpometacarpal joint, is typically injured in thumb sprains. The carpometacarpal joint may become unstable due to the damage.
A modest sprain to a clavicle fracture might result in injuries to the sternoclavicular joint. The joint can be forced out of its natural position by a powerful impact. A high-impact incident, such as a hard fall, a collision during contact sports, or an auto accident, frequently results in injuries to this joint. Breathing or blood flow issues may result from the sternoclavicular joint dislocating backward, deep into the upper chest.
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By - Nikita Parmar 2024-09-06 10:59:22 , 6 min readAns. The areas or regions of the body where two or more bones contact can be referred to as joints. Joints aid in the efficient operation of various body components.
Ans. The ball-and-socket joints in the elbow, neck, knee, shoulder, thumb, hip, wrist, and intercarpal joints are a few examples.
Ans. Movements. Similar to saddle joints, condyloid joints permit movement with two degrees of freedom. They permit circumduction because they permit flexion and extension in addition to abduction and adduction. Axial rotation is not possible with saddle joints, in contrast to ball and socket joints.
Ans. Saddle joints, like the ones between the bones in your fingers, have a significantly wider range of motion than hinge joints. Saddle joints are capable of far more movement than just back and backward. There are two main ways that saddle joints can move: flexion-extensive movement and abduction-adduction. The majority of activities take place in this way.
Ans. The primary purpose of joints in our bodies is to bind the bones together. Additionally, it aids in movement, rotation, and body weight support.