CMS II Rheumatology E1 Practice Exam

Freely mobile joints with a joint capsule, hyaline articular cartilage on the joint surfaces, and synovial fluid are synovial joints, or diarthroses. The joint capsule forms a sealed cavity that is lined by a synovial membrane, which secretes synovial fluid to lubricate and nourish the articular surfaces. The ends of the bones are covered with hyaline cartilage to minimize friction and distribute load during movement. This combination creates a true joint space that allows a wide range of motion.

Fibrous joints are connected by dense connective tissue and usually have no joint cavity, making them mostly immobile. Cartilaginous joints connect bones by cartilage and also lack a synovial cavity and synovial fluid, so mobility is limited. Bony joints are fused (synostoses) with no movement and no joint space.