Question 1

What are the six types of synovial joint?

Accepted Answer

The six types are ball and socket, hinge, pivot, condyloid, saddle, and gliding. Ball and socket joints (e.g., hip, shoulder) allow the most movement, including rotation. Hinge joints (e.g., elbow, knee) only allow flexion and extension. Pivot joints (e.g., neck) allow rotation. Condyloid joints (e.g., wrist) allow flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and circumduction but not rotation. Saddle joints (e.g., thumb) allow similar movements plus opposition. Gliding joints (e.g., between carpals) allow limited sliding.

Question 2

How do I remember the different types of synovial joints for the exam?

Accepted Answer

Use a mnemonic like 'Big Hairy Pigs Can't Sing Good' for Ball and socket, Hinge, Pivot, Condyloid, Saddle, Gliding. Also, associate each joint with a sporting example: ball and socket = shoulder in a tennis serve, hinge = knee in a football kick, pivot = neck in a head turn, condyloid = wrist in a basketball shot, saddle = thumb in gripping a racket, gliding = ankle in a running stride. Practice drawing and labelling each joint type.

Question 3

What movements does a condyloid joint allow?

Accepted Answer

A condyloid joint allows flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and circumduction, but it does NOT allow rotation. An example is the wrist joint (radiocarpal joint). For instance, when you wave your hand, you are using flexion/extension and abduction/adduction. However, you cannot rotate your wrist fully like a pivot joint – that rotation comes from the radioulnar joint.

Question 4

Why is the shoulder more prone to dislocation than the hip?

Accepted Answer

Both are ball and socket joints, but the shoulder (glenohumeral joint) has a shallow socket (glenoid cavity) and relies more on muscles and ligaments for stability, allowing greater range of motion. The hip has a deep socket (acetabulum) and strong ligaments, making it more stable but less mobile. Therefore, the shoulder is more likely to dislocate during high-impact sports like rugby or basketball.

Question 5

Is the knee a hinge joint?

Accepted Answer

For GCSE PE, the knee is classified as a hinge joint because its main movements are flexion and extension. However, it is technically a modified hinge joint (or condyloid) because it allows a small amount of rotation when flexed. In exams, you should treat it as a hinge joint and describe its movements as flexion and extension only.

Question 6

What is the difference between a condyloid and a saddle joint?

Accepted Answer

Both allow flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and circumduction, but a saddle joint (e.g., thumb carpometacarpal joint) also allows opposition – the movement of the thumb across the palm to touch the other fingers. Condyloid joints (e.g., wrist) do not allow opposition. Saddle joints are shaped like a saddle (concave in one direction, convex in the other), giving them greater flexibility.

Types of synovial joint

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