Lab 10

1. They hold the bones together 

2. Allow the rigid skeletal system some flexibility to that gross body movements can occur. 

Structurally or functionally. 

They are based on the presence of connective tissue fiber, cartilage, or a joint cavity between the articulating bones. Specifically there are - fibrous, cartilaginous and synovial joints. 

They focus on the amount of movement allowed at the joint. There are synarthroses (imovable joints), amphiarthroses (slightly moveable joints), diarthroses (freely movable joints). Freely movable joints predominate in the limbs, whereas immovable and slightly movable joints are largerly restricted to the axial skeleton. As a general rule - fibrous joints are immovable and synovial joints are freely movable. Cartilaginous joints offer both rigid and slightly movable examples. 

The bones are joined by fibrous tissue. No joint cavity is present. 

The length of the fibers uniting the bones. Although some fibrous joints are slightly movable, most are synarthrotic and permit virtually no movement. 

Sutures, syndesmoses and gomphosis.

In sutures - the irregular edges of the boens interlock and are united by very short connective tissue fibers. Most joints of the skull are sutures.