What is a Saddle Joints?
Joint can be defined as a strong connection that connects both bones and cartilage together. Joints play an important role by connecting two bones together, help in movements and also bear weight. There are different types of joints, which include freely movable, fixed and slightly movable joints, and have specialized functions that support movement and locomotion.
A synovial joint is of six different types and are mainly classified based on movement. The types of synovial joints are:
- Plane joints
- Pivot joints
- Hinge joints
- Saddle joints
- Ellipsoidal joints
- Ball-and-socket joints
What are Saddle Joints?
A saddle joint is a type of biaxial and movable joint that allows movements on two planes–flexion or extension and abduction or adduction. This joint is mainly formed between the bones, whose articulating surfaces have both concave and convex regions.
Saddle joints are also known as sellar joints, which are highly flexible joints. There are only a few saddle joints present in our body. These include joints at the base of the thumb finger, upper part of the breastbone and the incudomalleolar joint, which is located in the inner human ear.
Features of Saddle Joints
- Saddle joints are similar to condyloid joints.
- The name saddle joint is mainly derived from its shape or structure.
- This joint looks quite similar to the saddle seat, hence named saddle joint.
- The connecting bones are shaped like interlocking saddles.
- This joint allows a greater range of motion than other joints.
- Compared to ball and socket joints, saddle joints do not provide a complete rotation.
- Flexibility and the interlocking is more in saddle joints when compared to other types of synovial joints.
- The structure of saddle joints is a combination of both hinge joint and ball and socket joint.
