Ball-and-socket Joint

Ball and Socket Joint: A ball and socket joint (also called a spheroid joint or spheroidal joint) is a synovial joint in which the rounded or spherical end of one bone fits into a cup-like depression of another bone. The distal bone is capable of motion around an indefinite number of axes, which have one common center. Examples of ball and socket joints include the hip and shoulder (glenohumeral) joints.

• Note: These joints allow movement in all planes of motion and permit all joint actions, including flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, horizontal abduction/horizontal adduction, and internal rotation/external rotation .

For more information on synovial joint types (including a video lecture), check out:

• Lesson 4: Synovial Joints
  

Examples of Ball-and-socket Joints of the Human Body:

• Shoulder Joint (Glenohumeral Joint) : The ball-shaped head of the humerus (upper arm bone) approximates the dish-like depression of the glenoid fossa of the scapula (shoulder blade).
• Hip Joint : The ball-shaped head of the femur (thigh bone) approximates the cup-like depression of the acetabulum (hip socket) of the pelvis.

All Synovial Joint Types:

• Ball-and-socket Joint
• Hinge Joint
• Gliding Joint
• Condyloid Joint
• Pivot Joint
• Saddle Joint