ABSTRACT
Joints in the human skeletal structure can be roughly classified into three categories according to the amount of movement available at the joint. These categories are named synarthroses (immovable), amphiarthroses (slightly movable) and diarthroses (freely movable). The skull sutures represent examples of synarthrodial joints. Examples of amphiarthrodial joints are junctions between the vertebral bodies and the distal tibiofibular joint. The main interest of this chapter is the biomechanic modeling of the major articulating joints of the upper or lower extremities that belong to the last category, the diarthroses. In general, a diarthrodial joint has a joint cavity which is bounded by articular cartilage of the bone ends and the joint capsule.
