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11.4 Joints: Cartilaginous and Fibrous

Cartilaginous Joints

Unlike synovial joints, which allow and support ample movement, cartilaginous joints are more restrictive. Cartilaginous joints exist where adjacent bones are joined by a firm, but flexible connective tissue known as cartilage. Cartilage provides structural support to our anatomy and helps to absorb shock or force that impacts the body.

There are two types of cartilaginous joints:

  • Sychondrosis Joint: Involves bones joined together by hyaline cartilage (e.g., Epiphyseal or growth plates in long bones of growing children)
See caption
Anterior view of the human pelvis highlighting the pubic symphysis, a cartilaginous joint connecting the left and right pubic bones at the front of the pelvic girdle.”Cartilaginous joints” by OpenStax, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Symphysis Joint: Involves bones joined together by fibrocartilage (e.g., Intervertebral discs of the spinal cord)
    Side view of a human skeleton with a magnified section highlighting the intervertebral discs between vertebrae in the spine.
    The intervertebral discs of the spinal cord. “Healthy Spine” by Injury Map, CC BY-SA 4.0 Modified: Added circle and “Skeletal side profile” image (see source below)

 

Fibrous Joints

Fibrous joints are made up of adjacent bones directly connected to each other by fibrous connective tissue. In fibrous joints, there is no joint cavity between bones; however, the gap between them can be narrow or wide.

There are three types of fibrous joints:

  • A Suture Joint is the narrow fibrous joint found between most bones of the skull, like the cranial bone example discussed earlier.
See caption
Illustration of a section of the human skull showing a suture joint. A zoomed-in view highlights the suture line where two skull bones meet, connected by dense fibrous connective tissue. “Fibrous Joints” by OpenStax College, CC BY 3.0, Modified: Cropped

 

  • A Syndesmosis Joint is a wider fibrous joint where bones are held together by a thin band of fibrous connective tissue (e.g., a ligament or interosseous membrane). This type of fibrous joint is found between the shaft regions of the long bones, such as the forearm or lower leg.
See caption
Diagram showing the ulna and radius bones of the forearm with a focus on the syndesmosis joint. The antebrachial interosseous membrane connects the two bones, providing support and stability. “Fibrous Joints” by OpenStax College, CC BY 3.0, Modified: Cropped
  • A Gomphosis Joint is the narrow fibrous joint between the roots of a tooth and the bony socket in the jaw into which the tooth fits.
See caption.
Illustration showing a cross-section of a tooth rooted in the jawbone. Labels identify the root of the tooth, the socket in the jaw, and the gomphosis joint, where the tooth is anchored by fibrous tissue. “Fibrous Joints” by OpenStax College, CC BY 3.0, Modified: Cropped

“Skeletal side profile” Image: OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT. [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat  Prompt: Create a side skeletal profile of the human body. Highlight the intervertebral discs.

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The Foundations of Human Movement and Physical Fitness Copyright © 2025 by A.J. Stephen; Sarah Fraser; and Connor Dalton is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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