[3][4] The hinge joints of the body include the elbow, knee, interphalangeal (IP) joints of the hand and foot and the tibiotalar joint of the ankle.

The fingers, toes, elbows, knees, and ankles contain hinge joints. Hinge joints are complex and contain many muscles and tissues. Osteoarthritis and trauma can cause pain and dysfunction in various parts of these joints.

A hinge joint is a common class of synovial joint that includes the ankle, elbow, and knee joints. Hinge joints are formed between two or more bones where the bones can only move along one axis to flex or extend.

Major gliding joints include the intervertebral joints and the bones of the wrists and ankles. (2) Hinge joints move on just one axis. These joints allow for flexion and extension. Major hinge joints include the elbow and finger joints.

What are the different types of joints?

• Ball-and-socket joints. Ball-and-socket joints, such as the shoulder and hip joints, allow backward, forward, sideways, and rotating movements.
• Hinge joints.
• Pivot joints.
• Ellipsoidal joints.

Opening and closing the jaw is a simple hinge action while side-to-side jaw movement requires a sliding action of the joint. Chewing food requires a combination of these movements.

The ankle joint is a hinged synovial joint with primarily up-and-down movement (plantarflexion and dorsiflexion). However, when the range of motion of the ankle and subtalar joints (talocalcaneal and talocalcaneonavicular) is taken together, the complex functions as a universal joint (see the image below).

The elbow is a hinge joint between the lower end of the humerus bone in the upper arm and the upper end of the radius and ulnar bones in the lower arm. The arm is bent and rotated at the elbow by the biceps muscles in the upper arm. Ligaments located at the front, back, and sides of the elbow help stabilize the joint.

The elbow and knee joints are both hinge joints. A hinge joint is a type of synovial joint that works like the hinge on a door, allowing bending and straightening only. The shoulder and hip joints are both ball and socket joints.

Thumb. The thumb digit has only two phalanges (bones) so it only has one joint. The thumb interphalangeal (IP) joint is similar to the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint in the fingers. The IP joint in thumb is located at the tip of the finger just before the fingernail starts.

The knee joint is a hinge joint, meaning it allows the leg to extend and bend back and forth with minimal side-to-side motion. It is comprised of bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and other tissues.