CAMRT Radiography Practice Exam

What type of joint allows for a wide range of motion in multiple directions?

1. Fibrous

2. Cartilaginous

3. Ball and socket

4. Hinge

The correct answer is: Ball and socket

The ball and socket joint is designed to allow for a wide range of motion in multiple directions due to its unique structure. This type of joint features a spherical head of one bone fitting into a cup-like socket of another bone, enabling movement along multiple axes. This design allows for flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and rotational movements, making it one of the most versatile types of joints in the human body. For example, the shoulder joint (glenohumeral joint) is a classic ball and socket joint, allowing for significant mobility that is essential for various activities such as throwing or reaching. Similarly, the hip joint also demonstrates this type of movement, providing support for weight-bearing activities while allowing extensive motion. In contrast, fibrous and cartilaginous joints have much more restricted movement. Fibrous joints, such as sutures in the skull, permit little to no movement, while cartilaginous joints, like those found in the spine, allow for limited motion primarily in one direction. Hinge joints, represented by the knee and elbow, permit movement primarily in one plane (flexion and extension), which further distinguishes their range of motion as less versatile than that of ball and socket joints.