Fibrous joints

Fibrous joints are a type of joint in which the bones are connected by dense fibrous connective tissue, permitting little to no movement. The collagen fibers span the gap between the articulating bones, and there is no joint cavity (synovial space) present.

Types of Fibrous Joints

There are three main subtypes:

• Sutures Found exclusively in the skull, where the bones are bound together by a thin layer of dense fibrous connective tissue (Sharpey's fibers). These allow no appreciable movement in adults and may eventually ossify (becoming synostoses).

• Syndesmoses The bones are connected by a ligament or interosseous membrane spanning a greater distance than in sutures. The classic examples are the distal tibiofibular joint and the interosseous membrane between the radius and ulna. These permit slight movement (e.g., rotation).

• Gomphoses A specialized peginsocket joint found only where the teeth articulate with the alveolar sockets of the mandible and maxilla. The tooth is anchored by the periodontal ligament.