What Are Joints?

What Are Joints?

Joints are the tissues that connect bones and help support movements throughout the body. They are what help you bend your elbows and knees, and flex your fingers and feet.

Most of the joints designed for movement are called synovial joints because they have a small, fluid filled space between the surfaces called a synovial cavity. This fluid acts as a lubricant, cushioning the joints so the bones don't rub together.

Cartilage, the spongy tissue on the end of each bone, reduces friction and acts as a cushion between joints and helps support our weight when we move. Cartilage is a tough but flexible tissue that has two components such as water and matrix. About 85 percent of cartilage is water, but it decreases to about 70 percent in older people. The matrix is comprised of collagens, proteoglycans, and non collagenous proteins. Cartilage lacks a blood supply, making it slow to heal.

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