Video Transcript
What type of joint fuses the bones
of the skull together? (A) Fibrous, (B) cartilaginous, or
(C) synovial.
Different parts of the skeleton
have different kinds of joints. Let’s look at each of the joints
listed in the answer choices more closely.
Eight different bones form the
skull, and the interface between each is a fibrous joint. The bones in our skull are not
flexible, so this type of joint does not allow movement. The joint where the skull meets the
vertebral column is called a synovial joint and is characterized by a sac of
synovial fluid, which allows for greater range of movement. This allows us to move our head in
several directions and turn it to the right or left, somewhat independently of the
vertebral column.
In between each vertebra of the
vertebral column is a cartilaginous joint, which is characterized by the presence of
a type of connective tissue called cartilage. These kinds of joints allow some
flexibility so that we can hunch over or stand up straight. But they don’t provide nearly as
much flexibility as synovial joints do.
Now that we know some more
information about the different types of joints, we can deduce the correct
answer. The bones of the skull are joined
by the least mobile kind of joint: (A) fibrous joints.
