ACE Group Fitness Instructor Practice Exam

Which joint type is connected to bones with a continuous intervening fibrous tissue?

1. Synovial Joint

2. Ball-and-Socket Joint

3. Fibrous Joint

4. Cartilaginous Joint

The correct answer is: Fibrous Joint

The correct answer is the type of joint known as a fibrous joint. In fibrous joints, the bones are connected by dense connective tissue, primarily made of collagen, which does not allow for any significant movement between the bones. This characteristic means they provide stability and strength. Examples of fibrous joints include sutures in the skull, syndesmoses like the connection between the tibia and fibula, and gomphoses, which secure teeth in their sockets. In contrast, synovial joints, which are characterized by a fluid-filled joint cavity and a more complex structure including cartilage and ligaments, allow for a wide range of movements. Ball-and-socket joints, a specific subtype of synovial joint, permit rotational movement and enable the greatest degree of motion in multiple directions, found in the shoulder and hip. Cartilaginous joints involve bones connected by cartilage, allowing for limited movement, such as those found in the spine. Thus, fibrous joints are uniquely defined by their composition and function compared to these other types of joints.