fixed + cartilaginous joints

• fixed/ fibrous joints are also known as immovable joints.
• fibrous (fixed) joints are formed during early childhood when the bones interlock or overlap and they do not move. Several bones are fused together
• fibrous (fixed) joints are held together by bands of tough, fibrous tissue and are strong. E.g: between bone plates in your cranium
• the function of fibrous joints is to protect. The rigid structure helps as a protective layer
• cartilaginous joints allow slight movement. The end of bones are covered in hyaline cartilage which reduces friction between the bones
• In cartilaginous joints (slightly movable) bones are separated by pads of white fibrocartilage which are good for absorbtion
• cartilaginous joints main function is to reduce friction between the bones and being able to take considerable loads. This is because of the fibrocartilage pads compress. E.g: this happens between the vertebra and the patella
• cartilaginous joints can move a little bit but ligaments stop it from moving too far. This is why we can bend and straighten (but not too far) through our backs.