Which type of joint is found in the shoulder?

The shoulder joint is classified as a ball and socket joint, which is characterized by one bone with a ball-shaped end fitting into a cup-like socket of another bone, allowing for a wide range of motion. In the case of the shoulder, this joint is formed between the humerus (the upper arm bone) and the glenoid cavity of the scapula (shoulder blade).

This structure enables movements in multiple directions, including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and rotation, making it one of the most mobile joints in the body. This high degree of mobility is essential for various activities, such as throwing, lifting, or reaching.

Other types of joints don't fit this definition. Hinge joints, like those found in the elbow and knee, allow movement primarily in one plane, enabling flexion and extension but limiting other movements. Pivot joints, such as the atlantoaxial joint in the neck, allow rotation around a single axis but do not provide the same range of motion as a ball and socket joint. Fibrous joints, on the other hand, are connected by dense connective tissue and are typically immovable, such as the sutures in the skull. Thus, the nature of the shoulder joint's structure is what