Question

Write briefly about the biological importance of fibrous joints.

Answer 1

A joint is the point or location where two or more bones join or make contact. The joints are important in the sense that they are constructed to allow movement.

**Complete answer :** Fibrous joints are joints that do not have any joint cavity. They are connected by the fibrous connective tissues. The fibrous joints are immovable joints as they cannot move and are fixed. The connective tissues joining the fibrous joints are irregular and rich in collagen fibres.
At the fibrous joint, the adjacent bones are directly connected to the other bone by using the fibrous connective tissues. This structure or arrangement causes the bones to have no cavity between them. The fibres present that are used to join the bones may be short or long. The length of the fibres causes the gap between the bones at the fibrous joints to differ from being narrow to wide.
The fibrous joints are of three types in humans. These are:
a. Sutures
b. Syndesmosis
c.Gomphosis.
a. Sutures
A suture can be explained as a type of narrow fibrous joint and is found in the skull. Most bones of the skull show sutures in between them.
b. Syndesmosis
When the bones are separated widely but they are held together with the help of a strap of fibrous connective tissues, which are called ligaments, is known as syndesmosis. Sometimes in addition to ligaments, a wide sheet of connective tissue is also present and is called an interosseous membrane.
The syndesmosis type of fibrous joints are most commonly found in the shaft regions of the long bones in the forearm and in the legs.
c.Gomphosis.
Gomphosis is a type of narrow fibrous joint. This type of fibrous joint occurs between the root of the tooth and the bony socket present in the jaw into which the tooth fits in.
The suture type of fibrous joints in the skull strongly unites the neighbouring bones and this arrangement makes the skull bones strong and it helps to protect the brain and helps to form the shape of the face. The sutures make a firm and tight union which prevents movements between the bones. The syndesmosis type of fibrous joints help to provide strength and stability to the bones of arms and legs. It also makes stronger connections between the bones to provide strength during weight bearing. The syndesmosis also helps to provide flexible and movements of the arms and legs. Gomphosis fibrous type of joint helps the teeth to be placed firmly inside the mouth and cause least wear and tear.

Note: The fibrous joints are important joint types that help in all around mobility, strength and protection of the organs underlying it. These type of joints are much stronger than most of the other joints present in the body. They provide protection from injury, strength and support to certain organs of the body.