What type of synovial joint is at the elbow knee and ankle?

The elbow, knee, and ankle are primarily hinge joints.

Hinge joints are a type of synovial joint that allows movement primarily in one plane, similar to the hinge of a door. They permit flexion (bending) and extension (straightening) movements. While the ankle and knee technically possess some slight gliding and rotational movement, they are classified primarily as hinge joints due to their dominant range of motion.

Here's a brief breakdown:

• Elbow: The elbow joint mainly allows flexion and extension between the humerus (upper arm bone) and the radius and ulna (forearm bones).

• Knee: The knee joint, the largest joint in the body, primarily allows flexion and extension between the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone). The fibula (lower leg bone) is not directly involved in the knee joint's primary movement. Some rotation is possible when the knee is flexed.

• Ankle: The ankle joint allows mainly dorsiflexion (lifting the foot upwards) and plantarflexion (pointing the foot downwards) between the tibia and fibula (lower leg bones) and the talus (ankle bone). It also allows for slight inversion and eversion motions.

In summary, while the knee and ankle have slight variances in movement beyond pure hinge action, they are principally classified as hinge joints.