suggested reading: Dyce, 2nd ed, pp 9-21.

Joints
Motion

see Dyce, pp 18-19 and little miller pp 4-5.

Types of joints:

plane - two flat surfaces sliding past one another in a translational or 
gliding motion. [probably a fiction? not found often in a real body. 
almost all joints have some angular quality]

hinge - surfaces which engage in flexion and extension eg joint between 
humerous and ulna.

pivot - eg, joint between axis and atlas or in elbow - rotation about a 
peg

condylar joint - subdivided into two surfaces; otherwise more or less a 
hinge. The temporomandibular joint is a condyle. can open and close like 
a hinge, and rotate slightly, eg, cow chewing cud. knee is also condylar.


ellipsoidal- bidirectional - can have flexion, extension, and 
hyperextension - eg, can close the angle in more than one direction. like 
human wrist, or horse fetlock. 2 planes of motion are available - also 
radial and ulnar deviations from straight in the wrist/carpus.

spheroidal- ball and socket joint. hip and shoulder. can 
flex/extend/protract/retract, and circumduct.

saddle joint: has articular surface shaped like a saddle concave front to 
back and convex on the bottom. capable of motion in two perpendicular 
planes.  found in digits and bird necks - enables flexibility. 
(interphalangeal joints of people. sideways motion restricted by soft 
tissue)

Types of motion:

tranlation (gliding)
angular displacement
rotational- pronation (medial rotation), supination (lateral rotation)
abduction - motion away from midline of the body/hand
circumduction - circular motion eg baseball pitcher.
adduction - motion toward the midline of the body /hand

often, a type of joint may be capable of various kinds of movement, but 
will have restrictions on its movement based on surrounding soft tissues.


WRT dissection of thigh....deep fascia is important as muscle origin over 
the hip, and as a muscle insertion in the case of the fascia lata where 
the biceps inserts. So, be careful not to go through deep, shiny, tough 
fascia on hindlimb until noticing what's going on.