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Definition

noun

A synovial joint in which an oval-shaped process of one bone fits into an elongated or ellipsoidal cavity of the other, allowing movements such as flexion, extension, abduction and adduction.

Supplement

The ellipsoidal joint is a biaxial joint in which two principal axes of motion are at right angles to each other.

Examples are:

• the wrist joint
• the metacarpophalangeal joints
• the metatarsophalangeal joints

Synonyms:

• articulatio ellipsoidea
• articulatio condylaris
• condylar articulation
• condylar joint
• condyloid joint