synovial joints

Question
how many synovial joints are there in a horse and where they


Answer
Dear Katie

All moving joints contain synovial fluid.  ALL joints that have motion are lubricated with synovial fluid.  They are made up of two bone ends covered by articular cartilage. This cartilage within the joint is smooth and when properly lubricated with synovial fluid enables frictionless movement of the joints.

You might want to peruse this article on equine joints.  Basically, if a joint moves...it is a synovial joint.  That means knees, fetlocks, shoulders etc are synovial joints.  The hock is actually about three joints...only part of the hock joints actually move much...the remaining joints in the hock are stationary and filled with cartilage.  With age, the cartilage ossifies which is why certain kinds of spavin may plague a young horse and become less of a problem with age.  On the other hand, with age some bodies produce less synovial fluid and without proper lubrication of the bearing surfaces...the smooth covering on the joint surfaces erodes and painful bone on bone contact becomes a problems.  People and horses have the same kinds of problems with these issues. http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=6559

Lynne