ball-and-socket joint

ball-and-sock·et joint (bôln-skt)

n.

1. A synovial joint, such as the shoulder or hip joint, in which a spherical knob or knoblike part of one bone fits into a cavity or socket of another, so that some degree of rotary motion is possible in every direction. Also called enarthrosis.

2. A joint, as in a mechanical device, that permits rotary movement in all directions through the movement of a ball in a socket. Also called ball joint.

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ball-and-socket joint

Noun

Anat a joint in which a rounded head fits into a rounded cavity, allowing a wide range of movement

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ball-and-socket joint  (bôln-skt)

1. A joint, such as the shoulder or hip joint, in which a spherical knob or knoblike part of one bone fits into a cavity or socket of another, so that some degree of rotary motion is possible in every direction.

2. A mechanical device consisting of a spherical knob at the end of a shaft that fits securely into a socket. Ball-and-socket joints are used to connect parts of a machine that require rotary movement in nearly all directions. Ball-and-socket joints allow the front wheels of a car to be turned by the steering mechanism.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	ball-and-socket joint - a freely moving joint in which a sphere on the head of one bone fits into a rounded cavity in the other bone articulatio spheroidea, cotyloid joint, enarthrodial joint, enarthrosis, spheroid joint articulatio synovialis, diarthrosis, synovial joint - a joint so articulated as to move freely articulatio humeri, shoulder joint, shoulder - a ball-and-socket joint between the head of the humerus and a cavity of the scapula articulatio coxae, coxa, hip joint, hip - the ball-and-socket joint between the head of the femur and the acetabulum
	2.	ball-and-socket joint - a joint that can rotate within a socket joint - junction by which parts or objects are joined together socket - receptacle where something (a pipe or probe or end of a bone) is inserted