American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT one of the three types of joints?

1. Fibrous

2. Cartilaginous

3. Synovial

4. Elastic

The correct answer is: Elastic

The correct response highlights the classification of joints in the human body. Joints are categorized based on the material that binds them and their movement capabilities. The three recognized types of joints are fibrous, cartilaginous, and synovial. Fibrous joints are connected by dense connective tissue and typically allow little to no movement (e.g., sutures in the skull). Cartilaginous joints consist of cartilage connecting the bones, allowing for more movement than fibrous joints but less than synovial joints (e.g., the intervertebral discs). Synovial joints, on the other hand, are characterized by a fluid-filled joint cavity that allows for a wide range of motion (e.g., the knee and elbow). Elastic, while it may refer to properties of certain tissues, does not describe a type of joint in the context of human anatomy. Therefore, identifying elastic as not fitting within the established categories of joints is correct as it does not correspond to the standard classifications recognized in anatomy.