Articular Capsules of Distal Interphalangeal Joints of Hand
Capsulae articulares articulationum interphalangearum distalium manus
Read moreAnatomical Relations
The articular capsules of the interphalangeal joints are the membranous sacs enclosing the articular surface of the phalanges, which form hinge joints. It is composed of an outer fibrous membrane and an inner synovial membrane. The ligament of the interphalangeal joints, i.e., the palmar, collateral, and accessory collateral ligaments reinforce the articular capsule.
Related parts of the anatomy
Function
The articular capsule of the interphalangeal joint ensures that the joint is sealed, thus, keeping the lubricating synovial fluid within the joint. It provides passive stability to the joint by limiting the joint movement. Additionally, it provides active stability by containing numerous proprioceptive nerve endings which relay mechanical information back to the central nervous system (Ralphs and Benjamin, 1994).
References
Ralphs, J. R. and Benjamin, M. (1994) 'The joint capsule: structure, composition, ageing and disease', Journal of Anatomy, 184(Pt 3), pp. 503-509.
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Interphalangeal Joint
The distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint is a hinge joint that is composed of the middle phalanx head and distal phalanx base.
