Causes and Types of Arthritis

A normal human body is consist of 206 different types of bones and these bones are ties together by more than 100 joints connecting them with each other to form the complete bone structure of human body. Although this structure is a combined frame work of lots of pieces of bones but not all of them can be moveable. Most of the bone connections of the body are designed to allow broad range of motion. There are different types of joints: ball-and-socket (hips and shoulders), saddle joints (connects thumb with hand), hinge joint (fingers and knees), and pivot joint (wrists).

Typically two bones are ties together by ligaments, cupped with a smooth substance called cartilage. Cartilage normally protects the bones and allows them to move smoothly between ties. This tough elastic material also acts as a shock absorber (like pressures while placed on the joints when we walk) and allows the bone ends to glide across each other effortlessly. If the cartilage is destroyed or broke down, the bones of a joint grind against each other or become rigid causing pain, loss of mobility, deformity and dysfunction.  Between the bones, there is a joint cavity that gives the bones priority and room to move, and the space between two bones of a joint is enclosed a flexible capsule, yet strong enough to protect the joint from being dislocated. The inner part of this capsule is called synovium which produces a thick liquid that keeps lubricating and nourishing the joint. In most of the cases, this synovium become thickened and inflamed thus produce extra fluid containing inflammatory cells result the damage of cartilage and underlying and connecting bones.  Hence, the Arthritis is a inflammation of one or more joints causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and limited movement.

Almost all of us experience arthritis in our lifetime because of various types of reason, sometimes caused by stressors and repeated pressures put on the affected areas. Arthritis is not a one-note story, not even a few variations; there are more than 100 different conditions powered by arthritis. Arthritis, the word is originated in Greek, where arthro denotes joint and itis means inflammation, in plural form: arthritides. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) causes from trauma to the joints, infections of the joints or age. Other forms of arthritis are: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, septic arthritis, and related autoimmune diseases: gout, lupus etc.