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Which types of joints allow the greatest range of motion in the human body?

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Medical illustration of a human knee joint in a parasagittal section just lateral to the midline, labeling ligaments, cartilage, meniscus, patella, synovial structures, and surrounding muscles and fat pads. — joint The ligaments and cartilage in a knee joint.

The ball-and-socket joint, also referred to as a spheroidal joint, allows for the greatest range of motion of any joint in the human body.21

This type of joint is characterized by the rounded surface of one bone moving within a depression on another bone. It is the only joint structure that facilitates three distinct types of movement, enabling limbs to swing in various directions and spin upon more stationary bones. In humans, these joints are most highly developed in the shoulder and hip, providing the necessary mobility for the arms and legs.21