gliding movements occur when one flat, or nearly flat, bone surface glides or slips over another.

These small bones form many flattened facets between one another to provide exceptional flexibility to the hands and feet. Many gliding joints are formed in the appendicular skeleton between the carpal bones of the wrist between the carpals and the metacarpals of the palm between the tarsal bones of the ankle and between the tarsals and the metatarsals of the foot.

Articular cartilage between the bones provides a smooth, rubbery surface that both aids in the gliding motion and acts as a shock absorber during impacts to the bones. The fibrous joint capsule and its associated ligaments hold the bones together, limiting the extent to which they can glide and preventing dislocation. Synovial membrane lining the joint capsule produces oily synovial fluid to lubricate the joint and reduce friction. The basic structure of synovial joints provides flexibility to gliding joints while limiting their movements in order to prevent injury. Unlike most synovial joints, the angle formed between the bones at a gliding joint does not change significantly - just their position relative to one another. Slight rotations can also occur at these joints, but are limited by the shape of the bones and the elasticity of the joint capsule surrounding them.

Gliding joints allow the bones to glide past one another in any direction along the plane of the joint - up and down, left and right, and diagonally.

A gliding joint, also known as a plane joint or planar joint, is a common type of synovial joint formed between bones that meet at flat or nearly flat articular surfaces.

Gliding movements occur when one flat, or nearly flat, bone surface glides or slips over another.