In a pivot joint, the round head of one bone articulates with the ring-shaped structure formed by another bone. The primary movement produced by this joint is rotation around the length of the bone.

The joint between the first and second cervical vertebrae, which allows the head to rotate, is a pivot joint. The joint at the proximal ends of the radius and ulna (near the elbow) is another example.

PLAY the video to see how these joints move.