A shoulder dislocation occurs when the humeral head is removed from the glenoid fossa. The clavicle and coracoacromial ligament are located superior to the joint, preventing superior dislocation, and the body o the scapula is posterior to the joint, preventing posterior dislocation. Most commonly, the humeral head is pushed forward and downward. There is the least resistance to dislocation in the anterior and inferior directions; though glenohumeral dislocation can occur in other orientations, these are far less common.

The axillary nerve travels through the quadrangular space with the posterior circumflex humeral artery, and can be damaged due to trauma of the upper extremity, particularly anterior-inferior shoulder dislocations. When the dislocation is reduced, placement of the humeral head can displace or damage the nerve if done improperly.

The joints between the metacarpals and phalanges in the hand are classified as diarthrosis (allows full motion), synovial (encased in a capsule filled with synovial fluid, true of all diarthrosis joints by default), and condyloid (ovoid in shape, sometimes received into an elliptical cavity).

The cuboid-metatarsal joint is a joint that connects the cuboid bone to the metatarsals, and is not generally considered part of the three major ankle joints. Instead, it is generally classified as a joint in the foot.

The subtalar joint, also called the talocalcaneal joint, is a condyloid (plane synovial) joint that allows for the inversion/eversion mechanism of the foot, but not dorsiflexion or plantarflexion. It is sometimes combined with the navicular joint to form the talocalcaneonavicular joint when considering the motion of the whole ankle.

The ulna is not part of the radiocarpal joint—if it were, the forces acting on the joint would prevent proper flexion and extension, limiting hand mobility and causing excessive damage from counterforces caused by the radius. Instead, a thin fibrocartiliginous ligament called the articular disk sits between the distal end of the ulna and the radiocarpal joint, allowing for a smooth, concave surface on the proximal side of the joint.

The glenoid cavity of the scapula is the place of articulation between the scapula and the humerus. The acromion and coracoid process are not sites of joint articulation and the olecranon is not found on the scapula, but on the ulna.

The radiohumeral joint of the elbow is formed by the articulation between the head of the radius, and the capitellum of the humerus. While the trochlea of the humerus, and the olecranon fossa do form part of the elbow, they articulate with the ulna. The scaphoid does articulate with the raidius, but at the distal end of the bone.

The elbow is a hinge joint, as it is only about to move in one plane of motion. The thumb is a saddle joint as it can move in multiple directions. The bones of the wrist are gliding joints as they are two flat surfaces moving over each other. Lastly, the shoulder is an example of ball and socket as it has a very wide range of motion.

The sternoclavicular and acromioclavicular joints link two bones of the pectoral girdle to each other and to the trunk of the body. They also combine their movements to increase reach length of the upper limb. They are both synovial joints and surrounded by a joint capsule with numerous ligaments to reinforce their movements. The glenohumeral joint serves in articulation of the humerus and scapula. The Sternohumeral joint does not exist.