Which of the following is an example of a pivot joint?

• A. Elbow
• B. Wrist
• C. Hip
• D. Neck vertebrae

Answer: (D)

Pivot joints allow rotation around a single axis. The joint between the first two cervical vertebrae—the atlas rotating on the axis—lets you turn your head from side to side, which is the classic pivot movement. The elbow is a hinge joint, moving mainly in one plane (flexion and extension). The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, offering a wide range of directions, not a single-axis rotation. The wrist is a condyloid joint, allowing bending and side-to-side movements but not rotation around one axis like a true pivot joint. So the neck vertebrae provide the pivot joint example.