Which type of joint provides the greatest range of motion?

The ball-and-socket joint provides the greatest range of motion among the joint types listed. This type of joint consists of a spherical head of one bone fitting into a round cavity of another bone, allowing for multi-directional movement and rotation. This structural design facilitates movements in various planes—such as flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and rotation—enabling actions like swinging the arm in a full circle or rotating the shoulder.

In contrast, hinge joints primarily allow movement in one plane (like opening and closing a door), limiting their range of motion. Saddle joints allow for movement in two planes but do not permit the full rotational movement that ball-and-socket joints do. Lastly, pivot joints allow for rotational movement around a single axis but do not support other types of motion, further restricting their range compared to ball-and-socket joints. Thus, the structural and functional characteristics of ball-and-socket joints make them the most versatile in terms of movement.