What is a common characteristic of hinge joints?

Hinge joints are designed to allow a specific type of movement that can be likened to the opening and closing of a door. The most defining feature of hinge joints is their ability to permit back-and-forth motion along a single plane. This means that joints such as the elbow and knee can extend and flex, but do not allow movement in other directions, such as rotation.

In contrast to other types of joints, such as ball-and-socket joints or pivot joints, hinge joints are quite limited in the range of movement they provide. Therefore, the ability to facilitate this back-and-forth motion is what characterizes hinge joints and differentiates them from others that permit a wider range of movement, including rotations and gliding movements.

This clear definition of function helps in understanding the structural design of hinge joints in the human body and their role in facilitating movement in a controlled manner.