Final answer:
Joint mobility and stability are influenced by the joint structure and supporting tissues. The shoulder joint is highly mobile but less stable, while carpal bones have more stability but less mobility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mobility and stability of a joint are determined by several factors, including its structural classification and the support provided by ligaments and muscles. For instance, a multiaxial ball-and-socket joint like the shoulder has a high degree of mobility due to less restrictive ligament support, making it somewhat less stable. Conversely, the carpal bones have less mobility but are more stable due to their structural makeup and tighter ligaments. It's a balance between the amount of movement a joint can make and its stability; typically, the more mobile a joint, the less stable it is, and vice versa.
Specifically, the shoulder joint allows for a wide range of motion, including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, circumduction, and medial and lateral rotation, due to its ball-and-socket structure and dynamic ligament support by rotator cuff muscles. In contrast, the joints formed by carpal bones are more confined in their movements, hence providing more stability.