Final answer:
Arthritis is the term for inflammation of a joint or joints, and it includes many different conditions, notably osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, leading to joint pain, swelling, and reduced mobility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term meaning the inflammation of a joint or joints is arthritis. Arthritis encompasses over 100 different conditions that affect joints, often leading to symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced joint mobility. Conditions like osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fall under this category, with OA typically resulting from wear and tear, and RA being an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the joints.
Inflammation is a natural response to injury or infection, but in the case of arthritis, the inflammation becomes chronic and leads to joint degradation. Age, mechanical wear, immune system dysfunctions, and genetic factors can all contribute to the development of arthritis. Understanding the structural classification of joints and the way they function can help in identifying the type and extent of the arthritis affecting a specific joint.