Which joint type restricts movement primarily to flexion and extension?

The hinge joint is specifically designed to allow movement primarily in one plane—flexion and extension. This type of joint resembles the mechanism of a door hinge, which can only open and close, allowing for bending and straightening movements. Hinge joints are found in areas such as the knees and elbows, where the range of motion primarily facilitates actions like bending the arm or straightening the leg.

In contrast, ball-and-socket joints, such as the hip and shoulder, enable a much wider range of movements, including rotation and circumduction, which go beyond mere flexion and extension. Pivot joints, found between the first and second vertebrae in the neck, allow rotational movement, while gliding joints permit limited multi-directional movement across flat surfaces, thus not restricting movement strictly to flexion and extension. This specificity in the hinge joint's structure and function is what makes it the correct answer to the question regarding the type of joint that limits movement to flexion and extension.