An orthopedic joint system having an upper part and a lower part mounted thereon so as to pivot about a pivoting axis, and a pawl which prevents in a locking position any relative movement between the upper part and the lower part about the pivoting axis, and allows in a release position a relative movement about the pivoting axis. The pawl, in the locking position, interlockingly engages a locking element and can be shifted to the release position via a pull element, a first end of the pull element being attached to the upper part or to the lower part and moved along the outside of the pawl in a curved section, and a second end of the pull element being provided with an actuating device which causes the curved section to be shortened and the pawl to be moved to the release position when the actuating device is actuated.