Elbow Anatomy

Aka: Elbow Anatomy, Elbow

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II. Physiology

  1. Elbow is a hinged joint with the ability to pronate and supinate
  2. Elbow is comprised of 3 joints articulating between the distal Humerus and the radius and ulna
    1. Ulno-humeral joint
      1. Distal Humerus articulates with the olecranon (proximal ulna)
    2. Radio-capitellar joint
      1. Distal Humerus articulates with the radial head
    3. Radio-ulnar joint
      1. Radial head articulates with the ulna
      2. Allows for Forearm supination and pronation
  3. Collateral ligaments
    1. Medial and Lateral collateral ligaments add elbow joint stability
  4. Olecranon bursa
    1. Allows skin to course over the surface of the olecranon smoothly during elbow rotation

III. Anatomy: Bones and Ligaments

  1. General
    1. Bony Landmarks form a triangle (with elbow at 90 degrees)
      1. Olecranon
      2. Lateral epicondyle
      3. Medial epicondyle
  2. Humerus
    1. Widens distally forming lateral and medial epicondyles
  3. Radial Head
    1. Articulates with capitellum (at lateral epicondyle)
    2. Articulates with lateral ulna
    3. Held in position by orbicular ligament
    4. Easily palpable near lateral epicondyle
  4. Ulna
    1. Articulates with Trochlea (at Medial epicondyle)
  5. Epicondyles
    1. Adjacent to the humeral condyles
    2. Provides ForearmMuscle insertions
      1. Flexor-pronator Muscles (common flexor origin) attach to medial epicondyle
      2. Extensor-Supinators (common extensor origin) attach to lateral epicondyle
  6. Images
    1. orthoAnteriorBoneForearm.jpgAlso available as a Poster size image. See printing instructions and image restrictions.
    2. orthoPosteriorBoneForearm.jpgAlso available as a Poster size image. See printing instructions and image restrictions.
    3. orthoArmElbowProximalUlnaBoneGrayBB212.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    4. orthoArmElbowJointGrayBB329.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    5. orthoArmElbowJointGrayBB330.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    6. orthoArmElbowJointGrayBB331.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    7. orthoArmElbowJointGrayBB332.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
    8. orthoArmElbowJointGrayBB333.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)

IV. Anatomy: Muscles and Tendons

  1. Tendon insertions
    1. Triceps attaches to Olecranon posteriorly
    2. Biceps and brachialis attach to radius and ulna
    3. Pronators and Supinators Mnemonic
      1. MFP: medial (epicondyle) flexors and pronators
      2. LES: lateral (epicondyle) extensors and supinators
  2. Images
    1. orthoArmElbowMuscleSupinatorGrayBB420.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)

V. Anatomy: Nerves

  1. General
    1. Median and Radial Nerves (as well as the brachial artery) are contained within the Antecubital Fossa
    2. Ulnar Nerve in contrast, courses posterior to the medial epicondyle
  2. Median Nerve
    1. Deep in antecubital fossa
    2. Medial to biceps
  3. Radial Nerve
    1. Lateral to biceps and brachialis Muscles
  4. Ulnar Nerve
    1. Posterior to medial epicondyle
    2. In groove between medial epicondyle and Olecranon
    3. Superficial, and vulnerable to injury

VI. Anatomy: Vascular

  1. See Vascular Anatomy of the Elbow
  2. Artery
    1. orthoArmElbowArteryAnastamosisBB526.gif
  3. Vein
    1. orthoArmElbowAntVeinGrayBB575.gifLewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)

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