THE ELBOW JOINT.

CONTENTS….…
1)TYPE AND ARTICULATING SURFACES.
2)LIGAMENTS.
3)RELATIONS.
4)BLOOD & NERVE SUPPLY.
5)MOVEMENTS & MUSCLES.
6)PROXIMAL & DISTAL RADIOULNAR JOINTS.
7)CLINICAL ANATOMY.
TYPE & ARTICULATING SURFACES

1.It is a synovial joint of hinge

variety.

2.Articulation occurs between the

trochlea and capitulum of the
humerus and the trochlear notch of
the ulna and the head of the radius.

3.The articular surfaces are covered

with hyaline cartilage.
LIGAMENTS OF THE ELBOW JOINT.

1. CAPSULAR LIGAMENT.

Superiorly it is attached to the lower end

of the humerus.

Inferomedially it is attached to the

margins of the trochlear notch of the ulna
except laterally.

Inferolaterally it is attached to the annular

ligament of the superior radioulnar joint.
2. THE MEDIAL(ULNAR) COLLATERAL
LIGAMENT.

It is a triangular shaped ligament.It’s apex

is attached to the medial epicondyle of the
humerus and it’s base is attached to ulna.

The ligaments has thick anterior and

posterior bands. The ligament is crossed
by ulnar nerve and it gives origin to the
Flexor Digitorum Superficialis.
3. THE LATERAL(RADIAL) COLLATERAL
LIGAMENT.

It is a Fan-Shaped band extending from

the lateral epicondyle of to the annular
ligament.

It gives origin to the Supinator and to The

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis muscle.
 RELATIONS

• Anteriorly: The brachialis, the tendon of the biceps, the median nerve, and the brachial
artery.

• Posteriorly: The triceps muscle, a small bursa intervening.

• Medially: The ulnar nerve passes behind the medial epicondyle and crosses the medial
ligament of the joint.

• Laterally: The common extensor tendon and the supinator.

RELATIONS
 BLOOD SUPPLY
● The Elbow Joint is supplied from the
anastomoses around it which are
branches of brachial, radial and ulnar
artery The anastomoses can be
subdivided into:-
1. In front of the lateral epicondyle of the
humerus.
2. Behind the lateral epicondyle of the
humerus
3. In front of the medialepicondyle of the
humerus.
4. Behind the medialepicondyle of humerus
 NERVE SUPPLY

● The joint receives branches from

the following nerves.
1) The Ulnar Nerve.
2) The Median Nerve.
3) The Radial Nerve.
4) The Musculocutaneous Nerve
through its branch to brachialis.
MOVEMENTS AND MUSCLES PRODUCING THEM.

1)FLEXION( 0 degrees to 140 degrees):-

Brachialis, Biceps Brachii,Brachioradialis.

2) EXTENSION(140 degrees to 0 degrees):-

Triceps Brachii, Anconeus.

-Both these movements take place in the

Saggital plane & Frontal axis.

 PROXIMAL RADIOULNAR JOINT.
.Type: Synovial pivot joint
• Articulation: Between the circumference of the head of the radius and the anular ligament

and the radial notch on the ulna.

•Capsule : The capsule encloses the joint and is continuous with that of the elbow joint.
• Ligament: The anular ligament is attached to the anterior and posterior margins of the radial

notch on the ulna and forms a collar around the head of the radius. It is continuous above with
the capsule of the elbow joint. It is not attached to the radius
. • Synovial membrane: This is continuous above with that of the elbow joint. Below it is

attached to the inferior margin of the articular surface of the radius and the lower margin of the
radial notch of the ulna.
• Nerve supply: Branches of the median, ulnar, musculocutaneous, and radial nerves
• Important Relations • Anteriorly: Supinator muscle and the radial nerve

• Posteriorly: Supinator muscle and the common extensor tendon

PROXIMAL RADIOULNAR JOINT.
 DISTAL RADIOULNAR JOINT.
• Type: Synovial pivot joint
• Articulation: Between the rounded head of the ulna and the ulnar notch on the radius
• Capsule: The capsule encloses the joint but is deficient superiorly.
• Synovial membrane: This lines the capsule passing from the edge of one articular surface to that

of the other. •

Ligaments: Weak anterior and posterior ligaments strengthen the capsule.

• Articular disc: This is triangular fibrocartilage disc. It is attached by its apex to the lateral side of

the base of the styloid process of the ulna and by its base to the lower border of the ulnar notch of the
radius. It shuts off the distal radioulnar joint from the wrist and strongly unites the radius to the ulna.
• Nerve supply: Anterior interosseous nerve and the deep branch of the radial nerve
• Important Relations:- Anteriorly: The tendons of flexor digitorum profundus

• Posteriorly: The tendon of extensor digiti minimi

DISTAL RADIOULNAR JOINT.
MOVEMENTS AT THE RADIOULNAR JOINTS.
• The movements of pronation and supination of the forearm involve a
rotatory movement around a vertical axis at the Proximal and Distal
Radioulnar Joints.
• The movement of pronation results in the palm faces posteriorly and the
thumb lies on the medial side and is performed by The Pronator Teres and
the Pronator Quadratus.
• The movement of supination results in the palm faces anteriorly and is
performed by The Biceps Brachii and The Supinator

• Supination is the more powerful of the two movements because of

the strength of the biceps muscle.
MOVEMENTS AT THE RADIOULNAR JOINTS.
 CLINICAL ANATOMY.

1) Tennis Elbow:- It occurs in tennis players. Abrupt pronation with fully extended
elbow may lead to pain and tenderness over the lateral epicondyle which gives
attachment tp the common extensor origin. This is possibly due to:-

……> Sprain of the radial collateral ligament.

..….> Tearing of fibres of the extensor carpi radialis brevis.

2) Students(Miner’s) Elbow:- It is characterised by effusion into the bursa over the

subcutaneous posterior surface of the olecranon process. Students during lectures(for
sleeping) support their heads with their hands on flexed elbows. The bursa over the
olecranon process gets inflamed.
CLINICAL ANATOMY.
THANK YOU!!
Reference :- BD Chaurasia.