BASIC GROSS ANATOMY OF THE Elbow joint for beginners

The elbow joint is a hinge-type synovial joint that connects the arm and forearm, enabling flexion and extension. This lecture will cover its articulations, joint capsule, ligaments, movements, muscles, neurovascular supply, and clinical significance

1. ANA201: GROSS ANATOMY OF THE ELBOW JOINT
Department of Anatomy
Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
College of Medicine of the University of Lagos
OKOKO, I. E.OKOKO, I. E..

2. LEARNING OUTCOMELEARNING OUTCOME
At the end of this lecture, learners should be able to describe the ElbowAt the end of this lecture, learners should be able to describe the Elbow
Joint under the following sub-headings.Joint under the following sub-headings.
ClassificationClassification
Articular surfaces- bone + cartilageArticular surfaces- bone + cartilage
Joint CapsuleJoint Capsule
BursaeBursae
LIGAMENTSLIGAMENTS
Stabilizing factorsStabilizing factors
Relations- surrounding structures, blood supply, innervationRelations- surrounding structures, blood supply, innervation
MovementsMovements
Clinical and Applied anatomyClinical and Applied anatomy

3. PRETEST/REVIEW PRETEST/REVIEW
•Bones of Elbow
Name the structures
labelled 1-12:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

4. Name the Name the
structures structures
labelled 1-5labelled 1-5

5. Bones of ElbowBones of Elbow
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
1.Lateral
Supracondylar
Ridge
2.Lateral Epicondyle
3.Capitulum
4.Head of Radius
5.Radial Tuberosity
6.Radius
7.Coronoid Fossa
8.Medial Epicondyle
9.Trochlea
10. Coronoid Process
11. Ulnar Tuberosity
12. Ulna

6. •1- Capitulum
•2 - Head of radius
•3 – Trochlear
•4 –Trochlear notch
•5 - Olecranon

7. Elbow AnatomyElbow Anatomy
•Elbow joint- a compound joint where
the radius and ulna articulate with
the humerus.
•Humero- ulnar part
•Humero- radial part

8. ELBOW JOINTELBOW JOINT
•The elbow joint is the The elbow joint is the
joint connecting the joint connecting the
proper arm to the proper arm to the
forearm.forearm.
• It is marked on the It is marked on the
upper limb by upper limb by the medial the medial
and lateral
 epicondyles,
and lateral
 epicondyles,
& the
 olecranon process.
& the
 olecranon process.

9. ELBOW JOINT-Classifications ELBOW JOINT-Classifications
•Synovial
•Hinge variety
•Uni-axial
Axis- line through
medial & lateral
epicondyles

10. JOINTS OF ELBOWJOINTS OF ELBOW
•HUMERO-ULNAR
•HUMERO-RADIAL
•RADIO-ULNAR *

11. BONES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE FORMATION OF THE BONES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE FORMATION OF THE
ELBOW JOINTELBOW JOINT

12. BONES THAT MAKE UP THE ELBOW JOINT - HUMERUS

13. ULNA

14. CORONOID PROCESSCORONOID PROCESS
OLECRANONOLECRANON
Trochlear notch of Trochlear notch of
Ulna boneUlna bone
Radial notchRadial notch

15. THE RADIUS

16. Bones involved are

17. ARTICULAR ARTICULAR
SURFACESSURFACES
•Humero- ulna
part
Trochlea of the
humerus and
the Trochlear
notch of the
ulna
•Humero- radial
part
•The capitulum
of the humerus
and the Head
of the radius

18. ELBOW JOINT-Articular surfaces- bone + ELBOW JOINT-Articular surfaces- bone +
cartilagecartilage
•Articulations:Articulations:
•Trochlea (humerus) = Trochlear notch Trochlea (humerus) = Trochlear notch
(ulna)(ulna)
•Capitulum (humerus) = Head (Radius)Capitulum (humerus) = Head (Radius)
•Joint capsule surrounds the elbow Joint capsule surrounds the elbow
joint and attaches to the edges of the joint and attaches to the edges of the
articular surfacesarticular surfaces

19. Articular surfaces- bone + cartilage

20. E
Joint Capsule
•Anteriorly, the
joint capsule covers
the
•coronoid fossa
•Posteriorly, the
joint capsule covers
the
•olecranon fossa

21. BURSAE
•There are many bursae in the elbow, but only a few There are many bursae in the elbow, but only a few
have clinical importance:have clinical importance:
•Intratendinous – located within the tendon of the Intratendinous – located within the tendon of the
triceps brachii.triceps brachii.
•Subtendinous – between the olecranon and the Subtendinous – between the olecranon and the
tendon of the triceps brachii, reducing friction tendon of the triceps brachii, reducing friction
between the two structures during extension and between the two structures during extension and
flexion of the arm.flexion of the arm.
•Subcutaneous (olecranon) bursa – between the Subcutaneous (olecranon) bursa – between the
olecranon and the overlying connective tissue olecranon and the overlying connective tissue
(implicated in olecranon bursitis)(implicated in olecranon bursitis)

22. Anteriorly: Brachialis, tendon of biceps, median
nerve & brachial artery (structures in the cubital
fossa)
Posteriorly: insertion of the triceps brachii
Medially: Ulnar nerve
Laterally: Common extensor tendon & supinator
Relations of the elbow joint

23. STABILIZING FACTORSSTABILIZING FACTORS
Muscles
Bony Surfaces

24. STABILIZING FACTOR- JOINT CAPSULESTABILIZING FACTOR- JOINT CAPSULE

25. 25
•Capsule: being a hinge joint, the
articular capsule is lax in front &
behind to permit full elbow flexion &
extension
•The non-articular medial & lateral
epicondyles are extracapsular

26. Ulnar collateral ligament
•The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is a
tough, fibrous band of tissue that connects
the ulna and humerus bones in the elbow.
•It is responsible for preventing the ulna
from dislocating when the elbow is fully
extended.
•The UCL is a very important ligament for
the elbow joint. It is crucial for preventing
ulnar dislocation and stabilizing the elbow
during throwing and other overhead
movements. Injuries to the UCL are
common in baseball pitchers, football
players, and other athletes who participate
in overhead sports.

27. Parts of the ulnar collateral ligamentParts of the ulnar collateral ligament

•Ulnar attachment: The ulnar attachment is
located on the medial epicondyle of the ulna.
•Humeral attachment: The humeral
attachment is located on the lateral
epicondyle of the humerus.
•Fibrous band: The fibrous band is the main
part of the UCL. It is made up of dense,
collagenous fibers that run from the ulnar
attachment to the humeral attachment.

28. AnteriorAnterior
MedialMedial
CollateralCollateral
LigamentLigament
Posterior
Medial
Collateral
Ligament
Resists valgus Resists valgus
forcesforces
Limits extensionLimits extension
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)
Transverse ligament

29. •The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is a thick band of
tissue that connects the ulna to the humerus, stabilizing
the elbow joint and preventing it from dislocating.
•The UCL is located on the medial (inside) side of the
elbow and is made up of two parts: the anterior bundle
and the posterior bundle.
•The anterior bundle is the thicker of the two bundles and
is responsible for stabilizing the elbow during extension
(straightening).
•The posterior bundle is responsible for stabilizing the
elbow during flexion (bending).

30. Lateral ligament (radial collateral)
•Is a triangular ligament, its apex is attached proximally to the lateral Is a triangular ligament, its apex is attached proximally to the lateral
epicondyle of the humerus and its base blends with the annular ligament epicondyle of the humerus and its base blends with the annular ligament
of the radiusof the radius

31. 31
•Lateral collateral ligament
–Extends from the lat epicondyle (humerus) to
the annular ligament (AL)
– AL is attached medially to the radial notch of
the ULNA and clasps, but DOES NOT
attach to, the radial head& neck thus free to
rotate within the lig.

32. Lateral CollateralLateral Collateral
•Resists varus stressResists varus stress
•Weaker than MCLWeaker than MCL

33. Annular Ligament Annular Ligament
Annular Annular
Ligament- Ligament-
encompasses encompasses
radial head at radial head at
the radial notch the radial notch
and hold it and hold it
against the ulna. against the ulna.

34. MOVEMENTSMOVEMENTS
•Flexion


Movement of forearm to
shoulder by bending the elbow
to decrease its angle
Extension


Movement of forearm away from
shoulder by straightening the
elbow to increase its angle

35. 35
•Fossae above the trochlea & capitulum admit
the coronoid process of the ulna & the radial
head, respectively, during full flexion
•Olecranon fossa admits the olecranon process
during full elbow extension.

36. Elbow flexorsElbow flexors
Biceps brachii
•Brachialis
•Brachioradialis
•Weak assistance
from Pronator teres

37. Elbow extensor
Triceps brachii
Anconeus
provides assistance

38. INNERVATION OF THE ELBOW JOINT
All elbow joints muscles are innervated by the median, musculocutaneous and
radial nerve anteriorly, and the ulnar nerve posteriorly

39. BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE ELBOW JOINTBLOOD SUPPLY OF THE ELBOW JOINT
•The blood supply of the elbow joint is mainly derives The blood supply of the elbow joint is mainly derives
from an anastomosis of the collateral and recurrent from an anastomosis of the collateral and recurrent
branches of four main arteries:branches of four main arteries:
•1.1.Brachial artery, which is the largest artery in the Brachial artery, which is the largest artery in the
armarm
•2.2.Deep brachial arteryDeep brachial artery
•3.3.A branch of the radial arteryA branch of the radial artery
•4.4.Branches of the ulna arteryBranches of the ulna artery