Elbow joint
The elbow is a complex synovial joint formed by the articulations of the humerus, the radius, and the ulna.
Gross anatomy
Articulations
The elbow joint is made up of three articulations :
- radiohumeral: capitellum of the humerus with the radial head
- ulnohumeral: trochlea of the humerus with the trochlear notch (with separate olecranon and coronoid process articular facets) of the ulna
- radioulnar: radial head with the radial notch of the ulna (proximal radioulnar joint)
In full flexion, the coronoid process is received by the coronoid fossa and the radial head is received by the radial fossa on the anterior surface of the humerus. In full extension, the olecranon process is received by the olecranon fossa on the posterior aspect of the humerus .
Movements
The elbow is a trochoginglymoid (combination hinge and pivot) joint :
- the hinge component (allowing flexion-extension) is formed by the ulnohumeral articulation
- forearm flexors at elbow:
- primary: biceps brachii, brachialis, brachioradialis
- secondary: pronator teres, palmaris longus, flexor digitorum superficialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis
- forearm extensors at elbow:
- primary: triceps brachii
- secondary: none
- forearm flexors at elbow:
- the pivot component (allowing pronation-supination) is formed by the radiohumeral articulation and the proximal radioulnar joint
- forearm pronators at elbow:
- primary: pronator teres, pronator quadratus
- secondary: brachioradialis
- forearm supinators at elbow:
- primary: supinator, biceps brachii
- secondary: none
- forearm pronators at elbow:
Ligaments
- medial (ulnar) collateral ligament complex
- lateral (radial) collateral ligament complex
- oblique cord
- inconstant thickening of supinator muscle fascia and functionally insignificant
- runs from tuberosity of the ulna to just distal to radial tuberosity
- quadrate ligament (of Denuce)
- thickening of the inferior aspect of the joint capsule
- runs from just inferior to the radial notch of the ulna to insert to the medial surface of the radial neck
Joint capsule
The joint capsule has two layers, deep and superficial, and attaches proximally to the radial, coronoid and olecranon fossae. Distally, it attaches to the annular ligament of the radius and coronoid process of the ulna . The volume of the joint capsule is 24-30 mL .
Fat pads
There are three fat pads of the elbow, which sit between the two layers of the joint capsule, making them extrasynovial :
- coronoid fossa fat pad (anterior)
- radial fossa fat pad (anterior)
- olecranon fossa fat pad (posterior)
Bursae
- superficial olecranon bursa: lies between the olecranon and the subcutaneous tissue
- subtendinous olecranon bursa: lies between olecranon and triceps brachii tendon
- intratendinous olecranon bursa: variably lies in the triceps brachii tendon
- bicipitoradial bursa
Relations
- anteriorly: biceps brachii tendon, brachialis muscle, median nerve, brachial artery
- posteriorly: olecranon bursae, triceps brachii tendon
- laterally: common extensor tendon, supinator muscle
- medially: ulnar nerve
Arterial supply
Arterial supply is via anastomotic (medial, lateral and posterior) arcades formed by branches of the radial, ulnar and brachial arteries which contribute to the arterial anastomosis of the elbow.
Innervation
- articular branches of the radial, ulnar, median and musculocutaneous nerves
Variant anatomy
- synovial folds
- thin projections of synovial membrane (inner layer of joint capsule)
- may be confused with intra-articular loose bodies on MRI
- capitellar and olecranon pseudodefects
- normal areas devoid of articular cartilage
- can be mistaken on MRI for impaction injuries or osteochondral defects
- accessory ossicles
- os supratrochlear dorsale
- patella cubiti (very rare)
Ossification
Siehe auch:
- Radiusköpfchenfraktur
- Ossifikationszentren Ellenbogen
- Ellenbogenluxation
- Processus supracondylaris
- Radiusköpfchenluxation
- Sulcus-ulnaris-Syndrom
- suprakondyläre Humerusfrakturen
- Abrissfraktur Epikondylus ulnaris
- Olekranonfraktur
- Epicondylus radialis Fraktur
- Osteochondrose
- Fraktur Processus coronoideus ulnae
- Epicondylitis ulnaris humeri
- distal tendon of biceps muscle
- Radiusköpfchen-Subluxation
- CRITOE
- laterales ulnares Kollateralband des Ellenbogens
- Tennisellenbogen
- Bursitis bicipitoradialis