Human Anatomy Vol 1

DISSECTION

Cut through the muscles arising from the lateral and

medial epicondyles of humerus and reflect them distally

if not already done.

Also cut through biceps brachii, brachialis and triceps

brachii 3 cm proximal to the elbow joint and reflect them

distally.

Remove all the muscles fused with the fibrous

capsule of the elbow joint and define its attachments.

Feolules

The elbow joint is a hinge variety of synovial joint
between the lower end of humerus and the upper ends
of radius and ulna bones.
Elbow joint is the term used for humeroradial and
humeroulnar joints. The term elbow complex also
includes the superior radioulnar joint also.

Ailiculor Surfoces

Upper

The capitulum and trochlea of the humerus.
The coronoid fossa lies just above the trochlea and is
designed in a manner that the coronoid process of ulna
fits into it in extreme flexion. Similarly the radial fossa
just above the capitulum allows for radial head fitting
in the radial fossa in extreme flexion.

Loi,
i. Upper surface of the head of the radius articulates
with the capitulum.
ii. Trochlear notch of the ulna articulates with the
trochlea of the humerus (Fig. 10.10).
The elbow joint is continuous with the superior
radioulnar joint. The humeroradial, the humeroulnar
and the superior radioulnar joints are together known
as cubital articulations.

Ligoments

I Capsular ligament: Superiorly , it is attached to the lower
end of thehumerus in such a way thatthe capitulum,
the trochlea, the radial fossa, the coronoid fossa and
the olecranon fossa are intracap srtlar. lnfer omedially,
it is attached to the margin of the trochlear notch of
the ulrra except laterally; inferolaterally , it is attached
to the annular ligament of the superior radioulnar
joint. The synovial membrane lines the capsule and
the fossae, named above.
The anterior ligament, and the posterior ligament are
thickening of the capsule.
2 The ulnar collateral ligamenf is triangular in shape
(Fig. 10.11). Its apex is attached to the medial

JOINTS OF UPPER LIMB

Elbow joint

Capitulum of humerus

articulates with upper surface

of head of radius

Trochlea of humerus articulates

with trochlear notch of ulna

Superior radioulnar joint

The circumference ofthe head

of the radius articulates with the

radial notch of ulna

Fig. 10.10: The cubital articulations,

superior radioulnar joints

including the elbow and

Medial epicondyle of humerus

Olecranon

Posterior band

Anterior band and oblique

band of ulnar collateral ligament

Coronoid process of ulna

Fig. 10.11: The ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow joint

showing anterior, posterior and oblique bands

epicondyle of the humerus, and its base to the ulna.

The ligament has thick anterior and posterior bands:

These are attached below to the coronoid process and

the olecranon process respectively. Their lower ends

are joined to each other by an oblique band which

gives attachment to the thinner intermediate fibres

of the ligament. The ligament is crossed by the ulnar

nerae and it gives origin to the flexor digitorum

superficialis. It is closely related to the flexor carpi

ulnaris and the triceps brachii.

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