Elbow joint

Elbow joint – articulatio cubiti.

Type[edit | edit source]

Compound joint, 3 bones meet in this joint – humerus, ulna, radius. thumb|right|Articulatio cubiti zezadu

Contact surfaces[edit | edit source]

The joints of the individual bones:

articulatio humeroulnaris – a simple hinge-joint
- head: trochlea humeri
- fossa: incisura trochlearis ulnae
articulatio humeroradialis – a ball-and-socket joint
- head: capitulum humeri
- fossa: fovea capitis radii
articulatio radioulnaris proximalis – circular joint
- head: circumferentia articularis a head of the radius
- fossa: incisura radialis ulnae

Joint capsula[edit | edit source]

Is around all of the three joint connections. It occupies the fossae of the humerus, but leaves the epicondyles free for the beginnings of the forearm muscles. On the ulna, it hugs the edges of the joint surfaces. On the radius, it goes down to the neck as recessus sacciformis.

Ligaments[edit | edit source]

Ligaments strenghthens joint capsule:

ligamentum collaterale radiale – external collateral ligament, strengthens the joint capsule
ligamentum collaterale ulnare – internal collateral ligament, strengthens the joint capsule
- this ligament has 3 parts:

ligamentum olecranohumerale – between the olecranon and the epicondyle
ligamentum humerocoronoideum – between epicondyle and processus coronoideus
ligamentum obliquum – holds together the ends of both previous ligaments on the ulna

ligamentum anulare radii – a ring that undercuts the neck of the radius and is attached to the ulna
ligamentum quadratum – distal end of capsule between radius and ulna

Bursae mucosae (synovial bursas)[edit | edit source]

bursa subcutanea olecrani
bursa intratendinea olecrani – inconstant bursa
bursa subtendinea musculi tricipitis brachii
bursa bicipitoradialis
bursa cubitalis interossea – inconstant bursa

Movements[edit | edit source]

The basic position of the joint is extension. From the basic position are possible 3 types of movements:

flexion: range of motion option is 125°–145°
extense: hyperextension is possible in some women who have a smaller olecranon, meaning that the forearm forms an angle greater than 180° with the arm
rotating radius: basis of supination and pronation

Musculi articulares[edit | edit source]

Muscle bundles that extend into the capsule from the adjacent muscles and prevent the capsule from closing.

Vessels and nerves[edit | edit source]

Arteries

Leads from rete articulare cubiti:

a. collateralis superior et inferior – both from a. brachialis
a. collateralis media et radialis – both from a. profunda brachii
a. recurrens radialis – from a. radialis
a. recurrens ulnaris – from a. ulnaris or a. brachialis
a. interossea recurrens – from a. interossea posterior

Veins

They lead along the supply arteries to the larger veins of the limb.

Nerves

Pictures[edit | edit source]

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Articulatio cubiti front view
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Articulatio cubiti back view
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Joint capsule of the elbow joint– front view
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Joint capsule of the elbow joint – back view

References[edit | edit source]

Literature[edit | edit source]

ČIHÁK, Radomír. Anatomie 1. 1. edition. Praha : Grada Publishing, a.s., 2008. pp. 516. ISBN 80-7169-970-5.