Anatomy of the Elbow Flashcards

1
Q

what 3 bones make up the elbow joint?

A

humerus
radius
ulna

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

describe the humerus?

A
largest bone in upper limb
long bone
expanded laterally (distally); flattened anteroposeriorly; slight curve forward
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

name the 10 bony landmarks of the humerus (relevant to the elbow)?

A
capitulum
radial fossa
coronoid fossa
trochlea
medial epicondyle 
lateral epicondyle
medial supracondylar ridge
lateral supracondylar ridge
groove for ulnar nerve
olecranon fossa
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

describe the capitulum?

A

Articulates with head of radius (meaning its lateral to trochlea)

Convex

Separated from trochlea by a shallow groove

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

describe the radial fossa?

A

small shallow depression superior to capitulum

anterolateral (lateral to coronoid fossa)

accommodates head of radius during elbow flexion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

describe the coronoid fossa?

A

small depression found superior to trochlea of humerus

anteromedial (medial to radial fossa)

accommodates head of ulna during elbow flexion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

describe the trochlea?

A

small pulley-shaped projection

inferomedial aspect of condyle of humerus

medial to capitulum

articulates with trochlea notch of ulna (humeroulnar joint formation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

describe the medial epicondyle of the humerus?

A

Subcutaneous projection found at the distal end of the medial supracondylar ridge of the humerus

More prominent than lateral epicondyle

Contains groove for ulnar nerve

Provides origin site for superficial muscles of anterior compartment of forearm (i.e. common flexor origin)

Attachment site for ulnar collateral ligament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

describe the lateral epicondyle of the humerus?

A

projection found at distal end of lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus

less prominent than medial epicondyle

Provides origin site for superficial muscles of the posterior compartment of the forearm, supinator and anconeus (i.e common extensor origin)

Provides attachment for radial collateral ligament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

describe the medial supracondylar ridge of the humerus?

A

Sharp, prominent margin found along medial aspect of distal end of humerus shaft

Separates anteromedial and posterior surfaces

Provides origin site for pronator teres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

describe the lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus?

A

Sharp, prominent margin found along lateral aspect of distal end of humerus shaft

Separates anterolateral and posterior surfaces of humerus

Provides origin site for brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

describe the groove for ulnar nerve?

A

shallow depression found on posterior surface of medial epicondyle of the humerus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

describe the radius?

A

long bone

lateral of 2 forearm bones

shorter of 2 forearm bones

head and neck at superior end

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

name the 4 bony landmarks of the radius (relevant to the elbow)?

A

dorsal tubercle of radius

head of radius

radial tuberosity

styloid process of radius

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

describe the dorsal tubercle of radius?

A

palpable small prominence on posterior aspect of distal end of radius

roughly in line with index finger (between grooves of extensor muscle tendons)

provides attachment for extensor retinaculum and dorsal radiocarpal ligament

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

describe the head of the radius?

A

disk shaped expanded area at superior end of bone

2 articular areas: 
     articular circumference (articulates with radial notch 
     of ulna medially/ forms superior radioulnar joint
     articular facet (articulates with capitulum of 
     humerus/ forms humeroradial joint)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

describe the radial tuberosity?

A

oval shaped anteromedial aspect of radius at superior end (just inferior to neck)

provides insertion site for biceps brachii

18
Q

describe the styloid process of radius?

A

blunt projection found inferomedial aspect of inferior end of bone

provides insertion site for brachioradialis muscle

attachment site for radial collateral ligament of wrist joint+ radioscaphocapiate ligament

easily palpable as sharp and large point on lateral side of wrist

19
Q

overview of the ulna?

A

long bone

longer of 2 bones in forearm

medial of 2 bones in forearm

head is distal to the elbow, no neck

20
Q

what are the 5 bony landmarks of the ulna?

A

coronoid process

head

olecranon process

styloid process of ulna

ulnar tuberosity

21
Q

describe the coronoid process?

A

broad eminence anterosuperior on ulna

superior aspect contains distal portion of trochlea notch

lateral aspect contains radial notch

medial aspect contains sublime tubercle

provides origin for pronator teres, flexor digitorum profundus and the humeroulnar head of flexor digitorum superficialis

insertion site for brachialis

attachment for ulnar collateral ligament

22
Q

describe the head of the ulna?

A

distal end of bone

round and expanded

2 articular areas
articular circumference (articulates with ulnar notch
of radius, forming distal radioulnar joint; convex and
smooth

     articular facet (attaches to articular disk of distal 
     radioulnar joint; flat area on inferior aspect of ulnar 
     head
23
Q

describe the olecranon process?

A

subcutaneous and easily palpable

posterosuperior projection at top of ulna (accommodated by olecranon fossa of humerus during elbow flexion)

anterior aspect contains trochlea notch (accommodated by trochlea of humerus during elbow flexion)

provides origin for ulnar head of flexor carpi ulnaris, insertion for anconeus and triceps brachii tendon, and attachment of ulnar collateral ligament

24
Q

describe the styloid process of ulna?

A

subcutaneous, cylindrical projection found posteromedially on inferior end of ulna

provides attachment for ulnar collateral ligament of wrist joint

easily palpable

25
Q

describe the ulnar tuberosity?

A

large rough elevated area on anterior side of ulna

inferior to coronoid process

provides attachment for brachialis

26
Q

what 3 joints make up the elbow joint, an what do they all share?

A

humeroulnar
humeroradial
superior radioulnar joint

fibrous capsule of the ‘elbow joint’

27
Q

describe the humeroulnar joint+ the movements it can do?

A

flexion/extension

trochlea (humerus) + trochlea notch (ulna)

stability from medial/lateral collateral ligaments

28
Q

describe the humeroradial joint+ the movements it can do?

A

flexion/extension
pronation/supination

capitulum (humerus) + articular facet (radius)

resembles a ball-in-socket joint

stability from anular ligament

29
Q

describe the superior radioulnar joint+ the movements it can do?

A

pronation/supination

pivot joint

head of radius + radial notch of ulna

held in place by anular/quadrate ligaments

30
Q

describe the inferior radioulnar joint?

A

pronation/supination

pivot joint

convex head of ulna + ulnar notch of radius

radius pivots around the fixed ulna

stability from dorsal and palmer radioulnar ligaments

31
Q

name the 4 muscles flexing the elbow joint?

A

biceps brachii
brachialis
brachioradialis
pronator teres

32
Q

describe the biceps brachii?

A

origin:
long head =cylindrical tendon at supraglenoid tubercle of scapula within shoulder joint capsule
short head= short flat tendon from apex of coracoid process (anterosuperior to origin of coracobrachialis)

insertion: long and short bellies converge and travel inferiorly to form a single tendon that inserts onto radial tuberosity
action: elbow flexion, shoulder flexion, supinates forearm

superficial to brachialis, and can be palpated with elbow flexed 90degrees and feel origin/insertion sites

33
Q

describe the brachialis?

A

lies beneath biceps brachii
travels inferiorly
flat fusiform muscle

origin: anterior aspect of distal half of humerus
insertion: coronoid process/ulnar tuberosity
action: flexes elbow joint

belly can be palpated either side of that of biceps brachii/ distal tendon by applying pressure at coronoid process

34
Q

describe the brachioradialis?

A

runs via long tendon all the way to the wrist, and may be fused in upper part to brachialis

origin: superior 2/3 of lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus
insertion: lateral aspect of distal part of radius
action: flexes elbow joint, pronation/supination

can be palpated if elbow flexed 90degrees and resisting pronation, felt along top of forearm; tendon proximal to radial styloid process

35
Q

what 2 muscles extend the elbow joint?

A

triceps brachii

anconeus

36
Q

describe the triceps brachii?

A

3 heads- medial, long, lateral

origin:
long= infraglenoid tubercle of scapula
medial= inferior to radial nerve groove of humerus
lateral= superior to radial nerve groove of humerus

insertion: all 3 heads converge to single tendon inserting on superior aspect of olecranon (ulna)
action: extends elbow joint

can be palpated with elbow flexed 90degrees, hand on table and pushing down
long= high up on posterior humerus
medial head= just above olecranon
lateral= upper lateral part, near biceps brachii

37
Q

describe the anconeus?

A

small triangular muscle behind elbow

origin: posterior aspect of lateral epicondyle of humerus
insertion: posterolateral aspect of olecranon
action: extends elbow joint

can be palpated between lateral epicondyle of humerus and upper part of ulna during supination

38
Q

what 3 muscles supinate the forearm?

A

supinator
biceps brachii
brachioradialis

39
Q

describe the supinator?

A

travels inferolaterally over elbow joint, spirals over superior 1/3 of radius then inferomedially to insertion

origin: 2 heads
lateral epicondyle of humerus
supinator crest/fossa of ulna

insertion: anterior, posterior and lateral aspects of superior 1/3 of ulna
action: supination of forearm at RU joints

can be palpated with arm fully extended and half pronated; contracts upper 1/3 of radius resisting supination

40
Q

what 3 muscles pronate the forearm?

A

pronator teres
pronator quadratus
brachioradialis

41
Q

describe the pronator teres?

A

most lateral of superficial muscles in flexor compartment; inferolaterally across ulna to radius

origin: 2 heads
humeral: medial supracondylar ridge (common flexor tendon)
ulnar: medial aspect of coronoid process (ulna)

insertion: middle 1/3 anterolateral aspect of radius via flat tendon
action: pronates forearm at RU joints/ elbow flexion

hard to palpate

42
Q

describe the pronator quadratus?

A

square muscle

origin: anterior aspect of distal 1/4 of ulna
insertion: anterior aspect of distal 1/4 of radius
action: pronates forearm at RU joints

difficult to palpate, but can be sometimes felt resisting pronation