Elbow joint

Question 1

What does the elbow joint consist of?

Answer 1

It houses the elbow joint and the distal radioulnar joint.

It is a compound joint between humerus, radius and ulnar. It is a hinge joint.

Question 2

What the blood supply and nerve supply of elbow joint?

Answer 2

BS: brachial artery
NS: musculocutaneous, radial, ulnar

Question 3

What are the ligaments of elbow joint?

Answer 3

ulnar collateral - ant, post, oblique
radial collateral - blends with annular ligament
fat pads: olecranon, coronoid, radial
olecranon bursa

Question 4

What are the movements are elbow joint?

Answer 4

flexion - most contact between humerus and ulna, close contact with radius when flexed 90degrees and between supination and pronation

extension - happens at oblique angle of trochlear
carrying angle (angle between arm and forearm) : females>males
adults>children

Question 5

What are the muscles involved with flexion/extension at elbow joint?

Answer 5

flexion: biceps brachii, brachialis
extension: triceps brachii, anconeus

Question 6

Describe the proximal radioulnar joint, its blood and nerve supply.

Answer 6

it is within the elbow joint capsule. It is pivotal and synovial joint.

Ligaments found in proximal radioulnar joint:
annular
quadrate/oblique
interosseous membrane

BS: deep radial and ulnar a.
NS: median n., musculocutaneous, radial

Question 7

Describe the distal radioulnar joint, its blood and nerve supply.

Answer 7

It is between head of ulna and ulna notch of radius. It is pivot and synovial joint.

Ligaments present: anterior and posterior

BS: ant and post interosseous a.
NS: median n., radial interosseous

Question 8

What are the actions at radioulnar joint?

Answer 8

pronation/supination - linked motion
IO membrane transmit forces - fracture at one end is likely to dislocate the other end (80% at distal radius)

muscles involved in pronation:
pronator teres (medial epicondyle to shaft of radius)
pronator quadratus
flexor carpi radialis
palmaris longus
brachioradialis

Muscles involved in supination:
supinator
biceps brachii
extensor carpi radialis longus
extensor pollicis longus

Question 9

What are the clinical applications of the proximal radioulnar joint?

Answer 9

dislocation of proximal radioulnar joint - annular ligament in children is lax, radial head is displaced

reduction:

• supinate forearm
• push proximally
• joint in flexion

Question 10

What are the clinical applications of humeral ulna and radioulnar joint?

Answer 10

bursitis
epicondylitis - inflammation of medial/lateral epicondyles
supracondylar fracture of humerus - volkmann’s ischaemic contracture
avulsion - coronoid (median n.), styloid (ulnar n.) and olecranon processes of ulna, medial epicondyle of humerus