What is the anatomy of the elbow?
Table of Contents
The elbow is a hinged joint made up of three bones, the humerus, ulna, and radius. The ends of the bones are covered with cartilage. Cartilage has a rubbery consistency that allows the joints to slide easily against one another and absorb shock. The bones are held together with ligaments that form the joint capsule.
How many joints are in the elbow?
three joints
The three joints of the elbow include: Ulnohumeral joint is where movement between the ulna and humerus occurs. Radio humeral joint is where movement between the radius and humerus occurs. Proximal radioulnar joint is where movement between the radius and ulna occurs.

What is the function of the elbow joint?
Function. The function of the elbow joint is to extend and flex the arm grasp and reach for objects. The range of movement in the elbow is from 0 degrees of elbow extension to 150 degrees of elbow flexion.
What are the movements of the elbow joint?
The elbow consists of three joints, namely: The humeroulnar joint is formed between the humerus and ulna and allows flexion and extension of the arm. The humeroradial joint is formed between the radius and humerus and allows movements like flexion, extension, supination, and pronation.

What are the 3 ligaments of the elbow?
Three ligaments are present in the elbow joint: the ulnar collateral ligament, the radial collateral ligament, and the annular ligament. These ligaments provide strength and support to the elbow joint along with the surrounding muscles or your arm and forearm.
Why is it called elbow?
Few people ever wonder why their elbows are called elbows, but there is a reason. The word breaks into two parts el and bow. Inside your forearm are two bones called the radius and the ulna. The ulna is named from Latin and Latin in turn took the name ultimately from an Indo-European root el meaning “forearm.”
What is inside of the elbow called?
Technically, you can refer to the area as the antecubital fossa. Antecubital is an adjective meaning “of or relating to the inner or front surface of the forearm” (in Latin ante means “before” and cubitum means “elbow”). Fossa is a Medieval Latin borrowing that is used for an anatomical pit, groove, or depression.
What muscles are in your elbow?
The muscles involved in flexion (bending) the elbow are the biceps brachii, brachioradialis and the brachialis. The triceps are responsible for elbow extension (straightening the arm).
What is flexion of the elbow?
When your forearm moves toward your body by bending at your elbow, it’s called elbow flexion. The opposite movement is called elbow extension. The three bones involved in elbow flexion are the: humerus, in your upper arm. ulna, on the little finger side of your forearm.
What muscles cause flexion of the elbow?
The three primary flexor muscles of the elbow are the biceps brachii, the brachioradialis, and the brachialis. The biceps brachii typically consists of a long and short head.
What is the inner part of the elbow called?
The inner portion of the elbow is a bony prominence called the medial epicondyle of the humerus. Additional tendons from muscles attach here and can be injured, likewise causing inflammation or tendonitis (medial epicondylitis, or golfer’s elbow).
What ligament is on the outside of the elbow?
The lateral collateral ligament (LCL) of the elbow is the ligament on the outside of the elbow, not to be confused with the LCL in the knee. The LCL in the elbow is sometimes also called the radial collateral ligament (RCL). This ligament can become sprained or torn as a result of a sports injury.