The elbow is a complex joint formed by the articulation of three bones –the humerus, radius and ulna. The elbow joint helps in bending or straightening of the arm to 180 degrees and assists in lifting or moving objects. The bones of the elbow are supported by: Ligaments and tendons.

What is 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”).

What are the movements of the elbow?

While flexion and extension are the only movements that can occur at the elbow joint itself, movement is also afforded at the proximal radioulnar joint, which contributes to the elbow joint. Movements at this joint are called pronation and supination.

What is the structure of the elbow joint?

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.

What is a elbow in science?

elbow, in human anatomy, hinge joint formed by the meeting of the humerus (bone of the upper arm) and the radius and ulna (bones of the forearm).

Why is the funny bone?

It doesn’t really hurt as much as it feels weird. The “funny bone” got its nickname because of that funny feeling you get after you hit it. … Running down the inside part of your elbow is a nerve called the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve lets your brain know about feelings in your fourth and fifth fingers.

Why is it called elbow?

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.” … Thus the literal meaning of the word elbow is “arm bend.”

What are the 3 joints of the elbow?

  • 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 unique about the elbow joint?

The elbow joint is a synovial hinge joint, similar to the ankle and knee joints. … The distal humerus and proximal ulna are the primary elbow joint bones. The hinge joint allows the elbow to bend and straighten. It also helps with hand motion by allowing the forearm to rotate.

What muscles stabilize the elbow?

Contribution to elbow stability comes in the form of protection against varus and valgus forces. Muscles that protect against valgus forces by initiating a varus force include the flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi radialis, and the pronator teres.

Article first time published on

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 happens during elbow flexion?

During elbow flexion the forearm is moved toward the upper arm rotating around the elbow joint center. Pronation and supination are performed by radius and ulna crossing each other and so rotating forearm and hand to a maximum of 90° from neutral hand position.

What is the range of motion of the elbow?

The elbow joint allows us to perform flexion–extension and pronation–supination movement. According to the literature, values for flexion lie between 130° and 154° and extension between –6° and 11°. Pronation varied from 75° to 85° and supination from 80° to 104°.

What is bend of arm called?

The elbow is the joint that bends your arm. … It is a modified hinge joint made up of three bones. These are the humerus (bone of the upper arm) and the forearm bones, known as the radius and ulna.

What is elbow in electrical?

A elbow joint for a permanently mounted explosion-proof pipe which is useful for housing and commercial plant sealed electrical wiring systems that includes a plurality of movable rollers mounted within the inside gradually curved wall portions of the elbow pipe which allows an electrical conductor to be inserted or …

What is a dog's elbow?

Their elbows are located at the back of each front leg (foreleg). The elbow joint is immediately below the shoulder. Dogs do not have elbows on their back legs. That means dogs have 2 elbows in total.

How many elbows does the human body have?

Joint. The elbow joint has three different portions surrounded by a common joint capsule. These are joints between the three bones of the elbow, the humerus of the upper arm, and the radius and the ulna of the forearm. Is a simple hinge-joint, and allows for movements of flexion and extension only.

What is Anconeus muscle?

The anconeus muscle is a triangular-shaped muscle originating posterior to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and then fanning out broadly for an insertion base on the proximal part of the posterolateral side of the ulna.3,11. From: Morrey’s the Elbow and its Disorders (Fifth Edition), 2018.

Which is radius bone?

radius, in anatomy, the outer of the two bones of the forearm when viewed with the palm facing forward. All land vertebrates have this bone. In humans it is shorter than the other bone of the forearm, the ulna.

Why do my hands fall asleep when I bend my elbows?

Ulnar nerve compression is a nerve disorder that can cause numbness, pain, or tingling in the arm, hand, or fingers. When you bend your elbow, the ulnar nerve—which travels from the shoulder to the hand—wraps around a bony ridge on the inside of the elbow called the medial epicondyle.

Why does hitting elbow hurt so much?

In the case of hitting your funny bone, squashing your ulnar nerve into your medial epicondyle bone is irritating. And you feel this nerve pain in the areas where your ulnar nerve provides sensation, resulting in an unpleasant, shocking sensation shooting down your forearm and into your fingers.

Why is the elbow joint quite stable?

The elbow joint is stable, that means it stays together, for two reasons: partly because of the strength of the ligaments, which we’ve seen, and partly because of the shape of the bones. The humerus and the ulna interlock closely and deeply.

What muscle is responsible for flexion of the elbow joint?

Several muscle groups cross over the elbow joint. 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 Tommy Johns syndrome?

A Tommy John injury is an injury to the ligament on the medial (inside) part of the elbow. It most commonly occurs in overhead throwing athletes such as baseball pitchers and quarterbacks but can also occur in other sports such as gymnastics, javelin throwing, tennis, volleyball, and softball.

What is above the elbow called?

The outside, or lateral, bump just above the elbow is called the lateral epicondyle. Most of the muscles that straighten the fingers and wrist all come together in one tendon to attach in this area.

What nerve is responsible for elbow flexion?

The results showed that the biceps tendon is responsible for 47% of the forearm supination force and the combination of brachioradialis and the supinator for 64% of this force. It showed also that the musculocutaneous and radial nerves contribute by 42% and 27.5%, respectively, to the flexion force of the elbow.

What is the importance of elbow flexion and extension in our daily activities?

Summary. The elbow joint is a hinge joint that provides great stability and movement for performing daily activities. The strong muscles that extend across the elbow joint bring about actions like flexion, extension, supination and pronation enabling us to perform activities of daily living.

What is the antagonist of elbow flexion?

During elbow flexion where the bicep is the agonist, the tricep muscle is the antagonist.

What is elbow abduction?

A form of overuse syndrome marked by tension being placed on the medial structures of the elbow and, possibly, compression forces being placed on the lateral structures. Long-term consequences include abnormal growth of the medial epicondyle and avulsion of the medial epicondyle.

What is the function of radial nerve?

The radial nerve provides motor (movement) and sensory functions to the arm. It: Stimulates muscles so you can straighten and raise your elbows, wrists, hands and fingers. Provides touch, pain and temperature sensations to portions of the back of the upper arm, forearm, and to the back of the hand and fingers.

What is extension and flexion?

Flexion and extension describe movements that affect the angle between two parts of the body. … Flexion of the shoulder or hip is movement of the arm or leg forward. Extension is the opposite of flexion, describing a straightening movement that increases the angle between body parts.