Ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint

The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) or internal lateral ligament is a thick triangular ligament at the medial aspect of the elbow uniting the distal aspect of the humerus to the proximal aspect of the ulna.

Ulnar collateral ligament (elbow)
Left elbow-joint, with arrows pointing at the ulnar collateral ligament
Details
Frommedial epicondyle of the humerus
Tocoronoid process of the ulna (anterior), olecranon (posterior)
Identifiers
Latinligamentum collaterale ulnare
TA98A03.5.09.005
TA21776
FMA38869
Anatomical terminology

Structure

It consists of two portions, an anterior and posterior united by a thinner intermediate portion. Note that this ligament is also referred to as the medial collateral ligament[1] and should not be confused with the lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL).[2]

The anterior portion, directed obliquely forward, is attached, above, by its apex, to the front part of the medial epicondyle of the humerus; and, below, by its broad base to the medial margin of the coronoid process of the ulna.

The posterior portion, also of triangular form, is attached, above, by its apex, to the lower and back part of the medial epicondyle; below, to the medial margin of the olecranon.

Between these two bands a few intermediate fibers descend from the medial epicondyle to blend with a transverse band which bridges across the notch between the olecranon and the coronoid process.

This ligament is in relation with the triceps brachii and flexor carpi ulnaris and the ulnar nerve, and gives origin to part of the flexor digitorum superficialis.

Injury
Main article: Ulnar collateral ligament injury of the elbow

During activities such as overhand baseball pitching, this ligament is subjected to extreme tension, which places the overhand-throwing athlete at risk for injury.[3] Acute or chronic disruption and/or attenuation of the ulnar collateral ligament often result in medial elbow pain, valgus instability, neurologic deficiency, and impaired throwing performance. There are both non-surgical and surgical treatment options.[4]

Additional images
  • Elbow joint. Deep dissection. Anterior view.
  • Elbow joint. Deep dissection. Anterior view.
  • Anatomy of the ulnar collateral ligament in the pitcher's elbow

See also

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 322 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. "Medial Collateral Ligament of the Elbow". Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  2. "Posterolateral Elbow Instability". Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
  3. Molenaars, Rik J.; Hilgersom, Nick F. J.; Doornberg, Job N.; Bekerom, Michel P. J. van den; Eygendaal, Denise (2 November 2017). "Review of Jobe et al (1986) on reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament in athletes". Journal of ISAKOS: Joint Disorders & Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3: jisakos–2017–000134. doi:10.1136/jisakos-2017-000134. ISSN 2059-7754.
  4. Hoffman, James K.; Protzman, Nicole M.; Malhotra, Amit D. (2015). "Biologic Augmentation of the Ulnar Collateral Ligament in the Elbow of a Professional Baseball Pitcher". Case Reports in Orthopedics. 2015: 1–5. doi:10.1155/2015/130157. ISSN 2090-6749. PMC 4512595. PMID 26240769.
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