Ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint

Ulnar collateral ligament (elbow)
Left elbow-joint, showing anterior and ulnar collateral ligaments. (Ulnar collateral lig. visible at center left.)
Details
Latin	ligamentum collaterale ulnare
From	medial epicondyle of the humerus
To	coronoid process of the ulna (anterior), olecranon (posterior)
Identifiers
Dorlands /Elsevier	l_09/12491985
TA
TH	{{#property:P1694}}
TE	{{#property:P1693}}
FMA	{{#property:P1402}}
Anatomical terminology [[[d:|edit on Wikidata]]]

The ulnar collateral ligament (UCL or internal lateral ligament) is a thick triangular band at the medial aspect of the elbow uniting the distal aspect of the humerus to the proximal aspect of the ulna. 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 and should not be confused with the lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL).

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.

Additional images

• 

  Elbow joint. Deep dissection. Anterior view.

• 

  Elbow joint. Deep dissection. Anterior view.

See also

• Ulnar collateral ligament injury
• Tommy John surgery

References

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