Medial collateral ligament complex of the elbow
Updates to Article Attributes
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was changed:
The medial (ulnar) collateral ligament (MCL/UCL) complex is a major stabiliser of the elbow joint and resists valgus stress.
Gross anatomy
The MCL complex runs from the humerus to the ulna and is composed of three parts 1,3,4,7:
-
anterior bundle
- inferior medial epicondyle to the sublime tubercle of the medial coronoid process
- cord-like
-
posterior bundle
- medial epicondyle to medial olecranon
- thickening of the joint capsule
-
transverse (or oblique)bundle (Cooper's ligament)
- runs between the inferior fibres of the anterior and posterior
bandsbundles (i.e. medial olecranon to medial coronoid process) - almost no role in elbow stabilisation
- runs between the inferior fibres of the anterior and posterior
Variant anatomy
- accessory ligament (a.k.a. extra band): posterior joint capsule to transverse ligament (25%) 1
Radiographic features
MRI
- the anterior band is the only part of the MCL complex which is delineated as a separate structure and is best seen on coronal images
-<li>runs between the inferior fibres of the anterior and posterior bands (i.e. medial olecranon to medial coronoid process)</li>- +<li>runs between the inferior fibres of the anterior and posterior bundles (i.e. medial olecranon to medial coronoid process)</li>
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