Medial collateral ligament complex of the elbow
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
The medial (ulna) 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 parts1, 3, 4, 7:
-
anterior
bandbundle- inferior medial epicondyle to the sublime tubercle of the medial coronoid process
-
posterior bandcord-like
-
transverse bandposterior 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 bands (i.e. medial olecranon to medial coronoid process)
- almost no role in elbow stabilisation
Variant anatomy
-
accessory ligament (a.k.a. extra band)
- posterior: posterior joint capsule to transverse ligament (25%) 1
Radiographic appearance
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
-<p>The medial (ulna) collateral ligament complex is a major stabiliser of the elbow joint and resists valgus stress.</p><p>Gross anatomy</p><p>The MCL complex runs from the humerus to the ulna and is composed of three parts:</p><ul>-<li>anterior band</li>-<li>posterior band</li>-<li>transverse band</li>-</ul><p>Variant anatomy</p><ul><li>accessory ligament (a.k.a. extra band) - posterior joint capsule to transverse ligament (25%) 1</li></ul><p>Radiographic appearance</p><p>MRI</p><ul><li>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></ul>- +<p>The <strong>medial (ulna) collateral ligament </strong>(<strong>MCL/UCL</strong>)<strong> complex</strong> is a major stabiliser of the <a href="/articles/elbow">elbow joint</a> and resists valgus stress.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The MCL complex runs from the humerus to the ulna and is composed of three parts <sup>1, 3, 4, 7</sup>:</p><ul>
- +<li>
- +<strong>anterior bundle</strong><ul>
- +<li>
- +<strong></strong>inferior medial epicondyle to the sublime tubercle of the medial coronoid process</li>
- +<li>cord-like</li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<strong>posterior bundle</strong><ul>
- +<li>
- +<strong></strong>medial epicondyle to medial olecranon</li>
- +<li>thickening of the joint capsule</li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +<li>
- +<strong>transverse </strong>(or <strong>oblique</strong>)<strong> </strong><strong>bundle </strong>(<strong>Cooper's ligament</strong>) <ul>
- +<li>runs between the inferior fibres of the anterior and posterior bands (i.e. medial olecranon to medial coronoid process)</li>
- +<li>almost no role in elbow stabilisation</li>
- +</ul>
- +</li>
- +</ul><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><ul><li>
- +<strong>accessory ligament</strong> (a.k.a. extra band): posterior joint capsule to transverse ligament (25%) <sup>1</sup>
- +</li></ul><h4>Radiographic appearance</h4><h5>MRI</h5><ul><li>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></ul>
References changed:
- 1. Stein JM, Cook TS, Simonson S et-al. Normal and variant anatomy of the elbow on magnetic resonance imaging. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2011;19 (3): 609-19. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mric.2011.05.002">doi:10.1016/j.mric.2011.05.002</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21816334">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
- 2. Tribst MF, Zoppi A, Camargo JC et-al. Anatomical and functional study of the medial collateral ligament complex of the elbow. Acta Ortop Bras. 2012;20 (6): 334-8. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1413-78522012000600004">doi:10.1590/S1413-78522012000600004</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3861950">Free text at pubmed</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24453627">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
- 3. Magnetic resonance imaging in orthopedic sports medicine. Springer. ISBN:0387488979. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0387488979">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0387488979">Find it at Amazon</a><span class="auto"></span>
- 4. Miller MD, Sanders TG. Presentation, Imaging and Treatment of Common Musculoskeletal Conditions: MRI-Arthroscopy Correlation (Expert Consult - Online and Print), 1e. Saunders. ISBN:1437709141. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1437709141">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1437709141">Find it at Amazon</a><span class="auto"></span>
- 6. Sheehan SE, Dyer GS, Sodickson AD et-al. Traumatic elbow injuries: what the orthopedic surgeon wants to know. Radiographics. 2013;33 (3): 869-88. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1148/rg.333125176">doi:10.1148/rg.333125176</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23674780">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
- 5. Yochum TR, Rowe LJ. Essentials of Skeletal Radiology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (2005) ISBN:0781739462. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0781739462">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0781739462">Find it at Amazon</a><span class="ref_v3"></span>
- 7. Daniels DL, Mallisee TA, Erickson SJ et-al. The elbow joint: osseous and ligamentous structures. Radiographics. 1998;18 (1): 229-36. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1148/radiographics.18.1.9460127">doi:10.1148/radiographics.18.1.9460127</a> - <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9460127">Pubmed citation</a><span class="auto"></span>
Sections changed:
- Anatomy
Systems changed:
- Musculoskeletal
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