Medial collateral ligament complex of the elbow
Updates to Article Attributes
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 the medial olecranon
thickening of the joint capsule
-
transverse (or oblique) bundle (Cooper's ligament)
runs between the inferior fibres of the anterior and posterior bundles (i.e. medial olecranon to medial coronoid process)
almost no role in elbow stabilisation
Variant anatomy
accessory ligament
(a.k.a.(also known as extra band): posterior joint capsule to the 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>anterior bundle<ul>-<li>inferior medial epicondyle to the sublime tubercle of the medial coronoid process</li>-<li>cord-like</li>- +<li>
- +<p>anterior bundle</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p>inferior medial epicondyle to the sublime tubercle of the medial coronoid process</p></li>
- +<li><p>cord-like</p></li>
-<li>posterior bundle<ul>-<li>medial epicondyle to the medial olecranon</li>-<li>thickening of the joint capsule</li>- +<li>
- +<p>posterior bundle</p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p>medial epicondyle to the medial olecranon</p></li>
- +<li><p>thickening of the joint capsule</p></li>
-<li>transverse (or oblique) bundle (Cooper's ligament) <ul>-<li>runs between the inferior fibres of the anterior and posterior bundles (i.e. medial olecranon to medial coronoid process)</li>-<li>almost no role in elbow stabilisation</li>- +<li>
- +<p>transverse (or oblique) bundle (Cooper's ligament) </p>
- +<ul>
- +<li><p>runs between the inferior fibres of the anterior and posterior bundles (i.e. medial olecranon to medial coronoid process)</p></li>
- +<li><p>almost no role in elbow stabilisation</p></li>
-</ol><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><ul><li>accessory ligament (a.k.a. extra band): posterior joint capsule to the transverse ligament (25%) <sup>1</sup>-</li></ul><h4>Radiographic features</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>- +</ol><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><ul><li><p>accessory ligament (also known as extra band): posterior joint capsule to the transverse ligament (25%) <sup>1</sup></p></li></ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>MRI</h5><ul><li><p>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></li></ul>
References changed:
- 8. Rahman R, Levine W, Ahmad C. Elbow Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2008;1(3-4):197-204. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-008-9026-3">doi:10.1007/s12178-008-9026-3</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19468906">Pubmed</a>
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