Radial collateral ligament of the elbow

Last revised by Joachim Feger on 19 Dec 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Feger J, Deng F, Radial collateral ligament of the elbow. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 18 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-89352

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-89352

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/89352

rID:

89352

Article created:

5 May 2021, Joachim Feger ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Joachim Feger had no recorded disclosures.

View Joachim Feger's current disclosures

Last revised:

19 Dec 2021, Joachim Feger ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Joachim Feger had no recorded disclosures.

View Joachim Feger's current disclosures

Revisions:

6 times, by 2 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

cases3, figures

Synonyms:

Radial collateral ligament (RCL) of the elbow
Radial collateral ligament proper
Radial collateral ligament
Radial collateral ligament (elbow)

The radial collateral ligament (RCL), radial collateral ligament proper or lateral collateral ligament of the elbow is a static lateral stabilizer and a part of the lateral collateral ligamentous complex of the elbow.

The radial collateral ligament courses through the intertubercular sulcus and fans out to form the anterolateral part of the radiocapitellar joint capsule and converges with the anterior portion of the annular ligament. Its posterior fibers blend proximally with the lateral ulnar collateral ligament ^1-3.

Function

The radial collateral ligament functions as a static stabilizer of the elbow joint and as a restraint to varus force ².

Attachments

The humeral origin of the radial collateral ligament is found slightly distal and anterior to the lateral epicondyle at the inferior aspect of the superior tubercle and superior aspect of the intertubercular sulcus, blending posteriorly with the origin of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament ^1,2.

The annular ligament and the fascia of the supinator muscle serve as the distal insertion point for the radial collateral ligament ^1,4.

Relations

The radial collateral ligament covers the radiocapitellar joint immediately anterior to the lateral ulnar collateral ligament subjacent to the common extensor origin, which takes a slightly oblique course in relation to it ³.

Radiographic features

Ultrasound

The radial collateral ligament can be seen as a thick hyperechoic structure on ultrasound ^5,6.

MRI

The radial collateral ligament can be visualized on MRI on coronal images as a homogeneously low-signal intensity structure coursing at the anterolateral aspect of the humerus from the intertubercular sulcus to the annular ligament ^2-5.