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Ulna
Bone: Ulna | |
---|---|
Upper extremity | |
Shown is the right hand, palm down (left) and palm up (right). Ulna is #2 | |
Gray's | subject #52 214 |
MeSH | Ulna |
The ulna (/ˈʌlnə/[1][2]) or elbow bone is one of the two long bones in the forearm, the other being the radius. It is prismatic in form and runs parallel to the radius, which is shorter and smaller. In anatomical position (i.e. when the arms are down at the sides of the body and the palms of the hands face forward) the ulna is located at the side of the forearm closest to the body (the medial side), the side of the little finger.
Contents
Articulations
The ulna articulates with:
- trochlea of the humerus, at the right side elbow as a hinge joint with semilunar trochlear notch of the ulna.
- the radius, near the elbow as a pivot joint, this allows the radius to cross over the ulna in pronation.
- the distal radius, where it fits into the ulna notch.
- the radius along its length via the interosseous membrane that forms a syndesmoses joint
- it is also called the poisidion
Proximal and distal aspects
The ulna is broader proximally, and narrower distally.
Proximally, the ulna has a bony process, the olecranon process, a hook-like structure that fits into the olecranon fossa of the humerus. This prevents hyperextension and forms a hinge joint with the trochlea of the humerus. There is also a radial notch for the head of the radius, and the ulnar tuberosity to which muscles attach.
At the distal end of the ulna is a styloid process.
Structure
The long, narrow medullary cavity is enclosed in a strong wall of compact tissue which is thickest along the interosseous border and dorsal surface. At the extremities the compact layer thins. The compact layer is continued onto the back of the olecranon as a plate of close spongy bone with lamellæ parallel. From the inner surface of this plate and the compact layer below it trabeculæ arch forward toward the olecranon and coronoid and cross other trabeculæ, passing backward over the medullary cavity from the upper part of the shaft below the coronoid. Below the coronoid process there is a small area of compact bone from which trabeculæ curve upward to end obliquely to the surface of the semilunar notch which is coated with a thin layer of compact bone. The trabeculæ at the lower end have a more longitudinal direction. http://www.innerbody.com/image_skelfov/skel21_new.html
Muscle attachments
Muscle | Direction | Attachment |
Triceps brachii muscle | Insertion | posterior part of superior surface of Olecranon process (via common tendon) |
Anconeus muscle | Insertion | olecranon process (lateral aspect) |
Brachialis muscle | Insertion | anterior surface of the coronoid process of the ulna |
Pronator teres muscle | Origin | medial surface on middle portion of coronoid process (also shares origin with medial epicondyle of the humerus) |
Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle | Origin | olecranon process and posterior surface of ulna (also shares origin with medial epicondyle of the humerus) |
Flexor digitorum superficialis muscle | Origin | coronoid process (also shares origin with medial epicondyle of the humerus and shaft of the radius) |
Flexor digitorum profundus muscle | Origin | coronoid process, anteromedial surface of ulna (also shares origin with the interosseous membrane) |
Pronator quadratus muscle | Origin | distal portion of anterior ulnar shaft |
Extensor carpi ulnaris muscle | Origin | posterior border of ulna (also shares origin with lateral epicondyle of the humerus) |
Supinator muscle | Origin | proximal ulna (also shares origin with lateral epicondyle of the humerus) |
Abductor pollicis longus muscle | Origin | posterior surface of ulna (also shares origin with the posterior surface of the radius bone) |
Extensor pollicis longus muscle | Origin | dorsal shaft of ulna (also shares origin with the dorsal shaft of the radius and the interosseous membrane) |
Extensor pollicis brevis muscle | Origin | dorsal shaft of ulna (also shares origin with the dorsal shaft of the radius and the interosseous membrane) |
Extensor indicis muscle | Origin | posterior surface of distal ulna (also shares origin with the interosseous membrane) |
Fracture
Specific fracture types of the ulna include:
- Monteggia fracture - a fracture of the proximal third of the ulna with the dislocation of the head of the radius
- Hume fracture - a fracture of the olecranon with an associated anterior dislocation of the radial head
In other animals
In four-legged animals, the radius is the main load-bearing bone of the lower forelimb, and the ulna is important primarily for muscular attachment. In many mammals, the ulna is partially or wholly fused with the radius, and may therefore not exist as a separate bone. However, even in extreme cases of fusion, such as in horses, the olecranon process is still present, albeit as a projection from the upper radius.[3]
Gallery
- Ulna.jpg
Ulna, olecranon process - posterior view
- Ulna2.jpg
Ulna, styloid process - anterior view
- Ulna3.jpg
Ulna, olecranon process - anterior view
- Ulna ant.jpg
Ulna l. dx. - ant. view
- Ulna med.jpg
Ulna l. dx. - lat. view
- RightHumanPosteriorRadiusUlna.jpg
Right posterior human radius and ulna
- Human arm bones diagram.svg
Human arm bones diagram
- Gray213.png
Bones of left forearm. Anterior aspect.
- Gray214.png
The radius and ulna of the left forearm, posterior surface.
- Gray329.png
Left elbow-joint, showing anterior and ulnar collateral ligaments.
- Gray417 color.PNG
Cross-section through the middle of the forearm.
- Gray420.png
The Supinator.
- Gray421.png
Transverse section across distal ends of radius and ulna.
See also
References
- ↑ OED 2nd edition, 1989.
- ↑ Entry "ulna" in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.
- ↑ Romer, Alfred Sherwood; Parsons, Thomas S. (1977). The Vertebrate Body. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. p. 200. ISBN 0-03-910284-X.
External links
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.Template:Bones of upper extremity Template:Musculoskeletal-stub
The basis of this article is contributed from Wikipedia. These articles are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License It may have since been edited beyond all recognition. But we thank Wikipedia for allowing its use. Please discuss further on this Article's talk page. |
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