Anatomical Relations
The ulnar collateral ligament is located in the medial aspect of the elbow joint and extends between the humerus and the ulna. The ligament is deep to the triceps brachii and flexor carpi ulnaris muscles, and the ulnar nerve. Additionally, it lies deep to the attachment of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle.
Structure
The ulnar collateral ligament is triangular and is composed of three components, anterior, posterior, and inferior ligamentous bands. The anterior band is the strongest, attaching from the anterior aspect of the medial epicondyle o the humerus to the proximal part of the coronoid of the ulna. The posterior band of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow joint attaches from the posterior part of the medial epicondyle of the humerus to the medial margin of the olecranon of the ulna. The inferior (or oblique) band connects both the distal attachments of the anterior and inferior bands together.
Function
The ulnar collateral ligament acts as a major stabilizer of the elbow joint.
List of Clinical Correlates
—Ulnar collateral ligament injury (UCL injury)
Learn more about this topic from other Elsevier products
Ulnar Collateral Ligament
A Stener lesion is a displaced tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb in which the adductor pollicis aponeurosis is positioned between the retracted ligament and the injury site, preventing natural healing.
