Upper limb
Ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow
Ligamentum collaterale ulnare (cubiti)
- Origin
- From the medial epicondyle of the humerus, fanning out in three bands (anterior, posterior and transverse)
- Insertion
- To the coronoid process and the olecranon of the ulna
- Function
- Main stabiliser against valgus load at the elbow; the anterior band is the strongest part
- Innervation
- Branches of the ulnar and median nerves
- Movement & chain
- Tense under valgus stress and during the acceleration phase of throwing
- Palpation
- Palpation just distal to the medial epicondyle; valgus stress test in 30 degrees of flexion and the moving valgus stress test
- Clinical
- Rupture in throwing athletes (Tommy John reconstruction), chronic valgus instability, ulnar nerve irritation in the adjacent groove
- Segmental innervation
- Sensory C6-T1
- In clinical practice
- A valgus test belongs to follow-up after elbow dislocation; throwing athletes must build load stepwise
- Region in the model
- Upper limb