Over the course of the next few weeks, PT 101 "lectures" are going to focus on the elbow.  If you've ever hit your elbow the wrong way . . . your "funny bone" doesn't feel so funny, does it?  There are a LOT of other elbow conditions which are also no laughing matter and can be quite disabling.

This week, we are going to review the bony anatomy of the elbow.  The elbow joint consists of the humerus (the long bone of your upper arm, and incidentally, the origin of the term "funny bone") as it meets the radius and ulna (the two bones in the lower part of your arm.)  In order to know which is the radius and which is the ulna, place your arm in the "Thumbs Up!" position.  The radius is the upper bone and the ulna is the lower bone.  The pointed "tip" of the elbow is the olecranon process and the two bony knobs on the inside (medial) and outside (lateral) of the joint are the epicondyles.  (Remember this, class, for future reference to medial and lateral epicondylitis conditions . . . also known as 'golfer's elbow' or 'tennis elbow'  . . . which will be discussed in detail over the next couple of weeks.)  The three bones combine to actually form three joints within the elbow complex.  They are the radiohumeral joint (radius and humerus) the ulnohumeral joint (ulna and humerus) and the superior radioulnar joint (radius and ulna).  Covered by an articular (joint) cartilage, the joint described above allows the elbow to bend and straighten and also allows the forearm to rotate without moving the upper arm.

Next week's lecture will focus on the soft tissue anatomy of the elbow . . . muscles, ligaments and tendons.  So, until then, study the above anatomy lesson and be prepared to continue!  Class dismissed!

 Yours in health,

Karen