Bones in the Elbow

By Justin Delicato, PTA

Bones in the Elbow

Please watch this Video on Tennis Elbow.

The elbow joint consists of three bones; the humerus, ulna, and radius. The elbow is identified as a hinge joint meaning a joint that is formed between two or more bones where the bones can only move along one axis to flex or extend. There is a small amount of rotation in the elbow joint but the primary function of the elbow joint is to flex and extend.

Ligaments of the Elbow

The stability of the elbow is provided by the surrounding ligaments, the most important ligaments being the medial collateral ligament (on the inside of the elbow) and the lateral collateral ligament (on the outside of the elbow). These ligaments as stated above provide elbow stability by holding the humerus and ulna together.

The most commonly known muscles and tendons that surround your elbow are the biceps and triceps. The biceps main function for the elbow is flexion and the triceps main function is an extension of the elbow. If you palpate the inside and outside of your elbow, you may have noticed there is a small bump on each side. The inside bump that you feel is known as the medial epicondyle which is an attachment site for the muscles that straighten the fingers and flex the wrist. The lateral epicondyle is the attachment site for the muscles that extend your wrist. Common named diagnosis for the lateral epicondyle is tennis elbow

Golfers elbow is a diagnosis associated with the medial epicondyle, please see the article below for important regarding this.

What is the Humerus?

The humerus is a long bone the forms the shoulder joint and the elbow joint. This bone helps movement function from both the shoulder and the elbow. The humerus attachment to the elbow is at the ulna.

What is the Ulna?

The ulna bone is one of the bones that form the elbow joint and as well as the hand/wrist. The ulna is located along the medial aspect of the forearm and is bigger in size than the radius. The function of the ulna is to help assist with rotational movements.

What is the Radius?

The radius bone extends along the lateral side of the forearm to the thumb side of the wrist. It is smaller in size than the ulna and the radius primary junctions with the carpal bones of the hand and wrist. This bone also plays a major role in the rotational movement of the elbow.

What does JOI have to offer?

JOI has a dedicated team of physicians that are dedicated to your orthopedic treatment. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above and would like to see a physician regarding this, JOI offers six different MD locations and they are located throughout the northeast Florida area.

• JOI MD Locations:
  • Baptist South
  • Beaches
  • Baptist Clay
  • Nassau
  • San Marco

JOI also offers physical therapy in numerous areas in northeast Florida if your referring MD feels physical therapy would assist you in relieving these symptoms

• JOI Physical Therapy Locations
  • Arlington
  • Westside
  • San Marco
  • Fleming
  • South
  • Mandarin
  • North
  • Nocatee
  • Nassau
  • Point Meadows
  • Beaches
  • World Golf Village

Call 904-858-7045 for a physical therapy appointment at JOI Rehab.

JOI and JOI Rehab

JOI Physicians continue to offer online new patient appointments. This is another option to make it more convenient to make new patient appointments with less phone hold times. Follow the link below to select your JOI MD and schedule online.

You can still call 904-JOI-2000 to make new patient JOI Physician Appointments if that is your preference.

To make appointments with JOI Rehab, please call 904-858-7045.

Image of Book An Appointment with a JOI Physician Button. Written by: Justin Delicato, PTA