olecranon
{{Short description|Curved bony eminence of the ulna; forms the pointed part of the elbow}}
{{Infobox bone
| Name = Olecranon
| Latin = olecranon
| Image = File:Ulna3.jpg
| Caption = Posterior end of the ulna, with the olecranon labelled at top.
| Image2 =
| Caption2 =
| Width = 215
}}
The olecranon ({{IPAc-en|əʊ|'|l|ɛ|k|r|ə|n|ɒ|n}}, {{ety|el|olene|elbow||kranon|head}}), is a large, thick, curved bony process on the proximal, posterior end of the ulna. It forms the protruding part of the elbow and is opposite to the cubital fossa or elbow pit (trochlear notch). The olecranon serves as a lever for the extensor muscles that straighten the elbow joint.
Structure
The olecranon is situated at the proximal end of the ulna, one of the two bones in the forearm.{{Citation|title=Elbow Radiographic and Arthrographic Anatomy|date=2016-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323377560500193|work=Imaging Anatomy: Musculoskeletal (Second Edition)|pages=200–213|editor-last=Manaster|editor-first=B. J.|place=Philadelphia|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|doi=10.1016/b978-0-323-37756-0.50019-3|isbn=978-0-323-37756-0|access-date=2021-01-08|editor2-last=Crim|editor2-first=Julia|url-access=subscription}} When the hand faces forward (supination) the olecranon faces towards the back (posteriorly).
It is bent forward at the summit so as to present a prominent lip which is received into the olecranon fossa of the humerus during extension of the forearm.{{Citation|last1=White|first1=Tim D.|title=Chapter 2 - Anatomical Terminology|date=2012-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123741349500027|work=Human Osteology (Third Edition)|pages=11–24|editor-last=White|editor-first=Tim D.|place=San Diego|publisher=Academic Press|language=en|isbn=978-0-12-374134-9|access-date=2021-01-08|last2=Black|first2=Michael T.|last3=Folkens|first3=Pieter A.|editor2-last=Black|editor2-first=Michael T.|editor3-last=Folkens|editor3-first=Pieter A.}}{{Citation|last1=Ozgur|first1=Sinan Emre|title=12 - Rehabilitation After Fractures of the Forearm and Elbow|date=2018-01-01|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323393706000123|work=Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation: a Team Approach (Fourth Edition)|pages=57–62.e1|editor-last=Giangarra|editor-first=Charles E.|place=Philadelphia|publisher=Elsevier|language=en|isbn=978-0-323-39370-6|access-date=2021-01-08|last2=Giangarra|first2=Charles E.|editor2-last=Manske|editor2-first=Robert C.}}
Its base is contracted where it joins the body and the narrowest part of the upper end of the ulna.
Its posterior surface, directed backward, is triangular, smooth, subcutaneous, and covered by a bursa.
Its superior surface is of quadrilateral form, marked behind by a rough impression for the insertion of the triceps brachii; and in front, near the margin, by a slight transverse groove for the attachment of part of the posterior ligament of the elbow-joint.
Its anterior surface is smooth, concave, and forms the upper part of the semilunar notch.
Its borders present continuations of the groove on the margin of the superior surface; they serve for the attachment of ligaments, viz., the back part of the ulnar collateral ligament medially, and the posterior ligament laterally.
From the medial border a part of the flexor carpi ulnaris arises; while to the lateral border the anconeus muscle is attached.
Clinical significance
Fractures of the olecranon are common injuries. An olecranon fracture with anterior displacement of the radial head is called a Hume fracture.{{Cite journal |last1=Khan |first1=SohaelMohammed |last2=Mundada |first2=Gaurav |last3=Singhania |first3=ShraddhaK |last4=Gupta |first4=Varun |last5=Singh |first5=PradeepK |last6=Khan |first6=Saherish |date=2017 |title=Type-I monteggia with ipsilateral fracture of distal radius epiphyseal injury: A rare case report |journal=Annals of African Medicine |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=30 |doi=10.4103/aam.aam_55_16 |doi-access=free |pmid=28300049 |issn=1596-3519|pmc=5452702 }}
Etymology
The word "olecranon" comes from the Greek olene, meaning elbow, and kranon, meaning head.{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/60512565|title=Oxford dictionary of English.|date=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|others=Soanes, Catherine., Stevenson, Angus.|isbn=0-19-861057-2|edition=2nd ed., rev.|location=Oxford|oclc=60512565}}{{Page needed|date=January 2020}}
Additional images
File:En-elbow joint.svg|Upper extremity of left ulna. Lateral aspect
File:Gray213.png|Bones of left forearm. Anterior aspect.
File:Gray215.png|Plan of ossification of the ulna. From three centers.
File:Gray329.png|Left elbow-joint, showing anterior and ulnar collateral ligaments.
File:Gray332.png|Capsule of elbow-joint (distended). Posterior aspect.
See also
References
{{Gray's}}
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{NormanAnatomy|radiographsul}} ({{NormanAnatomyFig|xrayelbow}})
- {{cite web|url=http://www.tk.de/rochelexikon/pics/s02240.008-1.html|title=Anatomy diagram: 02240.008-1|work= Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator|publisher= Elsevier|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722052514/http://www.tk.de/rochelexikon/pics/s02240.008-1.html|archive-date=2012-07-22}}
{{Bones of upper extremity}}
{{Portal bar|Anatomy}}
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