Upper Extremities
19 Elbow
Anatomy
Radius, ulna, humerus, head of the radius, base of the ulna, radial tubercle, capitulum, trochlea, humeral epicondyles, olecranon process, ulnar notch, radial neck, radial notch, trochlear notch, coronoid process, radial fossa, coronoid fossa, olecranon fossa
Projections
[Part], PA or AP
CR Location
[Part], PA or AP –
Evaluation Criteria
Elbow – AP Evaluation Criteria: Elbow joint should be open and near center of collimation field. Humeral epicondyles should be seen in profile.
Elbow – Lateral Evaluation Criteria: Elbow flexed 90º and centered to image. Humeral epicondyles should be superimposed.
Elbow – Medial Oblique Evaluation Criteria: Coronoid process seen in profile, without superimposition.
Elbow – Lateral Oblique Evaluation Criteria: Radial head, neck, and tubercle completely visualised, without superimposition.
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Hows & Whys of Elbow Radiography
- How can you tell if the shoulder was in the same plane as the forearm on an AP elbow image?
- The elbow joint is open
- How can you tell that the hand was supinated on an AP elbow image?
- The radius and ulna do not cross
- What type of joints is the proximal radioulnar joint?
- Pivot
- What type of joint is the elbow?
- Hinge
- How can you tell that the shoulder was in the same plane as the elbow on a lateral image?
- The humeral epicondyles are superimposed
- How can you tell that the hand was lateral on a lateral elbow image?
- The radial head superimposes the coronoid process and the distal radius and ulna are superimposed
- What structure is best demonstrated by the medial oblique elbow?
- The coronoid process
- What structure is best demonstrated by the lateral oblique elbow?
- The radial head
- In anatomical position, is the radius or ulna lateral?
- The radius
- Which bone articulates most directly with the humerus at the elbow joint?
- The ulna
- When the arm is fully extended, what is the relation of the olecranon process to the olecranon fossa?
- The process is within the fossa