Annular ligament of radius

The annular ligament (orbicular ligament) is a strong band of fibers that encircles the head of the radius, and retains it in contact with the radial notch of the ulna.[1]

For other uses, see Annular ligament (disambiguation).
Annular ligament
Capsule of elbow-joint (distended). Anterior aspect.
Annular ligament of radius, from above. The head of the radius has been sawn off and the bone dislodged from the ligament.
Details
Identifiers
Latinligamentum anulare radii
Greekδακτυλιοειδής σύνδεσμος
TAA03.5.09.007
FMA38872
Anatomical terminology

Per Terminologia Anatomica, the spelling is "anular",[2] but the spelling "annular" is frequently encountered.

Anatomy

The annular ligament is attached by both its ends to the anterior and posterior margins of the radial notch of the ulna, together with which it forms the articular surface that surrounds the head and neck of the radius. The ligament is strong and well defined, yet its flexibility permits the slightly oval head of the radius to rotate freely during pronation and supination.[3]

The head of the radius is wider than the bone's neck, and, because the annular ligament embraces both, the radial head is "trapped" inside the ligament which thus acts to prevent distal displacement of the radius.[3]

Superiorly, the ligament is supported by attachments to the radial collateral ligament and the fibrous capsule of the elbow joint. Inferiorly, a few fibres attached to the neck of the radius support a fold of the synovial membrane without interfering with the movements at the joint.[3]

The fibrocartilage on the upper part of the ligament is continuous with the hyaline cartilage of the radial notch. At the posterior attachment the ligament widens to reach above and below the radial notch.[3]

A thickened band which extends from the inferior border of the annular ligament below the radial notch to the neck of the radius is known as the quadrate ligament.[1]

Clinical significance

Children who have not finished fusing their proximal radial epiphyseal plate may suffer dislocations of this joint, called pulled elbow or Nursemaid's elbow. This frequently happens when parents sharply jerk their children by their arms, e.g. the act of grabbing a child away from traffic.

Additional images
  • The supinator muscle
  • T1 weighted MRI showing the anular ligament
  • Elbow joint. Deep dissection. Anterior view.
  • Elbow joint. Deep dissection. Anterior view.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 324 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. Gray's Anatomy (1918), see infobox
  2. Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology (1998). Terminologia anatomica: international anatomical terminology. Thieme. ISBN 978-3-13-114361-7. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  3. Palastanga, Nigel; Soames, Roger (2012). Anatomy and Human Movement: Structure and Function (6th ed.). Elsevier. p. 141. ISBN 9780702040535.
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