RADIO-ULNAR JOINT

1. Radioulnar Articulation

2. The articulation of the radius with the ulna is
effected by ligaments.
The ligaments are subdivided into three sets:
1. those of the proximal radioulnar joints.
2. the middle radioulnar joints.
3. those of the distal radioulnar joints .

3. •Proximal radioulnar joints.
•Middle radioulnar joints.
•Distal radioulnar joints .

6. • Proximal Radioulnar
joint— pivot-joint
between the
circumference of the
head of the radius
and the radial notch
of the ulna and the
annular ligament.

7. • Annular ligament—This ligament is a strong
band of fibers, which encircles the head of the
radius, and retains it in contact with the radial
notch of the ulna.
• Attachment anterior and posterior margins
of the radial notch. Its upper border blends
with the capsular ligament of the elbow joint.
• A thick band extend from the inferior border
of the annular ligament below the radial notch
to the neck of the radius is known as the
quadrate ligament. (ligament of Denucé)

8. • Movements.—The movements allowed in this
articulation are limited to rotatory movements of
the head of the radius within the ring formed by
the annular ligament and the radial notch of the
ulna; rotation forward being called pronation;
rotation backward, supination. Supination is
performed by the Biceps brachii and Supinator,
assisted to a slight extent by the Extensor
muscles of the thumb. Pronation is performed by
the Pronator teres and Pronator quadratus.

9. • Middle Radioulnar
joint.—The shafts of
the radius and ulna
are connected by the
Oblique Cord and the
Interosseous
Membrane.

10. • The Oblique Cord
The oblique cord is a small, flattened band,
extending downward and laterally, from the
lateral side of the tubercle of the ulna at the
base of the coronoid process to the radius a
little below the radial tuberosity. Its fibers run
in the opposite direction to those of the
interosseous membrane.

11. • The Interosseous Membrane (membrana interossea
antebrachii).—The interosseous membrane is a broad
and thin plane of fibrous tissue descending obliquely
downward and medialward, from the interosseous
crest of the radius to that of the ulna; the lower part of
the membrane is attached to the posterior of the two
lines into which the interosseous crest of the radius
divides. It is deficient above, commencing about 2.5
cm. beneath the tuberosity of the radius; is broader in
the middle than at either end; and presents an oval
aperture a little above its lower margin for the passage
of the volar interosseous vessels to the back of the
forearm.

12. • This membrane serves to connect the bones, and to increase the
extent of surface for the attachment of the deep muscles. Between
its upper border and the oblique cord is a gap, through which the
dorsal interosseous vessels pass. Two or three fibrous bands are
occasionally found on the dorsal surface of this membrane; they
descend obliquely from the ulna toward the radius, and have
consequently a direction contrary to that of the other fibers. The
membrane is in relation, in front, by its upper three-fourths, with
the Flexor pollicis longus on the radial side, and with the Flexor
digitorum profundus on the ulnar, lying in the interval between
which are the volar interosseous vessels and nerve; by its lower
fourth with the Pronator quadratus; behind, with the Supinator,
Abductor pollicis longus, Extensor pollicis brevis, Extensor pollicis
longus, Extensor indicis proprius; and, near the wrist, with the volar
interosseous artery and dorsal interosseous nerve. 7

13. • Distal Radioulnar Articulation (articulatio
radioulnaris distalis; inferior radioulnar
joint).—This is a pivot-joint formed between
the head of the ulna and the ulnar notch on
the lower end of the radius. The articular
surfaces are connected together by the
following ligaments: 8The Volar Radioulnar.
The Dorsal Radioulnar.

14. • The Volar Radioulnar Ligament (anterior
radioulnar ligament) (Fig. 334).—This
ligament is a narrow band of fibers extending
from the anterior margin of the ulnar notch of
the radius to the front of the head of the ulna.

15. • The Dorsal Radioulnar Ligament (posterior
radioulnar ligament) (Fig. 335).—This
ligament extends between corresponding
surfaces on the dorsal aspect of the
articulation.

16. • The Articular Disk (discus articularis; triangular fibrocartilage)
(Fig. 336).—The articular disk is triangular in shape, and is placed
transversely beneath the head of the ulna, binding the lower ends
of the ulna and radius firmly together. Its periphery is thicker than
its center, which is occasionally perforated. It is attached by its apex
to a depression between the styloid process and the head of the
ulna; and by its base, which is thin, to the prominent edge of the
radius, which separates the ulnar notch from the carpal articular
surface. Its margins are united to the ligaments of the wrist-joint. Its
upper surface, smooth and concave, articulates with the head of
the ulna, forming an arthrodial joint; its under surface, also concave
and smooth, forms part of the wrist-joint and articulates with the
triangular bone and medial part of the lunate. Both surfaces are
clothed by synovial membrane; the upper, by that of the distal
radioulnar articulation, the under, by that of the wrist.

17. • Movements.—The movements in the distal radioulnar articulation
consist of rotation of the lower end of the radius around an axis
which passes through the center of the head of the ulna. When the
radius rotates forward, pronation of the forearm and hand is the
result; and when backward, supination. It will thus be seen that in
pronation and supination the radius describes the segment of a
cone, the axis of which extends from the center of the head of the
radius to the middle of the head of the ulna. In this movement the
head of the ulna is not stationary, but describes a curve in a
direction opposite to that taken by the head of the radius. This,
however, is not to be regarded as a rotation of the ulna—the curve
which the head of this bone describes is due to a combined antero-
posterior and rotatory movement, the former taking place almost
entirely at the elbow-joint, the latter at the shoulder-joint.

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