elbow joint

The elbow is a very complex structure. It is the meeting point of many nerves and blood vessels as they pass from the upper to the lower arm. It actually consists of three joints enclosed in a common joint capsule: the humeroulnar joint, between the humerus and ulna; the humeroradial joint, between the humerus and radius; and the radioulnar joint, between the radius and ulna. The elbow functions mainly as a hinge joint, allowing bending and straightening of the arm, but the radioulnar joint also allows the forearm to rotate.

Elbow injuries are quite common in sports, especially those which use hand-held equipment. Hitting a ball with a racket, for example, imposes great stress on the shoulder, elbow, and wrist. Repeated movements can damage tendons attached at the elbow. Over a dozen muscles cross the elbow and the tendon attachment sites are very small. The cumulative microtrauma associated with repeatedly hitting a ball can cause the tendons to fray, much like a nylon rope would if repeatedly stretched. They may even become detached. Elbow injuries require skilled treatment, particularly in children, because damage to the complex internal structures can be permanently disabling. Many of the injuries are named after the sport in which they most often occur (see boxer's arm; dart-thrower's elbow; golfer's elbow; judo elbow; tennis elbow; and thrower's elbow).

A complex of three synovial joints enclosed in a common joint capsule. The humeroulnar joint (the main elbow joint) is a hinge joint between the trochlear fossa of the humerus, and the trochlear notch of the ulna, permitting extension and flexion. The humeroradial joint is a gliding joint between the capitalism of the humerus and the radius. The radioulnar joint is a pivot joint between the radius and ulna, around which pronation and supination occur. The articular surfaces of the bones in the elbow are highly complementary and is the main reason why this joint is very stable.

A compound hinge joint between the humerus and the bones of the forearm. Also called cubital joint.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped
  Synonyms: elbow, cubitus, cubital joint, articulatio cubiti