Untitled Flashcards Set

What two long bones form the forearm?

Radius (lateral) and ulna (medial), parallel to each other.

What joint allows rotation of the arm between the radius and ulna?

Radioulnar joint.

When the hand is supinated, how are the radius and ulna positioned?

They are not crossed.

What happens to the radius and ulna when the hand is pronated?

They are crossed.

What does the ulna primarily form?

The elbow.

What are the parts of the ulna?

Body/shaft, head (distal portion), ulnar styloid process, olecranon process, coronoid process, trochlear notch, radial notch.

What is the olecranon process?

A beak-like process on the ulna, the most superior process.

What is the coronoid process?

A beak-like process on the ulna, more distal with a triangular shape.

What is the trochlear notch?

A C-shaped area on the ulna between the olecranon and coronoid process.

What is the radial notch?

Located on the ulnar side of the coronoid process; where the radial head articulates.

What are the parts of the radius?

Body/shaft, radial styloid process, head, neck, radial tuberosity.

What does the radial tuberosity indicate?

It is a rough, oval process on the medial and anterior side of the radius used to check for rotation at the lateral elbow.

What anatomy should be known for the elbow?

Lateral/medial condyles & epicondyles, capitulum & trochlea, radial head & neck, coronoid process, radial tuberosity, radial notch, radial fossa & coronoid fossa, olecranon fossa, lateral/medial supracondylar ridge, proximal radioulnar joint, ulna.

What does the distal humerus consist of?

Split into lateral and medial condyles and epicondyles on either side.

What is the capitulum?

A rounded area distal to the lateral epicondyle that articulates with the radial head.

What forms the humeroradial joint?

Capitulum of humerus and radial head.

What is the trochlea?

A larger structure than the capitulum that is on the medial side and articulates with the trochlear notch.

What are the two depressions on the distal humerus?

Coronoid fossa and olecranon fossa.

What is the coronoid fossa?

The anterior fossa that allows the coronoid process to fit when the elbow is flexed.

What is the olecranon fossa?

The posterior fossa that fits the olecranon process when the arm is extended.

What other anatomy should be known about the humerus?

Head, greater/lesser tubercles, intertubercular/bicipital groove, anatomic/surgical neck, body.

What are the routine projections for the forearm?

AP and lateral.

What is the IR size for an AP forearm?

14x17 lengthwise.

What is the CR for an AP forearm?

Perpendicular, centered to midforearm.

What is the patient position for an AP forearm?

Seated at the end of the table, hand supinated, long axis of forearm runs with long axis of cassette.

What are the criteria for an AP forearm?

Entire forearm visible, running with long axis of cassette, at least proximal row of carpals to a bit of distal humerus, distal radioulnar joint slightly open, slight superimposition of radial tuberosity with ulna.

What does it indicate if the radial head is completely separated from the ulna on an AP forearm?

The arm is laterally rotated (turned out too much).

What does it indicate if there is too much radial and ulna superimposition on an AP forearm?

The arm is medially rotated.

What are the most common errors in an AP forearm?

Humerus raised or rotated medial side up.

What is the projection type for a lateral forearm?

Lateral-medial projection.

What is the CR for a lateral forearm?

Perpendicular, centered to midforearm.

What are the three steps for a lateral forearm?

1. Elbow flexed 90 degrees. 2. Humerus & forearm on the same plane. 3. Wrist is lateral.

What are the criteria for a lateral forearm?

Entire radius & ulna visible, true 90 degrees, distal 1 inch of radius & ulna superimposed then split, radial tuberosity projects anteriorly.

What are fat pads?

Extra synovial 'space' within the synovial capsule that appears as radiolucent areas indicating trauma to the joint.

What are the routine projections for the elbow?

AP and lateral.

What is the IR size for an AP elbow?

10x12 lengthwise.

What is the patient position for an AP elbow?

Seated at the end of the table, arm fully extended with hand supinated, both epicondyles parallel.

What is the CR for an AP elbow?

Perpendicular, centered to mid-elbow.

What are the criteria for an AP elbow?

3 inches of humerus to 3 inches of forearm, joint space between humerus & radius should be visible, ~1/4th radius superimposes ulna, olecranon process in olecranon fossa.

How can you tell if the arm was fully extended on an AP elbow?

The olecranon process is in the olecranon fossa and the humeroradial joint is open.

How can you tell if the AP elbow is rotated?

Epicondyles were not parallel, so 1/4th of radial head does not superimpose ulna.

What does it indicate if more than 1/4th of the radius superimposes the ulna on an AP elbow?

The arm is medially rotated, not turned out enough.

What is the projection type for a lateral elbow?

Lateral-medial projection.

What are the three steps for a lateral elbow?

1. Elbow flexed 90 degrees. 2. Humerus & forearm on the same plane. 3. Wrist in lateral position.

What is the CR for a lateral elbow?

Perpendicular, centered to elbow joint.

What are the criteria for a lateral elbow?

At least 3 inches distal to humerus and 3 inches proximal to forearm visible; radial tuberosity should project anteriorly.

How can you tell if the wrist was lateral for the lateral elbow?

Radial tuberosity projects anteriorly.

How can you tell if the humerus and forearm are on the same plane for the lateral elbow?

Capitulum & trochlea are completely superimposed and radial head superimposes coronoid process.

What happens if the humerus is raised for the lateral elbow?

The capitulum will be very far down.

What happens if the forearm runs downhill on the lateral elbow?

Coronoid process & radial head will not be superimposed; medial epicondyle will project posteriorly.

What happens if the hand is pronated on the lateral elbow?

Radial tuberosity will project posteriorly.

What is performed with both medial and lateral oblique for the elbow?

Oblique elbow.

What is the patient position for a medial oblique elbow?

Arm fully extended, hand pronated, epicondyles at 45 degrees.

What is the CR for a medial oblique elbow?

Perpendicular, centered to elbow joint.

What is best demonstrated by a medial oblique elbow?

Coronoid process.

What are the criteria for a medial oblique elbow?

3 inches of humerus to 3 inches of proximal forearm.

What is the patient position for a lateral oblique elbow?

Fully extend arm, supinate hand, rotate laterally so epicondyles form a 45-degree angle.

What is the CR for a lateral oblique elbow?

Perpendicular, centered to mid-elbow.

What is best demonstrated by a lateral oblique elbow?

Radial head free of superimposition of ulna.

What indicates rotation on a lateral oblique elbow?

Superimposition of radius and ulna (should be completely separate).

What are the criteria for a lateral oblique elbow?

3 inches of humerus to 3 inches of proximal forearm, open humeroradial joint space, no superimposition of radius and ulna.