Distal radioulnar joint
The distal radioulnar joint is a pivot type synovial joint between the distal radius and ulna.
On this page:
Summary
- articulation: pivot type synovial joint between the distal aspect of the radius and the ulna
- movement: rotation of the distal radius
- ligaments: triangular ligament, and anterior and posterior distal radioulnar ligaments
- blood supply: anterior and posterior interosseous arteries
- nerve supply: anterior and posterior interosseous nerves
Gross anatomy
Articulation
The distal radioulnar joint is a pivot type synovial joint existing between the ulnar notch of the distal radius and the head of the ulna. The primary uniting structure of the joint is the articular disc of the distal radioulnar joint, also termed the triangular ligament 1 (part of the Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC)).
Movement
The primary movement of the distal radioulnar joint is to allow pronation and supination of the forearm.
- pronation: pronator quadratus, pronator teres
- supination: supinator, biceps brachii
Ligaments and tendons
The distal radioulnar joint has intrinsic and extrinsic stabilizing structures.
Intrinsic
- anterior and posterior distal radioulnar ligaments
- distal radioulnar joint capsule
Extrinsic
Arterial supply
The blood supply to the distal radio-ulnar joint is provided by the:
- dorsal and palmar branches of the anterior interosseous artery
- posterior interosseous artery
- radiocarpal branches of the ulnar artery
Innervation
The nervous supply to the distal radioulnar joint is provided by the:
- anterior interosseous nerve (branch of the median nerve)
- posterior interosseous nerve (branch of the radial nerve)
Related pathology
Related Radiopaedia articles
Anatomy: Upper limb
-
skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
- scapula
- humerus
- radius
- ulna
- carpal bones (mnemonic)
- metacarpals
- phalanges
- accessory ossicles of the upper limb
- accessory ossicles of the shoulder
- accessory ossicles of the elbow
-
accessory ossicles of the wrist (mnemonic)
- os centrale carpi
- os epilunate
- os epitriquetrum
- os styloideum
- os hamuli proprium
- lunula
- os triangulare
- trapezium secondarium
- os paratrapezium
- os radiostyloideum (persistent radial styloid)
- joints of the upper limb
-
pectoral girdle
-
shoulder joint
- articulations
- associated structures
- joint capsule
- bursae
- ligaments
-
movements
- scapulothoracic joint
- glenohumeral joint
- arm flexion
- arm extension
- arm abduction
- arm adduction
- arm internal rotation (medial rotation)
- arm external rotation (lateral rotation)
- circumduction
- blood supply - scapular anastomosis
- ossification centers
-
shoulder joint
-
elbow joint
- proximal radioulnar joint
- ligaments
- associated structures
- movements
- alignment
- blood supply - elbow anastomosis
- development
-
wrist joint
- articulations
-
ligaments
- intrinsic ligaments
- extrinsic ligaments
- radioscaphoid ligament
- dorsal intercarpal ligament
- dorsal radiotriquetral ligament
- dorsal radioulnar ligament
- volar radioulnar ligament
- radioscaphocapitate ligament
- long radiolunate ligament
- Vickers ligament
- short radiolunate ligament
- ulnolunate ligament
- ulnotriquetral ligament
- ulnocapitate ligament
- ulnar collateral ligament
- associated structures
- extensor retinaculum
- flexor retinaculum
- joint capsule
- movements
- alignment
- ossification centers
-
hand joints
- articulations
- carpometacarpal joint
-
metacarpophalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
-
interphalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
- movements
- ossification centers
- articulations
-
pectoral girdle
- spaces of the upper limb
- muscles of the upper limb
- shoulder girdle
- anterior compartment of the arm
- posterior compartment of the arm
- anterior compartment of the forearm
-
posterior compartment of the forearm (extensors)
- superficial
- deep
- hand (mnemonic)
- accessory muscles
- blood supply to the upper limb
-
arteries
- subclavian artery (mnemonic)
- axillary artery
- brachial artery (proximal portion)
- ulnar artery
- radial artery
- veins
-
arteries
- innervation of the upper limb
- intercostobrachial nerve
-
brachial plexus (mnemonic)
- branches from the roots
- branches from the trunks
- branches from the cords
- lateral cord
- posterior cord
- medial cord
- terminal branches
- lymphatic drainage of the upper limb
