Radial head
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Jones J, Murphy A, Vadera S, et al. Radial head. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 21 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-22208
rID:
22208
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.
View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Andrew Murphy had no recorded disclosures.
View Andrew Murphy's current disclosures
Revisions:
7 times, by
7 contributors -
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The radial head is the proximal articular surface of the radius and prone to dislocation in childhood and fracture in adults. It is palpable on the lateral side of the elbow, immediately distal to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
The radial head forms part of the elbow joint. The radial head articulates with the ulna at the proximal radioulnar joint and with the humerus at the radiohumeral joint.
At the proximal radioulnar joint, the radial head sits in the radial notch of the proximal ulna and is held in place by the annular ligaments. At the radiohumeral joint, the radial head sits adjacent to the capitellum.
Ossification
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
Assessment of radial head location is performed using the radiocapitellar line to ensure that the radial head and the capitellum are in line on all views.
Related pathology
References
- 1. Slaby F, Jacobs E, Slaby FJ. Radiographic anatomy. Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:0683062662. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Elbow radiograph (an approach)
- Elbow (acute flexion AP views)
- Osborne-Cotterill lesion
- Paediatric elbow radiograph (an approach)
- Synovial folds of the elbow
- Joint effusion
- Posterior interosseous nerve
- Elbow ossification
- Posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow
- Radial head dislocation
- Ossification centres of the elbow
- Lateral collateral ligament complex of the elbow
- Radiohumeral meniscus
- Annular ligament of the elbow
- Anterior humeral line
- Elbow ossification (mnemonic)
- Radius
- Elbow
- MRI of the elbow (an approach)
- Capitellum
Cases:
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Upper limb
-
skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
- scapula
- humerus
- radius
- ulna
- hand
- 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
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- joints of the upper limb
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pectoral girdle
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shoulder joint
- articulations
- associated structures
- joint capsule
- bursae
- ligaments
- movements
- scapulothoracic joint
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glenohumeral joint
- arm flexion
- arm extension
- arm abduction
- arm adduction
- arm internal rotation (medial rotation)
- arm external rotation (lateral rotation)
- circumduction
- arterial supply - scapular anastomosis
- ossification centers
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shoulder joint
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elbow joint
- proximal radioulnar joint
- ligaments
- associated structures
- movements
- alignment
- arterial supply - elbow anastomosis
- development
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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
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hand joints
- articulations
- carpometacarpal joint
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metacarpophalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
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interphalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
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- movements
- ossification centers
- articulations
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pectoral girdle
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- muscles of the upper limb
- shoulder girdle
- anterior compartment of the arm
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anterior compartment of the forearm
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posterior compartment of the forearm (extensors)
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- deep
- muscles of the hand
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accessory muscles
- elbow
- volar wrist midline
- palmaris longus profundus
- aberrant palmaris longus
- volar wrist radial-side
- accessory flexor digitorum superficialis indicis
- flexor indicis profundus
- flexor carpi radialis vel profundus
- accessory head of the flexor pollicis longus (Gantzer muscle, common)
- volar wrist ulnar-side
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- blood supply to the upper limb
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arteries
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- axillary artery
- brachial artery (proximal portion)
- ulnar artery
- radial artery
- veins
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arteries
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- intercostobrachial nerve
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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
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