Monday, November 14, 2011

Recognizing The Significant Role Of Our Elbows

By Vanessa John


The human anatomy consists of a variety of parts that allow one to move freely. Among these parts are our upper limbs or upper extremities which house our hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, arms and shoulders. Among these parts of our upper limbs, on the other hand, the part that allows for range and mobility in the arms is the elbow. Hence, the use of elbow guards to provide protection to this part when participating in risky activities is always a must.

The juncture where the three long bones of the upper arms meet is the elbow. These bones are the humerus or the bone of the upper arm, the ulna which is the inner bone of the forearm, and the radius or outer bone of the forearm. The major ligaments that connect these bones in the elbow are the ulnar collateral ligament, the radial collateral ligament, and the annular ligament. Flexion and extension of this joint of our upper limbs are made possible by the biceps and triceps muscles, respectively.

Connecting three of the large bones of our upper extremities, the elbow is one of the biggest joints of the human anatomy. Moreover, it is also the part used in most day-to-day activities. Its major function is to allow flexion and extension movements. Flexion refers to the position where the arm is bent while extension is the position when the arm is straight. Also, the elbow prevents the arms from hitting the side of the body as one walks. This is made possible by its "carrying angle" which happens when the arm is extended with the palm facing forward.

Much of our arms versatility is provided by our elbows. Hand-to-mouth eating motions, for example, are made possible by the unique positioning and interaction of the bones in our elbows. This positioning allow small amount of rotation necessary in aforementioned motions. Another function of the elbow is as a fulcrum for seated activities involving the hands such as writing or typing on a keyboard.

With this variety of function performed by the juncture of our long upper limb bones, it can be easily put under stress. Among the common causes of elbow pains are sprains, strains, fractures, bursitis, and arthritis. On the other hand, common elbow injuries include dislocations and tendonitis. Dislocations often result after falling on the arm while the elbow is fully extended or outstretched. Tendonitis, on the other hand, can either be golfer's elbow or tennis elbow. A golfer's elbow is a tendonitis that involves the tendon of the common flexor origin while a tennis elbow involves the tendon of the extensor origin. With these number of injuries that may befall our elbow, the use of elbow guards when participating in activities involving the use of said joints is extremely necessary in ensuring the joint's protection.

With the important roles our elbows play in the human anatomy, their protection is vital in ensuring the health of our body. This can be done by donning safety gears such as elbow guards when participating in risky activities like full-contact sports such as wrestling and soccer.




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