The TuneUp Program

Muscles that articulate the elbow joint

Bicep brachii crosses the elbow joint to insert proximally on the radius and the deep fascia of the forearm. It and the brachialis muscle, which inserts proximally on the ulna are powerful flexors of the elbow. Brachioradialis originates lower on the humerus and also crosses the elbow but attaches closer to the wrist on the distal radius. This orientation means that as brachioradialis contracts it's force contributes more to compression of the elbow joint than it does to movement. Posteriorly the elbow is traversed by the tricep brachii, a powerful extensor.

Elbow pain is generally due to muscles that insert on either side of the elbow and cross the wrist acting on the hand and fingers. Because they're less relevant biomechanically to the elbow they are discussed in the section on wrist. Of course there's an exception, the pronator teres muscle is indicated along with the wrist extensors in lateral epicondylitis.