ulnar collateral ligament
Medical Definition of ulnar collateral ligament
1: a triangular ligament of the elbow that connects the medial epicondyle of the humerus with the medial edge of the coronoid process and the olecranon of the ulna, that helps to stabilize the elbow joint, and that is often injured in sports (as baseball) which involve repeated overhand throwing <… the preseason Atlantic Sun pitcher of the year, will miss the rest of the season after suffering ulnar collateral ligament damage on the inside of his throwing elbow.—Dana Caldwell, The Naples (Florida) Daily News, 25 Mar. 2011> <… McDowell had a torn ulnar collateral ligament and will need Tommy John surgery to repair it …—David Campbell, The Eagle (Bryan, Texas), 25 Mar. 2011>—called also medial collateral ligament, UCL; compare radial collateral ligament 1
2: a ligament of the wrist on the little finger side that connects the distal end of the ulna of the arm with the triquetral and pisiform bones and helps to stabilize the wrist joint <Palpate to the end of the ulnar styloid, and notice the gap between it and the carpals. … With the wrist in radial deviation, the ulnar collateral ligament can be felt bridging this gap.—Management of Common Musculoskeletal Disorders: Physical Therapy Principles, 2006>—called also UCL; compare radial collateral ligament 2
3: a ligament of the inner middle joint of the thumb that connects the head of the metacarpal bone with the adjacent phalanx <… skier's thumb, an ulnar collateral ligament sprain or injury to the thumb usually resulting from a fall.—Heidi Splete, Family Practice News, 1 Dec. 2002>—called also UCL; compare radial collateral ligament 3
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