Morphometry of the superior articular surface of head of radius

Abstract

The human elbow joint has three different articulations surrounded by a common joint capsule. These joints are the humeroulnar joint, humeroradial joint, and the proximal radioulnar joint. The humeroradial joint is a shallow ball-and-socket, hinge type of synovial joint. This aims to provide morphometric data concerning the superior articular surface of the head of radius. In a sample of 30 dry specimen of the radius, high-precision measurements were recorded to derive a statistical inference concerning: the maximal depth of the superior articular surface, its average diameter, and the articular surface area and its concavity volume. The depth and the diameter were measured using an electronic Vernier. Measuring the surface area and volume at such a small-scale was a challenge. Hence, three methods were deployed: a mathematical method, a cast material technique, and a low-surface tension fluid application.The 95% confidence intervals were 1.847–2.119mm (depth), 18.963–20.445mm (diameter), 2.961–3.451cm2 (surface area), and 0.277–0.359cm3 (volume). There was a strong positive correlation for: depth vs. volume, depth vs. area, area vs. volume, diameter vs. depth, diameter vs. area, and diameter vs. volume. However, the correlation was absent (not significant) for age vs. diameter (p-value 0.361), age vs. depth (p-value 0.937), age vs. area (p-value 0.342), age vs. volume (p-value 0.512), limb orientation vs. area (p-value 0.149), limb vs. volume (p-value 0.146). This is the first study of its kind, to analyze the morphometry of the superior articular surface of the radial head, both experimentally and statistically. Derived data are of high impact in standardization and practical application in anthropology, biotechnology and biomedical applications, orthopedics, and rheumatology.