Anconeus (Musculus anconeus)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
A small triangular muscle on the posterolateral elbow, from the lateral epicondyle to the olecranon’s lateral surface; functionally a downward continuation of the lateral head of triceps.
Origin & insertion
Posterior surface of the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. Lateral surface of the olecranon and the upper posterior ulnar shaft.
Action
Weakly assists elbow extension and slightly abducts the ulna during pronation to widen the trochlear opening.
Innervation
Radial nerve (C6–C8) via the branch to the medial head of triceps.
Clinical notes
A classic surgical landmark: the interval between anconeus and triceps opens the posterolateral elbow approach; chronic pain here enters the tennis-elbow differential.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Anconeus?
A small triangular muscle on the posterolateral elbow, from the lateral epicondyle to the olecranon’s lateral surface; functionally a downward continuation of the lateral head of triceps.
Why is the Anconeus clinically important?
A classic surgical landmark: the interval between anconeus and triceps opens the posterolateral elbow approach; chronic pain here enters the tennis-elbow differential.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details