The radial collateral ligament (external lateral ligament, radial carpal collateral ligament) extends from the tip of the styloid process

Styloid process

In anatomy, a styloid process , usually serving as points of attachment for muscles, refers to the slender, pointed process of :* temporal bone of the skull - Temporal styloid process...

 of the radius

Radius

In classical geometry, a radius of a circle or sphere is any line segment from its center to its perimeter. By extension, the radius of a circle or sphere is the length of any such segment, which is half the diameter. If the object does not have an obvious center, the term may refer to its...

 and attaches to the radial side of the scaphoid (formerly Navicular bone of the hand), immediately adjacent to its proximal articular surface and some fibres extend to the lateral side of the trapezium

Trapezium

The word trapezium has several meanings:* - a quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides ....

 (greater multangular bone).

It is in relation with the radial artery

Radial artery

In human anatomy, the radial artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the lateral aspect of the forearm.-Course:The radial artery arises from the bifurcation of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa. It runs distally on the anterior part of the forearm...

, which separates the ligament from the tendons of the Abductor pollicis longus and Extensor pollicis brevis.

The radial collateral ligament's role is to limit ulnar deviation

Ulnar deviation

Ulnar deviation, also known as ulnar drift, is a hand deformity in which the swelling of the metacarpophalangeal joints causes the fingers to become displaced, tending towards the little finger. Its name comes from the displacement toward the ulna...

at the wrist.

External links

• http://classes.kumc.edu/sah/resources/handkines/ligaments/wvsradcoll.htm