What does epicondyle mean?
An epicondyle is a bony prominence situated on or just above a condyle — the rounded end of a long bone that forms part of a joint. Unlike the condyle itself, which articulates with another bone, the epicondyle sits slightly apart from the joint surface and serves as an anchor point for muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The term is used chiefly for the paired projections at the lower end of the humerus in the arm and at the lower end of the femur in the thigh, where they are distinguished as medial and lateral epicondyles. The word belongs firmly to medical and anatomical vocabulary, appearing most often in clinical contexts: inflammation of the lateral epicondyle of the humerus underlies the familiar condition known as tennis elbow, while its medial counterpart gives rise to golfer's elbow. For students of anatomy, physiotherapy, and orthopaedics, it is an indispensable term for describing both normal structure and common sites of overuse injury.
nounA projection of bone situated above or upon a condyle of a long bone, especially at the lower end of the humerus or femur, serving as an attachment point for muscles and ligaments.
- Anatomy: a bony prominence on a condyle of a long bone, such as the medial or lateral epicondyle of the humerus or femur, providing attachment for muscles and ligaments.
"The golfer's persistent elbow pain was traced to inflammation of the medial epicondyle."
"Fracture of the lateral epicondyle of the humerus is an uncommon but recognised injury in young athletes."
"Palpating just above the medial epicondyle, the examiner could reproduce the tingling sensation radiating down the forearm."
Standard English plural; because most relevant bones have two epicondyles (medial and lateral), the plural occurs frequently in anatomical description.
"Both the medial and lateral epicondyles of the femur provide origin points for the calf muscles."
That sore spot from tennis elbow? It has an official name — the lateral epicondyle — and 'epicondylitis' literally means inflammation of it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of epicondyle
The word derives from New Latin 'epicondylus', formed from Greek elements: 'epi-' meaning 'upon' or 'above', and 'kondylos' meaning 'knuckle' or rounded joint prominence. It entered English anatomical usage in the early nineteenth century, when Latinised Greek terminology was being standardised across European anatomy. Its sibling terms include 'condyle' itself and the clinical derivative 'epicondylitis', denoting inflammation at this bony site.
Related word forms
How epicondyle is actually used
Strictly anatomical and clinical in register; almost never used outside medicine, sports science, and anatomy teaching. The word nearly always appears with a specifier — 'medial' or 'lateral', and often with the bone named — because each long bone may have two epicondyles.
Easily confused with epicondyle
A condyle is the rounded articular surface of a bone that fits into a joint, whereas an epicondyle is a bony bump located just above or on a condyle that serves for muscle attachment rather than articulation.