Upper Extremity, Osseous Anatomy

Carroll University Path-A Program 2026

What are the two divisions of the appendicular skeleton?

Upper limb and girdle

Lower limb and girdle

What are the 4 segments of the upper limb?

Pectoral girdle

Arm

Forearm

Hand

What 3 parts are found within the pectoral girdle?

Scapulae

Clavicles

Manubrium (sternum)

What bone is found within the arm?

Humerus

What bones are found within the forearm?

Radius

Ulna

What 3 parts make up the hand?

Carpals

Metacarpals

Phalanges

What is the location of the clavicles?

Spans from the manubrium to scapula

What are the 3 major functions of the clavicles?

1. Forms the strut/brace

2. Protection (major vessels)

3. Force transmission

What is the most fractured bone in the body?

Clavicle

What bone is the first to ossify?

Clavicle

What is the acromioclavicular joint?

Where the collar bone (clavicle) meets the highest point of your shoulder blade (acromion)

What two ligaments reinforce the acromioclavicular?

Coracoclavicular ligament (conoid ligament, trapezoid ligament)

Acromioclavicular ligament

What is the two parts that are within the coracoclavicular?

Conoid ligament

Trapezoid ligament

What is the sternoclavicular joint?

Where your clavicle meets your breastbone (sternum)

What ligaments stabilize the sternoclavicular joint?

Sternoclavicular ligament

1. anterior

2. Posterior

3. Interclavicular

Coracoacromial ligament

How many articulations does the clavicle have and what are they?

2

Acromioclavicular joint and the Sternoclavicular joint

What are the key structures on the clavicle?

Sternal end (blunt)

Acromial end (flattened)

Sternal and acromial facets

Shaft

1. Superior (smooth)

2. Inferior (grooves/ridges)

What is used to determine the L and R of the clavicle?

Determine what end is the Acromial (lateral) end

Determine what end is the Sternal (medial) end

What is the location of the scapulae?

Posterolateral aspect of the thorax

What is the function of the scapulae?

1. muscle attachment

2. Form socket for head of humerus

What is the term “Winged scapula”?

A condition where your shoulder blade protrudes outward from the back instead of lying flat against the rib cage

What causes “Winged Scapula”?

Damage to the long thoracic nerve

Damage to the serratus anterior (the muscle that holds the scapula in place)

What is the most fractured part of the scapulae?

acromion process

What are the articulations of the scapula?

Acromioclavicular joint

Glenohumeral (shoulder) joint

What are the key parts of the scapulae anatomy?

Borders

Proesses

Angles

Surfaces

Glenoid cavity

What are the 3 borders in regard to the scapula?

1. Superior

2. Lateral

3. Medial

Where is the scapular notch located?

On the superior border of the scapula

What are the two processes in regard to the scapula?

Acromion process

Coracoid process

What are the angles in regard to the scapula?

1. superior

2. inferior

3. Acromial

What are the surfaces in regard to the scapula?

Anterior: Supscapular fossa

Posterior: Spine,supra/infraspinous fossa

What is the glenoid cavity?

A shallow, pear-shaped depression located on the outer edge of the scapula (shoulder blade).

What is inserted into the glenoid cavity?

the head of the humerus

Where is the humerus located?

Extends from the shoulder to elbow

What is the largest bone in the upper limb?

Humerus

What is the primary function of the humerus?

Muscle attachment

Attached to the shoulder at the proximal end and to the forearm at the distal end

What are the articulations of the humerus?

Head

Humeroradial joint

Humeroulnar joint

The head of the humerus articulates with what?

the glenoid fossa of scapula

The humeroradial joint is primarily stabilized by the radial collateral ligament?

the humeroulnar joint is primary stabilized by what ligament?

The humeroulnar joint is primarily stabilized by what ligament?

Ulnar collateral ligament

What is the key components of the humerus anatomy?

Shaft (body; diaphysis and the 2 tubercles)

Head

Neck (2)

Epicondyles

What are the 2 tubercles of the humerus shaft?

Intertubercular and radial grooves

Deltoid tuberosity

What are the 2 types of the neck of the humerus?

Anatomical

Surgical

What are the epicondyles (medial and lateral)?

the bony bumps on the outer sides of the elbow, located at the bottom of the upper arm bone

The MEH (Medial Epicondyle of the Humerus) makes the groove for what?

ulnar nerve (funny bone)

What are the articulation sites between the radius and ulna on the distal end of the humerus?

Trochlea

Capitulum

The humerus has two fossae (depressions) at the distal end, which what what?

Conoroid (anterior)

Olecranon (posterior)

The surgical neck of the humerus is in direct contact with what nerve?

axillary nerve

The radial groove of the humerus is in direct contact with what nerve?

Radila nerve

The distal humerus is in direct contact with the nerve?

Median nerve

The medial epicondyle of the humerus is in direct contact with what nerve?

Ulnar nerve

Where is the ulna located?

Medial forearm

Is the ulna or radius the longer bone of the forearm?

the ulna

What are the major functions of the ulna?

1. Stabilize the forearm

2. Attachment for ligaments and muscles

What are the 2 articulations of the ulna?

Humeroulnar

Radioulnar

What are the key anatomy components of the ulna?

Shaft

Olecranon

Coronoid process

Head

The shaft of the ulna has what?

Ulnar tuberosity

What is the function of the ulnar tuberosity?

Attachment for biceps brachii

the olecranon process has what on it?

Trochlear (semilunar) notch

The coronoid process holds what?

radial notch

What is the function of the radial notch?

Radius attach to ulna

What is distinct about the head of the ulna?

It is distal

Only bone with a distal head

What does the head of the ulna contain?

Medial styloid process

How can we determine the R vs. L ulna?

The radius is lateral to the ulna

Where is the radius located?

Lateral forearm

Is the radius or ulna shorter?

Radius

What is the function of the radius?

1. Ligament attachment

2. Muscle attachment

What common fracture occurs distal 2 cm of the radius?

Colles fracture

FOOSH (FALL ON OUT STRETCHED HANDS)

What are the radius articulations?

1. radiocarpal joint

2. Distal radioulnar joint

3. Proximal radioulnar joint

4. Middle radioulnar joint

What 2 ligaments make up the radiocarpal joint (wrirst)?

1. dorsal/palmar

2. radiocarpal ligament

What 2 ligaments make p the radioulnar joint?

1. dorsal /palmar

2. radioulnar ligament

What ligament makes up the proximal radioulnar joint?

Annular ligament

What makes up the middle radioulnar joint?

Interosseous membrane

What are the key anatomy components of the radius?

Head with fovea (circular depression)

Neck (radial tuberosity)

Shaft (body, diaphysis)

What cartilage is attached to the head with fovea of the radius?

Articular (hyaline) cartilage

The neck of the radius has what on its surface?

Radial tuberosity

What end of the shaft of the radius is enlarged?

distal end

The shaft of the radius has what on the surface?

Ulnar notch

radial (lateral) styloid process

How many bones are within the carpal bones?

8

2 rows of 4

What is the function of the carpal bones?

Give flexibility to wrist

The carpal bones have two gliding surfaces, where are they located?

1. between each bone

2. radiocarpal joint

The proximal row (lateral to medial) of the carpal bones:

Scaphoid

Lunate

Triquetrum

Pisiform

What is the most commonly fractured carpal bone?

Scaphoid

The pisiform is located where?

Pinky side

The distal row of the carpal bones are:

Trapezium

Trapezoid

Capitate

Hamate

The hamate has what?

Hook of hamate

The hook of hamate is in close proximity to what nerve?

Ulnar nerve

What is a common fracture within the hook of hamate?

Nonunion fracture

(hook breaks off, causing numbness/pain)

How can the carpals be remembered?

Some

Lovers

Try

Positions

That

They

Cannot

Handle

The metacarpals are:

5 numbered 1-5, thumb is #1

What parts make up the metacarpals?

1. Base

2. Shaft

3. Head

What is a common fracture in the metacarpal?

Bennett’s Fracture (metacarpal of thumb)

What ligaments are accompanied by the metacarpals?

Metacarpal ligaments

Deep transverse metacarpals ligament

What parts make up the phalanges of the hand?

Base

Shaft

Head

The number per digit and totals how many phalanges per hand?

14 per hand

The thumb has how many phalanges?

2

Phalanges #2-5 have how many phalanges?

3

The terminal phalanx of each digit is what?

the smallest, dorsally plattened (nail bed)

How do most of the fractures in the phalanges occur?

Crushing in car door

Hyperextension