Kinesiology Upper Extremity Study Guide

Process

A projection or prominence of a bone

Spine

A sharp, slender projection of bone

Fossa

A shallow depression or hollow

Foramen

An opening or hole in a bone

Condyle

A rounded projection at the end of a bone, usually forming a joint

Epicondyle

A projection located above or near a condyle

Tubercle

A small, rounded projection

Tuberosity

A large, roughened projection

Crest

A prominent ridge of bone

Trochanter

A large projection found on the femur (femur only)

Head

A rounded end of a bone that often articulated with another bone

Neck

A narrowed region connecting the head to the rest of a bone

Facet

A small, smooth, flat surface where bones articulate

Notch

An indentation along the edge of a bone

Angle

A corner or bend in a bone

Sulcus (groove)

A narrow channel or depression in a bone

Tubercle vs. Tuberosity

Small bump vs. large, rough bump

Fossa vs. foramen

depression vs. opening

Spine vs. crest

prominent projection vs. ridge

Condyle vs. epicondyle

joint-forming rounded projection vs. projection near or above a condyle

• - Spine: prominent ridge on the posterior surface

• - Acromion process: broad, flattened projection at the outer end of the spine

• - Coracoid process: hook-like projection on the anterior side

• - Glenoid cavity (fossa): shallow socket on the lateral side. articulates with the head of the humerus

• - Supraspinous fossa: depression above the spine

• - Infraspinous fossa: large depression below the spine

• - Subscapular fossa: broad, shallow depression on the anterior surface

• - Superior border: upper edge of the scapula

• - Medial (vertebral) border: edge closest to the spine

• - Lateral (axillary) border: thick outer edge

• - Superior angle: upper corner near the medial border

• - Inferior angle: bottom tip of the scapula

• - Subscapular notch: notch near the base of the coracoid process

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• - Head: large, rounded proximal end

• - Anatomical neck: narrow groove immediately around the head

• - Surgical neck: narrow region below the tubercles

• - Greater tubercle: large lateral projection near the head

• - Lesser tubercle: small anterior projection near the head

• - Intertubercular sulcus (bicipital groove): groove between the greater and lesser tubercles

• - Deltoid tuberosity: roughened area on the lateral shaft

• - Radial groove: groove on the posterior shaft

• - Capitulum: rounded distal surface on the lateral side

• - Trochlea: spool-shaped distal surface on the medial side

• - Medial epicondyle: projection on the inner side of the distal humerus

• - Lateral epicondyle: projection on the outer side of the distal humerus

• - Olecranon fossa: deep depression on the posterior distal humerus

• - Coronoid fossa: depression on the anterior distal humerus, above the trochlea

• - Radial fossa: depression on the anterior distal humerus, above the capitulum

Origin

The attachment generally considered more fixed or closer to the trunk

Where the muscle starts

Insertion

The attachment generally considered more movable; it often moves toward the origin when the muscle contracts

Where it attaches to the bone it moves

Supraspinatus

Infraspinatus

Teres minor

Subscapularis

SITS

Supraspinatus

O: Supraspinous fossa of scapula

I: Greater tubercle of humerus

Main action: Initiates shoulder abduction

Infraspinatus

O: Infraspinous fossa of scapula

I: Greater tubercle of humerus

Main action: External (lateral) rotation

Teres minor

O: lateral border of scapula

I: Greater tubercle of humerus

Main action: external rotation; assists adduction

Subscapularis

O: Subscapular fossa of scapula

I: Lesser tubercle of humerus

Main action: interal (medial) rotation

Deltoid

O: Lateral third of clavicle, acromion, and spine of scapula

I: Deltoid tuberosity of humerus

Main action: abduction; anterior fibers flex and internally rotate, posterior fibers extend and externally rotate

Pectoralis major

O: medial clavicle, sternum, and upper costal cartilages

I: lateral lip of intertubercular sulcus of humerus

Main action: adduction, internal rotation, and horizontal adduction; assists flexion

Latissimus dorsi

O: lower thoracic and thoracolumbar region, iliac crest, and lower ribs

I: floor of intertubercular sulcus of humerus

A: extension, adduction, and internal rotation

Teres major

O: inferior angle and adjacent lateral border of scapula

I: medial lip of intertubercular sulcus of humerus

A: extension, adduction, and internal rotation

Coracobrachialis

O: coracoid process of scapula

I: Medial shaft of humerus

A: shoulder flexion and adduction

Biceps brachii

O: long head: supraglenoid tubercle; short head: coracoid process

I: radial tuberosity and bicipital aponeurosis

A: elbow flexion and forearm supination; assists shoulder flexion

Triceps brachii (long head)

O: infraglenoid tubercle of scapula

I: olecranon of ulna (all three heads)

A: elbow extension; long head assits shoulder extension and adduction

Trapezius

O: occipital bone, ligamentum nuchae, and spinous processes of cervical thoracic vertebrae

I: lateral clavicle, acromion, and spine of scapula

A: elevation, retraction, depression, and upward rotation of scapula (different fibers)

Serratus anterior

O: outer surfaces of upper ribs (usually ribs 1-8 or 1-9)

I: anterior surface of medial border of scapula

A: protraction and upward rotation; holds scapula against rib cage

Rhomboid major

O: spinous processes of upper thoracic vertebrae

I: medial border of scapula below the spine

A: retraction and downward rotation

Rhomboid minor

O: lower cervical/upper thoracic spinous processes and associated ligament

I: medial border near the root of the scapular spine

A: retraction and downward rotation

Levator scapulae

O: transverse processes of C1-C4

I: superior part of medial border of scapula

A: elevation and downward rotation

Pectoralis minor

O: Ribs 3-5 near their costal cartilages

I: coracoid process of scapula

A: protraction, depression, and downward rotation; stabilizes scapula

Muscle I Actions to memorize

Supraspinatus: initiates abduction

Infraspinatus: External rotation

Teres minor: External rotation; assists adduction

Subscapularis: Internal rotation

Deltoid: Abduction; anterior fibers flex; posterior fibers extend

Pectoralis major: Adduction, internal rotation, horizontal adduction

Latissimus dorsi: Extension, adduction, internal rotation

Teres major: Extension, adduction, internal rotation

Coracobrachialis: Flexion and adduction

Biceps brachii: Elbow flexion, forearm supination; assists shoulder flexion

Triceps brachii, long head: Elbow extension; assists shoulder extension and adduction

Trapezius: Elevation, retraction, depression, upward rotation

Serratus anterior: Protraction, upward rotation

Rhomboids: Retraction, downward rotation

Levator scapulae: Elevation, downward rotation

Pectoralis minor: Protraction, depression, downward rotation

Shoulder movement: Flexion v. extension

Flexion: moving the arm forward and upward

Extension: moving the arm backward or returning it backward from a flexed position

Ex: Anterior deltoid assists flexion; latissimus dorsi assists extension

Abduction vs. adduction

Abduction: moving the arm away from the body’s midline

Adduction: moving the arm towards the body’s midline

Ex: deltoid produces abduction; pectoralis major assists adduction

Internal vs. external rotation

Internal (medial) rotation: rotating the humerus inward toward the body

External (lateral) rotation: rotating the humerus outward, away from the body’s midline

ex: subscapularis internally rotates; infraspinatus externally rotates

Protraction vs. retraction

Protraction: moving the scapula forward, away from the spine

Retraction: pulling the scapula backward, toward the spine

Ex: serratus anterior protracts; rhomboids retract

Elevation vs. depression

Elevation: raising the scapula, as in shrugging

Depression: lowering the scapula

Ex: upper trapezius and levator scapulae elevate, lower trapezius can assist depression

Horizontal adduction

Bringing the arm across the chest, as when hugging someone

Upward rotation

rotating the scapula so the glenoid cavity faces more upward, allowing the arm to reach overhead. Trapezius and serratus anterior work together