Puzzle Piece 6: Skeletal System - Upper Appendicular Skeleton

What is the total number of bones in the appendicular skeleton?

126 bones.

What are the two main groups of the appendicular skeleton?

Bones making up the limbs (upper limb and lower limb) and bones attaching the limbs to the axial skeleton.

What bones make up the upper limb?

Bones in the arm, forearm, and hand.

What bones make up the lower limb?

Bones in the thigh, leg, and foot.

What is the function of the pectoral girdle?

It attaches the upper limb to the axial skeleton.

What is the function of the pelvic girdle?

It attaches the lower limb to the axial skeleton.

What are the three sections of the upper limb?

Arm, forearm, and hand.

What bone is found in the arm?

Humerus.

What bones are found in the forearm?

Radius and ulna.

What are the components of the hand?

Carpal bones, metacarpal bones, and phalanges.

What is the longest and largest bone of the upper limb?

The humerus.

What are the key features of the proximal end of the humerus?

Head, anatomical neck, surgical neck, greater tubercle, lesser tubercle, intertubercular groove.

What is the significance of the head of the humerus?

It articulates with the glenoid fossa of the scapula to form the glenohumeral joint.

What is the anatomical neck of the humerus?

It is located below the head.

Why is the surgical neck of the humerus clinically significant?

It is a common site for fractures.

What is the intertubercular groove also known as?

Bicipital groove.

What is the function of the intertubercular groove?

It serves as a passage for the tendon of the biceps brachii muscle.

Where is the deltoid tuberosity located on the humerus?

In the lateral aspect of the humerus.

What articulates with the trochlea of the humerus?

The ulna, specifically with the trochlear notch.

What articulates with the capitulum of the humerus?

The radius, specifically with the head of the radius.

What is the olecranon fossa?

A big indentation on the posterior aspect of the humerus that receives the olecranon process of the ulna during forearm extension.

What does the coronoid fossa receive during forearm flexion?

The coronoid process of the ulna.

What does the radial fossa receive during forearm flexion?

The head of the radius.

What are condyles in the context of the humerus?

Smooth rounded surfaces used in articulation, specifically the capitulum and trochlea.

What are epicondyles and where are they located on the humerus?

Epicondyles are bumps located above the condyles on the humerus, specifically the medial and lateral aspects of the elbow.

Which epicondyle is more pronounced on the humerus?

The medial epicondyle is more pronounced than the lateral epicondyle.

What does the olecranon fossa receive?

The olecranon fossa receives the olecranon process of the ulna.

Where is the olecranon fossa located on the humerus?

The olecranon fossa is located at the distal end and posterior aspect of the humerus.

How can you determine if a humerus is right or left?

Place the olecranon fossa posteriorly; the larger medial epicondyle will indicate the correct orientation.

What is a fossa?

A fossa is an indentation in a bone.

What are the names of the fossae in the humerus and what do they receive?

The radial fossa receives the head of the radius, the coronoid fossa receives the coronoid process of the ulna, and the olecranon fossa receives the olecranon process of the ulna.

Which bone is the most lateral in the forearm?

The radius is the most lateral bone in the forearm.

What anatomical position helps to remember the lateral position of the radius?

In anatomical position, the palms face anteriorly, making the thumb lateral, which corresponds to the radius.

What are the key features of the radius?

The radius has a proximal end (head, neck), a shaft (radial tuberosity), and a distal end (styloid process, ulnar notch).

What does the head of the radius articulate with?

The head of the radius articulates with the capitulum of the humerus.

What is the function of the radial tuberosity?

The radial tuberosity is the attachment site for the biceps brachii muscle.

What are the key features of the ulna?

The ulna has a proximal end (olecranon process, trochlear notch, coronoid process, radial notch) and a distal end (head, styloid process).

What is the olecranon process and its function?

The olecranon process is a bony protuberance that fits into the olecranon fossa of the humerus during extension and flexion.

What does the trochlear notch articulate with?

The trochlear notch articulates with the trochlea of the humerus.

What is the shape of the proximal end of the ulna?

The proximal end of the ulna resembles the shape of the letter 'U'.

What does the acronym OTC stand for in relation to the ulna?

OTC stands for Olecranon process, Trochlear notch, and Coronoid process, which helps remember the order of features at the proximal end of the ulna.

What does the coronoid process do?

The coronoid process moves into the coronoid fossa of the humerus during flexion and moves out during extension.

What is the significance of the styloid process on the radius?

The styloid process is a prominent bony projection at the distal end of the radius.

What is the ulnar notch on the radius?

The ulnar notch is a small indentation at the distal end of the radius that articulates with the head of the ulna.

What is the relationship between the radius and ulna in terms of their positions?

The radius is the most lateral bone while the ulna is the most medial bone in the forearm.

What is the olecranon in relation to the elbow?

Olecranon is the anatomical term for the elbow.

What happens to the olecranon process during elbow movement?

The olecranon process moves into the olecranon fossa during extension and out during flexion.

What does the acronym OTC stand for in relation to the ulna's proximal end features?

O for Olecranon process, T for Trochlear notch, C for Coronoid process.

What is the Olecranon process?

The top protuberance of the ulna.

What is the Trochlear notch?

The inside of the ulna, which articulates with the humerus.

What is the Coronoid process?

The bottom protuberance of the ulna.

What is the Radial notch?

A small indentation on the ulna that articulates with the head of the radius.

Where is the head of the ulna located?

At the distal end of the ulna.

What is a witty way to remember the location of the ulna's head?

"Ulna, Uh la la..."

What are the styloid processes of the ulna and radius?

Prominent bony projections at the distal ends of the ulna and radius.

How can you distinguish between the styloid processes of the ulna and radius?

The medial bump is the styloid process of the ulna, and the lateral bump is the styloid process of the radius.

What is the interosseous membrane?

A membrane located between the shafts of the radius and ulna.

What are the proximal and distal radio-ulnar joints?

Proximal: head of the radius articulates with the radial notch of the ulna; Distal: head of the ulna articulates with the ulnar notch of the radius.

What is the function of the proximal and distal radio-ulnar joints?

They allow pronation and supination of the forearm.

What articulates to form the elbow joint?

The humerus, radius, and ulna.

What movements does the elbow joint allow?

Flexion and extension of the forearm.

During flexion, which parts of the radius and ulna articulate with the humerus?

The head of the radius goes into the radial fossa, and the coronoid process of the ulna goes into the coronoid fossa.

What happens to the olecranon process during flexion?

It exits the olecranon fossa of the humerus.

During extension, what happens to the head of the radius and the coronoid process of the ulna?

The head of the radius exits the radial fossa, and the coronoid process exits the coronoid fossa.

What is the role of the capitulum and trochlea of the humerus?

They are the condyles of the humerus that articulate with the radius and ulna.

What does the capitulum articulate with?

The head of the radius.

What is a mnemonic to remember the articulation of the radius with the capitulum?

The radio needs to 'capture' the signal, hence it articulates with the capitulum.

What is the position of the radius bone in relation to the ulna?

The radius bone is always lateral to the ulna.

Which part of the humerus does the head of the radius articulate with?

The head of the radius articulates with the capitulum of the humerus.

Where is the capitulum located in relation to the trochlea?

The capitulum is located laterally in relation to the trochlea.

What is the relationship between the capitulum and the lateral epicondyle?

The capitulum is the condyle located close to the lateral epicondyle.

Where is the trochlea located in relation to the medial epicondyle?

The trochlea is the condyle located close to the medial epicondyle.

What fossae are located above the capitulum and trochlea on the humerus?

The radial fossa is above the capitulum, and the coronoid fossa is above the trochlea.

What happens to the head of the radius when the forearm is flexed?

The head of the radius moves into the radial fossa of the humerus.

What articulates with the trochlea during forearm flexion?

The trochlear notch of the ulna remains articulated with the trochlea of the humerus.

What is the olecranon fossa's role during forearm extension?

The olecranon process of the ulna moves into the olecranon fossa of the humerus.

What are the three types of fossae in the humerus?

The radial fossa, coronoid fossa, and olecranon fossa.

How many carpal bones are there in the wrist?

There are 8 carpal bones in the wrist.

What is the mnemonic to remember the carpal bones?

Some Lovers Try Positions That They Can't Handle.

Which carpal bone is located beneath the thumb?

The trapezium is positioned beneath the thumb.

What does the scaphoid bone resemble?

The scaphoid resembles the letter 'S'.

How many metacarpal bones are there in the palm?

There are 5 metacarpal bones in the palm.

What is the numbering system for metacarpals?

Metacarpals are numbered one to five starting with the thumb (pollex) side.

How many phalanges does each hand have?

Each hand has 14 phalanges.

What is the structure of the phalanges in the thumb?

The thumb has only a proximal phalanx and a distal phalanx.

What are the types of phalanges in the other fingers?

Other fingers have proximal phalanx, middle phalanx, and distal phalanx.

What is the distal phalanx?

The distal phalanx is the most distant from the torso, located at the tip of the fingers.

What is the proximal phalanx?

The proximal phalanx is the most proximal to the torso, closest to the metacarpal.

What is the middle phalanx?

The middle phalanx is located between the distal and proximal phalanges.

What is the primary function of the pectoral girdle?

To attach the upper limbs to the axial skeleton.

What bones make up the pectoral girdle?

The scapula and the clavicle.

What is the common name for the scapula?

Shoulder blade.

Describe the shape and characteristics of the scapula.

The scapula is a flat bone with a triangular shape.

How does the scapula articulate with the humerus?

Via the glenoid fossa.

What is the acromion process?

A bony protuberance in the lateral aspect of the scapula that articulates with the acromial end of the clavicle.

What are the key features of the scapula?

Spine, supraspinous fossa, infraspinous fossa, subscapular fossa, suprascapular notch, acromion process, coracoid process, glenoid fossa.

What is the function of the coracoid process?

It serves as an attachment point for the coracobrachialis muscle.

What is the glenoid fossa?

A shallow, smooth indentation that articulates with the head of the humerus, forming the glenohumeral joint.

What is the common name for the clavicle?

Collarbone.

Describe the shape and features of the clavicle.

The clavicle is a long, S-shaped bone with medial and lateral ends and a shaft.