Comprehensive Anatomy: Upper and Lower Limb Review

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering upper and lower limb anatomy, nerve injuries, muscle attachments, joint structures, and clinical syndromes from Lectures 4 through 30.

Pectoralis Major

A chest muscle that forms the anterior axillary fold and inserts into the lateral lip of the intertubercular sulcus, functioning primarily in adduction and medial rotation of the arm.

Pectoralis Minor

An anterior chest muscle inserting into the coracoid process that stabilises, protracts, and depresses the scapula while serving as the surgical landmark that divides the axillary artery into three parts.

Subclavius

A small muscle located on the inferior surface of the clavicle that protects the subclavian vein during a clavicular fracture, innervated by the nerve to subclavius ($C5-C6$) arising from the upper trunk.

Quadrangular Space Syndrome

A neurovascular compression disorder involving the axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral vessels within the quadrangular space, presenting with posterior shoulder pain and deltoid and teres minor weakness.

Triangular Interval

An anatomical opening situated inferior to the teres major, bounded between the long head of the triceps and the humerus, through which the radial nerve and profunda brachii artery traverse.

Supraspinatus

A rotator cuff muscle supplied by the suprascapular nerve that initiates the initial $15^\circ$ of arm abduction prior to deltoid action.

Subscapularis

The only rotator cuff muscle inserting into the lesser tubercle of the humerus, acting to medially rotate the humerus and provide anterior reinforcement to the glenohumeral joint.

Spinal Accessory Nerve (CN XI)

The cranial nerve supplying the trapezius; injury during neck procedures produces shoulder drooping and marked weakness during active shoulder shrugging.

Rhomboid Major

A back muscle arising from the vertebral spinous processes of $T2-T5$ that is innervated by the dorsal scapular nerve ($C4-C5$) to elevate, retract, and stabilise the scapula.

Popeye Sign

A visible muscle belly prominence in the anterior arm upon active elbow flexion accompanied by weak supination, resulting from rupture of the long head of the biceps tendon.

Musculocutaneous Nerve

The anterior arm nerve that pierces the coracobrachialis muscle belly before descending between the biceps brachii and brachialis muscles.

Brachialis

A primary flexor of the elbow that inserts into the ulnar tuberosity and coronoid process of the ulna.

Winged Scapula

A clinical sign characterized by the medial border of the scapula protruding posteriorly when pushing against resistance, caused by long thoracic nerve injury paralyzing the serratus anterior.

Thoracodorsal Nerve

A posterior cord derivative ($C6-C8$) vulnerable during axillary surgery that supplies the latissimus dorsi muscle.

Bankart Lesion

A detachment or tearing of the anteroinferior glenoid labrum seen as a consequence of recurrent anterior glenohumeral joint dislocations.

Erb Palsy

An upper brachial plexus trunk ($C5-C6$) traction injury resulting from shoulder dystocia, producing the 'waiter's tip' deformity with an adducted, medially rotated arm and extended elbow.

Klumpke Palsy

A lower brachial plexus trunk ($C8-T1$) traction lesion caused by hyperabduction during birth, resulting in claw hand deformity secondary to intrinsic hand muscle denervation.

Bicipital Aponeurosis

A fibrous expansion from the biceps tendon across the roof of the cubital fossa that shields the underlying brachial artery and median nerve during venipuncture of the median cubital vein.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Median nerve entrapment deep to the flexor retinaculum causing nocturnal pain and paresthesia over the lateral $3\frac{1}{2}$ digits and thenar atrophy with impaired thumb opposition.

Flexor Digitorum Profundus (FDP)

A deep forearm flexor exhibiting dual innervation, whose lateral half is innervated by the anterior interosseous nerve and whose medial half is supplied by the ulnar nerve.

Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)

An overuse injury involving repetitive wrist extension that strains the common extensor origin, specifically engaging the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon.

Anatomical Snuffbox

A dorsolateral wrist depression bounded medially by the extensor pollicis longus tendon and laterally by the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis, housing the radial artery within its floor.

De Quervain Tenosynovitis

Stenosing tenosynovitis of the first extensor compartment involving the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis, producing radial wrist pain.

Ape Hand Deformity

A hand condition characterized by thenar eminence flattening, lost thumb opposition, and weak wrist flexion caused by a proximal median nerve lesion at the elbow.

Anterior Interosseous Nerve Syndrome

A motor neuropathy causing failure of distal interphalangeal flexion of the index finger and interphalangeal flexion of the thumb, preventing the formation of a circular 'OK' sign without sensory loss.

Froment Sign

A diagnostic sign of ulnar nerve palsy where compensatory hyperflexion of the thumb interphalangeal joint by flexor pollicis longus occurs while attempting to pinch paper against resistance due to paralyzed adductor pollicis.

Ulnar Claw Hand

A hand deformity affecting the ring and little fingers marked by hyperextended metacarpophalangeal joints and flexed interphalangeal joints secondary to intrinsic hand muscle paralysis from an ulnar nerve lesion.

Saturday Night Palsy

A radial nerve compressive neuropraxia within the radial groove that results in wrist and finger drop while sparing triceps extension at the elbow.

Posterior Interosseous Syndrome

Entrapment of the deep motor branch of the radial nerve within the supinator, presenting with finger drop and weak wrist extension (sparing extensor carpi radialis longus) with no sensory deficit.

Dupuytren Contracture

Progressive fibrous shortening and nodular thickening of the palmar aponeurosis causing fixed flexion deformities at the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints, most often affecting the ring finger.

Parona Space

A deep fascial potential space positioned in the distal anterior forearm directly superficial to the pronator quadratus, through which infections of the midpalmar space or flexor synovial sheaths migrate.

Nursemaid Elbow

Subluxation of the radial head slipping distal to the annular ligament in young children following sudden axial traction on an extended, pronated forearm.

Trendelenburg Sign

A clinical pelvic tilt where the contralateral unsupported pelvis drops during single-leg stance, demonstrating gluteus medius and gluteus minimus weakness on the ipsilateral weight-bearing side.

Piriformis Syndrome

Sciatic nerve compression caused by spasm or hypertrophy of the piriformis muscle, eliciting buttock tenderness and radiating pain down the posterior lower extremity.

Superior Gluteal Nerve

A sacral plexus nerve that exits the greater sciatic foramen above the piriformis muscle to innervate the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, and tensor fasciae latae.

Inferior Gluteal Nerve

The sole motor nerve supplying the gluteus maximus; denervation causes weakness in hip extension, impairing the ability to stand up from a seated position or climb stairs.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome

A friction overuse condition commonly seen in distance runners presenting with lateral knee pain that is exacerbated by downhill running.

Rectus Femoris

The biarticular component of the quadriceps femoris originating from the anterior inferior iliac spine (AIIS) that acts to flex the hip and extend the knee.

Adductor Canal Block

A regional anesthetic technique targeting the saphenous nerve in the subsartorial canal to achieve analgesia around the knee while preserving quadriceps motor power.

Pes Anserinus

The common tendinous insertion onto the anteromedial proximal tibia formed by the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles.

Femoral Canal

The innermost medial compartment of the femoral sheath located medial to the femoral vein, through which high-risk strangulating femoral hernias descend.

Baker Cyst

A popliteal fluid-filled distension arising from the gastrocnemius-semimembranosus bursa, whose rupture produces calf swelling and erythema mimicking deep vein thrombosis.

Biceps Femoris (Short Head)

The posterior thigh muscle belly innervated specifically by the common fibular division of the sciatic nerve, distinguishing it from other hamstring muscles.

Obturator Nerve

A lumbar plexus derivative ($L2-L4$, anterior divisions) exiting the pelvis via the obturator canal to innervate the adductor compartment of the thigh.

Saphenous Nerve

The longest cutaneous terminal branch of the femoral nerve, conveying sensory information from the skin over the medial aspect of the leg and foot.

Iliofemoral Ligament

An inverted Y-shaped fibrous band extending from the AIIS to the intertrochanteric line; identified as the strongest ligament in the human body, acting to prevent hip hyperextension.

Common Fibular Nerve

A sciatic terminal branch that courses subcutaneously around the neck of the fibula; vulnerability to injury leads to foot drop and high-stepping gait due to loss of dorsiflexion and eversion.

Tibialis Anterior

The most medial anterior leg tendon crossing the anterior ankle, inserting into the medial cuneiform and base of the first metatarsal to dorsiflex and invert the foot.

Fibularis Brevis

A lateral leg compartment evertor that inserts distally into the tuberosity at the base of the fifth metatarsal.

Thompson Test

A diagnostic physical exam maneuver for calcaneal (Achilles) tendon rupture where manual compression of the calf muscle fails to elicit passive plantarflexion.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Entrapment neuropathy of the tibial nerve beneath the flexor retinaculum behind the medial malleolus, causing medial ankle discomfort and burning dysesthesia over the sole of the foot.

Popliteus

A deep posterior leg muscle that unlocks the fully extended knee joint by laterally rotating the femur on a fixed tibia at the beginning of flexion.

Unhappy Triad

A classic severe knee injury characterized by concomitant rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and medial meniscus.

Lachman Test

A sensitive clinical examination technique performed with the knee flexed to $20-30^\circ$ to detect excessive anterior displacement of the tibia indicative of an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

Suprapatellar Bursa

A large superior extension of the knee synovial joint cavity positioned between the distal anterior femur and the quadriceps femoris tendon.