ANAT Upper Limb

Pectoral Girdle

Includes the clavicle and scapula, connected to the axial skeleton at the sternoclavicular joint and to the arm at the glenohumeral joint.

Clavicle

S-shaped bone with a smooth superior surface and lumps/bumps on the inferior surface, including tubercles for ligament attachments.

Scapula

Features a spine, angles, borders, processes (acromion, coracoid, spine), fossae (supraspinous, infraspinous, subscapular, glenoid), and tubercles for muscle attachments.

Sternoclavicular Joint

Articulation between the clavicle and manubrium, supported by ligaments and allowing movements like elevation/depression and protraction/retraction.

Acromioclavicular Joint

Connection between the clavicle and acromion, with a wedged disc and ligaments supporting movements like elevation/depression and protraction/retraction.

Glenohumeral Joint

Ball and socket joint between the head of the humerus and the glenoid fossa, allowing movements like flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, and medial/lateral rotation.

Rotator Cuff Muscles

Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres Minor, and Subscapularis, stabilizing the shoulder joint and enabling movements like abduction, lateral rotation, and adduction.

Trapezius

Muscle attaching to the skull, vertebral column, clavicle, and scapula, responsible for shoulder movements like elevation, retraction, and lateral rotation.

Latissimus Dorsi

Muscle connecting the vertebral column and humerus, aiding in arm adduction, medial rotation, and trunk movements.

Biceps Brachii

Muscle with attachments to the scapula and radius, involved in shoulder flexion, forearm supination, and flexion.

Triceps Brachii

Muscle attaching to the scapula and humerus, responsible for elbow extension and forearm movements.

Extensor of Forearm

Muscle that extends the forearm.

Serratus Anterior

Muscle that protracts and rotates the scapula, supplied by the long thoracic nerve.

Pectoralis Major

Muscle that adducts, medially rotates, and flexes the arm, with clavicular and sternocostal heads.

Pectoralis Minor

Muscle that stabilizes the scapula against the thorax, innervated by the medial pectoral nerve.

Subclavius

Muscle that depresses the clavicle, supplied by the nerve to subclavius.

Scapulohumeral Rhythm

Ratio of scapular and shoulder joint movements during abduction.

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

Condition caused by repetitive use leading to degenerative changes in the rotator cuff muscles.

Subclavian Artery

Artery supplying the upper limbs, branching into various arteries towards the scapular region.

Cubital Fossa

Triangular area in the elbow region with specific boundaries and contents, including nerves and vessels.

Brachial Artery

Artery originating from the axillary artery, supplying the arm and branching into radial and ulnar arteries.

Venae Comitantes

Smaller paired veins accompanying arteries, sharing the same names (e.g., brachial, radial, ulnar).

Brachiocephalic Veins

Formed by subclavian veins and jugular veins, draining into the superior vena cava.

Cephalic Vein

Located in the anterior antebrachium, travels in the deltopectoral groove.

Ulnar Nerve

Passes between flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor carpi ulnaris, traveling with ulnar veins.

Brachial Plexus

Network of nerves (C5-T1) passing under the clavicle, supplying muscles, joints, and limbs.

Dermatome

Area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve, with defined patterns in limbs.

Myotome

Mass of muscle supplied by a single spinal nerve, receiving motor fibers from multiple spinal cord levels.

Radial Nerve

Supplies extension of arm and forearm, travels through the triangular interval in the shoulder.

Ulnar Nerve Lesions

Affect flexor carpi ulnaris, intrinsic hand muscles, and sensation over the medial digits.

Median Nerve

Supplies anterior forearm muscles, intrinsic hand muscles, and skin over the lateral 3 ½ digits.

Carrying Angle

The angle formed by the forearm diverging laterally from the arm, approximately 10-15° in males and 10-25° in females.

Radioulnar Joints

Joints between the radius and ulna, consisting of 3 joints with bones orientating differently based on pronation or supination.

Annular Ligament

A ring-shaped ligament attached to the radial notch, holding the head of the radius against the ulna in the proximal radioulnar joint.

Supination

Movement where the palm faces anteriorly and the dorsum faces posteriorly, involving rotation of the radius around its longitudinal axis.

Interosseous Membrane

Membrane between the radius and ulna that transfers compression and distraction forces through the wrist and forearm.

Dislocation of Elbow Joint

Commonly posterior, caused by hyperextension leading to ulna displacement, often associated with fractures of the coronoid process or radial head.

Tennis Elbow

Lateral epicondylitis due to repetitive extensor muscle use, causing micro-tears in the ECRB tendon, leading to pain and reduced grip strength.

Elbow ROM

Range of motion needed for daily activities, requiring approximately 30-130° of flexion and 0° in extension.

Triceps Brachii

Posterior muscle extending the shoulder and forearm, with attachments to the scapula, humerus, and ulna, supplied by the radial nerve.

Pronator Quadratus

Muscle in the anterior forearm compartment, attaching to the ulna and radius, responsible for pronating the forearm, supplied by the median nerve.

Interosseous membrane

Membrane between the radius and ulna in the forearm

Pronator Quadratus

Muscle that pronates the forearm, supplied by the Median Nerve

Brachioradialis

Muscle for weak forearm flexion, innervated by the Radial Nerve

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus

Muscle for wrist extension and abduction, supplied by the Radial Nerve

Supinator

Muscle that supinates the forearm, innervated by the Radial Nerve

Ulnar artery

Branches from the brachial artery, courses between muscles in the forearm

Ulnar Nerve

Arises from the brachial plexus, travels posterior to the medial epicondyle

Radial Artery

Branches from the brachial artery, runs deep to brachioradialis in the forearm

Radial Nerve

Arises from the brachial plexus, divides into superficial and deep branches in the forearm

Wrist Joint (Radiocarpal Joint)

Articulation between the distal radius and carpal bones, allowing flexion, extension, and more movements

Palmar Aponeurosis (Fascia)

Triangular fascia in the hand with longitudinal and transverse fibers, blending with digital sheaths and connected to the skin.

Dupuytren’s Contracture

Progressive thickening and fibrosis of the palmar aponeurosis, leading to finger contractures, often requiring surgical excision.

Scaphoid Fracture

Common carpal bone fracture at the waist, causing pain in the anatomical snuffbox, potentially leading to avascular necrosis.

Thenar Muscles

Muscles in the thumb region including Abductor Pollicis Brevis, Flexor Pollicis Brevis, and Opponens Pollicis, supplied by the Median Nerve.

Central Muscles

Lumbricals 1 and 2 flex MCP joints and extend IP joints, supplied by the Median Nerve; Lumbricals 3 and 4 flex MCP joints and extend IP joints, supplied by the Ulnar Nerve.

Hypothenar Muscles

Muscles in the little finger region including Abductor Digiti Minimi, Flexor Digit Minimi Brevis, and Opponens Digiti Minimi, supplied by the Ulnar Nerve.

Adductor Pollicis

Muscle that adducts the thumb, supplied by the Ulnar Nerve.

Interossei Muscles

Dorsal Interossei abduct digits 2-4, Palmar Interossei adduct digits 2, 4, 5, both supplied by the Ulnar Nerve.

Power Grip

Grip involving thumb, fingers, and palm for forceful tasks like oblique palmar, ball, span, cylinder, and hook grips.

Precision Grip

Grip using thumb and fingers for delicate tasks like pincer, tripod, pinch, and key grips.

Median Nerve

Passes through carpal tunnel, innervates thenar muscles, lesion leads to hand of benediction in median nerve distribution.

Ulnar Nerve

Travels with ulnar artery, innervates hypothenar muscles, lesion leads to claw hand in ulnar nerve distribution.

Radial Nerve

Supplies extensor muscles, lesion causes wrist drop, affects sensation in the anatomical snuffbox.