upper limb

shoulder

area of upper limb attachment to trunk

arm

area between shoulder and elbow

forearm

area between elbow and wrist

hand

area distal to wrist

axilla

irregular area formed by muscles an bones of shoulder

gateway for structures to pass between neck and arm

axillary inlet

at apex of axilla

opens into root of neck

cubital fossa

triangle depression formed by muscles of anterior elbow

passageway for major nerve and artery of upper limb

carpal tunnel

gateway to palm formed by bones of hand and flexor retinaculum

passageway for major nerve and multiple tendons from forearm into hand

function of upper limb

positioning hand in space

hand as mechanical tool

manipulation of objects

gross gripping, precision tool

hand as sensory tool

discriminate objects through touch

high density of sensory receptors

axillary sheath

facial layer continuous with prevertebral layer of cervical fascia

extends from root of neck

envelopes nerves and vessles passing through axilla

margins of axillary inlet

lateral rib 1, posterior clavical, superior scapula, and medial coracoid process

anterior wall of axilla

posterior pectoralis major and minor, posterior subclavius, and clavicopectoral fascia

clavicopectoral fascia

thick sheet of connective tissue connecting clavical to floor of axilla

encloses subclavius and pectoralis minor

medial wall of axilla

ribs, intercostal tissues, and serratus anterior

lateral wall of axilla

intertubercular sulus of humerus

intertubercular sulus of humerus

vertical groove for long head of biceps tendon

lies between pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi

posterior wall of axilla

scapula and subscapularis, latissimus dorsi and teres major, and triceps brachii

floor of axilla

fascia and skin of armpit

gateways in the posterior wall of axilla

suprascapular foramen, qudrangular space, triangular space, and triangular interval

suprascapular foramen

formed by superior transverse scapular ligament across superior boundary of suprascapular notch

provides passage for suprascapular nerve into suprasinous fossa

quadrangular space

provides passage for axillary nerve, posterior circumflex humeral artery, and posterior circumflex humeral vein from axilla

boundaries of quadrangular space

superior: subscapularis and teres minor

inferior: teres major

lateral: surgical neck of humerus

medial: biceps brachii

triangular space

provides passage for circumflex scapular artery and vein from axilla

borders of triangular space

superior: teres minor

inferior: teres major

lateral: triceps brachii

triangular interval

passageway axilla and posterior compartment of arm for radial nerve

passageway between anterior and posterior compartments for profunda brachii artery and associated veins

bondaries of triangular interval

superior: teres major

lateral: humerus

medial: triceps brachii

anatomical snuffbox contains

contains redial artery, superficial branch of radial nerve, and origin of cephalic vein

anatomical snuffbow borders

lateral: tendons of abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis

medial: tendon of extensor pollicis longus

floor: scaphoid and trapezium bones and extensor carpi radialis tendons

cubital fossa

area of transition between arm and forearm

triangle shaped

boundaries of cubital fossa

proximal: horizontal line between medial and lateral epicondyles of humerus

lateral: brachioradialis

medial: pronator teres

floor: brachialis

roof: superficial fascia and skin

contents of cubital fosssa

median nerve (most medial)

brachial artery (bifurcates in apex)

distal tendons of biceps brachii (blends with bicipital aponeurosis)

contents of roof of cubital fossa

medial cutaneous nerve of forearm, lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm, and medial cubital vein

cubital tunnel

fibro-osseous tunnel formed by rentinaculum and aponeurosis of flexor carpi ulnaris

ular nerve passes through and can become entrapped

carpal tunnel

gateway to palm from anterior forearm

prevents outward bowing of flexor tendons and protects median nerve

carpal arch

arch formed by carpal bones

forms medial and lateral walls and floor of carpal tunnel

flexor retinaculum

dense connective tissue spanning carpal arch

forms roof of carpal tunnel

contents of carpal tunnel

flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus synovial sheath

flexor pollicis longus and flexor carpi radialis in separate sheaths

median nerve

Guyon’s canal

ulnar tunnel

passage for ulnar nerve and artery in medial hand

external to carpal tunnel