Gross and Clinical Anatomy: Arm, Cubital Fossa, Posterior Forearm, and Dorsum of Hand

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering gross and clinical anatomy topics for the arm, cubital fossa, posterior forearm, and dorsum of the hand based on the lecture transcripts.

Superficial Fascia of the Arm

Subcutaneous tissue consisting of a mixture of loose areolar and adipose tissue that unites the dermis to the underlying deep fascia.

Deep Fascia of the Arm

A fibrous sheath enclosing the arm that extends medial and lateral intermuscular septa inward to attach to the supracondylar ridges of the humerus, dividing the arm into anterior and posterior compartments.

Anterior Osseofascial Compartment of the Arm

The flexor compartment of the arm containing the biceps brachii, coracobrachialis, and brachialis muscles, innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve and supplied by the brachial artery.

Posterior Osseofascial Compartment of the Arm

The extensor compartment of the arm containing the triceps brachii muscle, innervated motorically by the radial nerve and supplied by the profunda brachii artery and ulnar collateral arteries.

Supraclavicular Nerve

A cutaneous nerve arising from spinal roots C3 and C4 that provides sensory innervation to the skin over the point of the shoulder halfway down the deltoid muscle.

Upper Lateral Cutaneous Nerve of the Arm

A terminal sensory branch of the axillary nerve (roots C5 and C6) that supplies the skin covering the lower part of the deltoid muscle.

Lower Lateral Cutaneous Nerve of the Arm

A branch of the radial nerve (roots C5 and C6) that supplies sensory innervation to the skin over the anterolateral aspect of the lower part of the arm.

Medial Cutaneous Nerve of the Arm

A sensory nerve originating from the medial cord of the brachial plexus (root T1), joined by the intercostobrachial nerve, supplying the skin on the medial side of the arm.

Posterior Cutaneous Nerve of the Arm

A branch of the radial nerve that provides sensory innervation to the skin on the back of the arm.

Cephalic Vein

A superficial vein originating as a radial continuation of the dorsal venous network of the hand, ascending along the lateral surface of the arm, passing through the deltopectoral triangle, and draining into the axillary vein.

Basilic Vein

A superficial vein arising from the medial side of the dorsal venous arch of the hand, running along the ulnar border of the forearm, and joining the venae comitantes of the brachial artery at the lower border of teres major to form the axillary vein.

Median Cubital Vein

A branch of the cephalic vein in the cubital fossa that runs obliquely upward and medially across the bicipital aponeurosis to connect with the basilic vein.

Axillary Vein

A deep vein formed at the lower border of the teres major muscle by the union of the basilic vein and the venae comitantes of the brachial artery, terminating at the lateral border of the 1st rib where it becomes the subclavian vein.

Venae Comitantes

Deep accompanying veins that typically travel in pairs alongside large and medium-sized arteries, such as the radial, ulnar, and brachial arteries.

Biceps Brachii

An anterior arm muscle with a long head originating from the supraglenoid tubercle and a short head from the coracoid process, inserting into the tuberosity of the radius and bicipital aponeurosis, acting as a flexor of the elbow and supinator of the forearm.

Coracobrachialis

An anterior compartment arm muscle originating from the coracoid process of the scapula and inserting on the medial aspect of the humeral shaft, functioning to flex the arm and weakly adduct the shoulder.

Brachialis

An anterior arm muscle originating from the front of the lower half of the humerus and inserting onto the coronoid process of the ulna, acting as the primary flexor of the elbow joint.

Triceps Brachii

The posterior compartment muscle of the arm composed of long, lateral, and medial heads that insert via a common tendon onto the olecranon process of the ulna to extend the elbow joint.

Erb-Duchenne Palsy

An upper brachial plexus injury caused by excessive traction or tearing of C5 and C6 spinal roots, leading to paralysis of affected shoulder and arm muscles and presenting with a waiter's tip posture.

Radial Nerve

A major nerve originating from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus (roots C5–T1) that serves as the sole motor nerve to all muscles in the posterior compartments of the arm and forearm.

Musculocutaneous Nerve

A nerve arising from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus (roots C5–C7) that pierces coracobrachialis, supplies the flexor muscles of the anterior arm, and continues into the forearm as the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm.

Brachial Artery

The principal artery of the arm, beginning at the lower border of teres major as a continuation of the axillary artery and terminating opposite the neck of the radius by dividing into the radial and ulnar arteries.

Profunda Brachii Artery

A major branch of the brachial artery that accompanies the radial nerve through the radial groove of the humerus, supplies the triceps muscle, and anastomoses with the radial recurrent artery.

Superior Ulnar Collateral Artery

A branch of the brachial artery arising near the middle of the arm that accompanies the ulnar nerve behind the medial epicondyle and anastomoses with the posterior ulnar recurrent artery.

Inferior Ulnar Collateral Artery

A branch arising near the termination of the brachial artery that anastomoses with the anterior ulnar recurrent artery to contribute to collateral circulation around the elbow joint.

Cubital Fossa

A triangular depression on the anterior aspect of the elbow that serves as a transitional area conveying major neurovascular structures between the arm and the forearm.

Boundaries of the Cubital Fossa

Anatomical borders composed of the medial border of brachioradialis laterally, the lateral border of pronator teres medially, an imaginary interepicondylar base line, a floor of supinator and brachialis, and a roof of skin, fascia, and bicipital aponeurosis.

Contents of the Cubital Fossa

Structures positioned inside the fossa arranged from medial to lateral: median nerve, brachial artery bifurcation, tendon of biceps brachii, and the radial nerve with its deep branch.

Shoulder Joint (Glenohumeral Joint)

A multiaxial synovial ball-and-socket joint formed by the articulation between the rounded head of the humerus and the shallow glenoid cavity of the scapula.

Rotator Cuff

A dynamic protective sheath surrounding the shoulder joint formed by the blended tendons of the subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles.

Elbow Joint

A uniaxial synovial hinge joint (ginglymus) formed by articulations between the trochlea of the humerus and trochlear notch of the ulna, and the capitulum of the humerus and head of the radius.

Carrying Angle

The lateral deviation angle formed between the long axis of the extended forearm and the long axis of the arm, measuring approximately 170° in males and 167° in females.

Interosseous Membrane of the Forearm

A strong fibrous sheet connecting the interosseous borders of the radius and ulna, serving as an attachment site for muscles and dividing the forearm into anterior and posterior compartments.

Posterior Cutaneous Nerve of the Forearm

A sensory branch of the radial nerve (roots C5–T1) that innervates the skin along the middle of the posterior aspect of the forearm down to the wrist.

Lateral Cutaneous Nerve of the Forearm

The terminal sensory continuation of the musculocutaneous nerve (roots C5–C7) that innervates the skin on the front and lateral aspects of the forearm down to the root of the thumb.

Brachioradialis

A muscle of the lateral compartment of the forearm originating from the lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus and inserting onto the base of the radial styloid process, acting to flex the forearm and rotate it to a mid-prone position.

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus

A lateral forearm muscle originating from the lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus and inserting on the posterior surface of the base of the 2nd metacarpal bone, acting to extend and abduct the wrist.

Common Extensor Tendon

A single tendon of origin attached to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus from which several superficial extensor muscles of the posterior forearm arise.

Extensor Retinaculum of the Wrist

A band of thickened deep fascia across the back of the wrist attached medially to the pisiform and hook of hamate and laterally to the distal radius, converting dorsal bone grooves into six separate extensor tunnels.

Compartments of the Extensor Retinaculum

Six distinct osseofibrous tunnels on the posterior wrist containing nine total long extensor tendons (1: EPB and APL; 2: ECRL and ECRB; 3: EPL; 4: ED and EI; 5: EDM; 6: ECU).

Extensor Expansion

A triangular aponeurosis formed on the dorsum of each finger by long extensor tendons that splits near the PIP joint into a central slip inserting into the middle phalanx base and two lateral bands inserting into the distal phalanx base.

Anatomical Snuffbox

A triangular depression on the posterolateral wrist bounded medially by extensor pollicis longus (ExPoLo) and laterally by extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus (AbPoLo ExPoBre), containing the radial artery, superficial radial nerve, and cephalic vein.

Posterior Interosseous Nerve

The deep motor branch of the radial nerve that pierces the supinator muscle, winds around the neck of the radius, and innervates the extensor muscles in the posterior compartment of the forearm.

Superficial Branch of the Radial Nerve

A purely sensory continuation of the radial nerve running under cover of brachioradialis lateral to the radial artery, providing sensory innervation to the lateral 2/3 of the dorsum of the hand and dorsal proximal phalanges of the lateral 3 1/2 fingers.

Posterior Interosseous Artery

A branch of the common interosseous artery (from the ulnar artery) that passes into the posterior forearm above the interosseous membrane, supplies superficial extensor muscles, and joins the dorsal carpal arch.

Anterior Interosseous Artery

A branch of the common interosseous artery located in the anterior compartment that gives off perforating branches through the interosseous membrane to supply deep posterior forearm muscles.

Proximal Row of Carpal Bones

The four carpal bones arranged from medial to lateral as the pisiform, triquetrum, lunate, and scaphoid.

Distal Row of Carpal Bones

The four carpal bones arranged from medial to lateral as the hamate, capitate, trapezoid, and trapezium.