Upper Limb Anatomy

Greater Tuberosity of Humerus

where the supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres minor insert

Lesser Tuberosity of Humerus

insertion of subscapularis

bicipital groove

leaves space for long head of bicep

glenoid cavity

where humerus joins shoulder joint

head of the humerus location

joins to the glenoid cavity

supraglenoid tubercle location

on scapula, above glenoid cavity

infraglenoid tubercle location

on scapula, below glenoid cavity

coracoid process location and function

process of the scapula that sticks from the posterior to the anterior, where 3 muscles, 4 ligaments attach

acromion process function/attachment point for…

origin of deltoid, insertion of trapezium, attachment of coracoacromial ligament

scapula spine function/attachment point for…

insertion of trapezium, origin for posterior deltoid head

medial border of scapula function/attachment point for…

insertion of rhomboids and levator scapulae

inferior angle of scapula function/attachment point for…

origin of teres major and lowest point of serratus anterior

costal tuberosity function/attachment point for…

attachment point of costoclavicular ligament (underside of medial clavicle)

muscles of scapula elevation

upper trapezius, levator scapulae

muscles of scapula depression

Lower trapezius, pec major, lat dorsi

muscles of scapula upwards rotation

Upper trapezius (pulls up), Lower trapezius (pulls down), Lower serratus anterior (pulls laterally)

muscles of scapula downwards rotation (5)

Levator scapulae (pulls up), Pec major (pulls down), Pec minor (pulls down and in), Rhomboid (pulls forward), Lat dorsi (pulls down)

muscles of scapula protraction (2)

Serratus anterior (pulls forward), Pec major (pulls forward)

muscles of scapula retraction (2)

Levator scapulae (pulls medial forward), Rhomboids (pull medial in)

subscapularis location

on anterior side of scapula

supraspinatus function

abducts the humerus

infraspinatus function

rotate humerus laterally/externally

teres minor function

rotates humerus laterally/externally

sternocleidomastoid function

elevates the clavicle

trapezius function

elevates, depresses, upwardly rotates, retracts scapula

levator scapulae function

elevates and downwardly rotates scapula

rhomboids function

retract and downwardly rotates scapula

serratus anterior function

protracts scapula

pectoralis major function

flexes, internally rotates, adducts humerus

pectoralis minor function

depresses, downwardly rotates, downward rotation and protracts scapula

latissimus dorsi function

extends, adducts and medially rotates humerus. depression and retraction of the scapula.

deltoid function

abducts humerus

biceps brachii function

flexes elbow

triceps brachii function

extends elbow

teres major function

extends, adducts and medially rotates humerus (crosses the bottom of the scapula inferiorly to subscapularis)

coracobrachialis function and location

flexes and adducts the shoulder joint, between bicep and tricep

acromioclavicular ligament function

thickening of joint capsule which limits elevation and depression of the scapula. from acromion process to the clavicle.

coracoacromial ligament function

forms the roof of glenohumeral joint (attaches two parts of scapula - coracoid process, acromion process - doesn't stop or restrict any movement)

coracohumeral ligament function and location

limits extreme glenohumeral adduction. from the coracoid process to humerus

glenohumeral ligament function

extracapsular extension which prevents extreme external rotation of the humerus (capsular ligament in above diagram)

coracoclavicular ligament function and location

prevent clavicle from elevating too much. from the coracoid process to the clavicle.

costoclavicular ligament function and location

limits extreme clavicular adduction. from the clavicle to the ribs near sternum

olecranon process structural function and location

where triceps joints, bony part on proximal head of ulna, posterior side of arm

humeral trochlea structural function and location

distal/medial point of humerus where ulna meets, anterior side, kind of 'divot' for ulna

capitellum structural function and location

distal/lateral point of humerus where radius meets, anterior side

coronoid process structural function and location

where brachialis joints, bony part on proximal head of ulna (front), anterior side

what does the head of radius articulate with

connects to capitellum

what is a fossa

hollowed out point of bone that allows further movement of bones (in arm, named after more distal portion of bone ie olecranon fossa, radial fossa, coronoid fossa)

radial tuberosity structural function

receives the main head of biceps brachii. where forearm flexes and supinates - rotates outwards

medial humeral epicondyle function

origin of many frontal forearm flexor muscles

lateral humeral epicondyle function

origin of many forearm extension muscle

what is a bicondylar joint

it's movement is not only restricted by ligaments but also by bone structure (can only flex and extend)

ulnar collateral ligament function

stops elbow/forearm from abducting (goes tight, while radial goes loose)

radial collateral ligament function

stops elbow/forearm from adducting (gets tight while ulnar goes loose)

annular ligament function and location

helps pronation/supination by keeping head of the radius in place (goes from head to ulna around radius to back of humerus)

interosseous membrane location (forearm)

membrane connecting the radius and ulna

which muscles flex the elbow (3)

biceps brachii, brachialis, brachioradialis

which muscles extend the elbow (2)

triceps brachii, anconeus

which muscles pronate the elbow (2)

pronator teres, pronator quadratus

which muscles supinate the elbow (2)

biceps brachii, supinator

which muscles primarily flex the wrist (3)

flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus

which muscles flex the digits (2)

flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus

palmaris longus function

another forearm flexor, not 100% necessary, not everyone has one

forearm flexor origin

medial humeral epicondyle

forearm extensor origin

lateral humeral epicondyle

flexes the thumb

flexor pollicis longus

which muscles primarily extend the wrist (3)

extensor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis

extends the digits

extensor digitorum

extends and abducts the thumb (3)

abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis

radial deviation (towards thumb) (2)

flexor AND extensor carpi radialis

ulnar deviation (towards pinky) (2)

flexor AND extensor carpi ulnaris

abduction of the fingers/digits

dorsal interossei (on the back of the hand)

adduction of the fingers/digits

palmar interossei (palm of hand)

metacarpal mobility ranking

1 (thumb) > 5 > 4 > 2-3

why are the pinky and index finger more mobile than the other two digits

they have their own extensors (extensor digitorum minimi and extensor digitorum indicis)

supraglenoid tubercle function

where long head of biceps joins

infraglenoid tubercle function

where long head of triceps joins

subscapularis function

medially, internally rotates humerus

subscapularis insertion

lesser tuberosity of humerus

supraspinatus location

sits above scapula spine and beneath clavicle

supraspinatus insertion

greater tuberosity of humerus

infraspinatus location

on posterior side of scapula

infraspinatus insertion

greater tuberosity of humerus

teres minor insertion

greater tuberosity of humerus

biceps brachii long head origin

supraglenoid tubercle

biceps brachii short head origin

coracoid process

biceps brachii insertion

radial tuberosity

triceps brachii origin

originates infraglenoid tubercle (long head) and on humerus shaft (short & medial head)

triceps brachii insertion

olecranon process of ulna

teres major origin

inferior angle of scapula

teres major insertion

humerus

coracobrachialis origin

coracoid process

coracobrachialis insertion

humerus

brachialis function

elbow flexion

brachialis origin

humerus

brachialis insertion

coronoid process of ulna

brachioradialis function

forearm flexion

brachioradialis origin

humerus

brachioradialis insertion

radius