Upper Limb

Olecranon word breakdown

Head of the elbow

What is the main function of the thenar muscles?

Thumb opposition and movement

What is the main action of the trapezius?

Elevates

Retracts

Depresses

Rotates scapula

What is the course of the common palmar digital artery?

Passes distally on lumbricals to webbing of digits

What is the course of the dorsal carpal arch artery?

Arches within the fascia on dorsum of hand

What is the course of the proper palmar digital artery?

Along sides of 2nd-5th digits

What are the major subdivisions of the upper limb?

Shoulder

Arm

Forearm

Hand

What are the major functions of the upper limb?

Mobility

Grasping

Striking

Fine motor skills (hand)

What bones form the pectoral girdle?

Clavicle and scapula

What joint connects the superior appendicular skeleton to the axial skeleton?

Sternoclavicular joint

What regions are included in the shoulder?

Pectoral, scapular, and deltoid regions

Greater supraclavicular fossa

What forms the pectoral/shoulder girdle?

Posterior — Scapula and clavicle

Anterior — Manubrium

What is the arm?

The first and longest segment of the free upper limb between the shoulder and elbow

What bone is found in the arm?

Humerus

• Longest bone of the upper arm

What compartments are found in the arm?

Anterior (flexor)

Posterior (extensor)

What is the forearm?

The segment between the elbow and wrist

What two bones are in the forearm?

Radius

Ulna

What compartments are in the forearm?

Anterior (flexor/pronator)

Posterior (extensor/supinator)

What structures form the hand?

Carpus

Metacarpus

Phalanges

What regions make up the hand?

Wrist

Palm

Dorsum

Digits

How many bones are in the hand?

27 bones

What is the axilla?

A pyramidal space between the arm and thorax serving as a passageway for neurovascular structures

What forms the apex of the axilla?

Cervico-axillary canal

What are the boundaries of the cervico-axillary canal?

First rib

Clavicle

Superior border of scapula

What makes up the anterior wall of axilla?

Pectoralis major and minor

What makes up the posterior wall of axilla?

Scapula

Subscapularis

Teres major

Latissimus dorsi

What makes up the medial wall of axilla?

Thoracic wall

What makes up the lateral wall of axilla?

Intertubercular sulcus of humerus

What are the two ends of the clavicle?

Sternal end (medial)

Acromial end (lateral)

What portion of the clavicle is convex anteriorly?

Medial 2/3

What portion of the clavicle is concave anteriorly?

Lateral 1/3

What ligament attaches to the conoid tubercle?

Conoid ligament

What are the important clinical facts about the clavicle?

It is subcutaneous

Lacks a medullar cavity

What are the two attachements of the clavicle?

Manubrium → Sternoclavicular joint

Acromion of the scapula

What is the function of the clavicle?

Moveable strut from which scapula and free limbs suspended keeping them away from trunk

Maximize freedom of motion

What is the difference between the smooth and inferior surface of the clavicle?

Superior → Smooth

inferior → Rough

What ribs does the scapula overlie?

Ribs 2-7

What structure divides the posterior scapula?

Spine of scapula

What is the names of the scapular fossa?

Supraspinous fossa

Infraspinous fossa

Subscapular fossa

What are the three processes of the scapula?

Spine

Acromion

Coracoid process

What are the borders of the scapula?

Medial

Lateral

Superior

What are the angles of the scapula?

Superior

Inferior

Lateral

What on the scapula articulates with the humeral head?

Glenoid cavity

What are the two surfaces of the scapula?

Costal

Posterior

What is the main arterial supply to the arm?

Brachial artery

What are the two shoulder joints?

Acromioclavicular joint

Glenohumeral joint

What are the proximal landmarks of the humerus?

Head

Anatomical neck

Surgical neck

Greater tubercule (lateral)

Lesser tubercle (anterior)

What lies in the intertubercular groove of the humerus?

Long head of biceps tendon

What attaches to the deltoid tuberosity?

Deltoid muscle

What runs in the oblique radial groove of the humerus?

Radial nerve

Profunda brachii artery

What are the distal landmarks of the humerus?

Trochlea

Capitulum

Olecranon fossa

Radial fossa

Coronoid fossa

Medial/Lateral epicondyle

What does the junction of the humeral shaft (indicated by the tubercles) provide?

It provides attachment to scapulohumeral muscles

What attach to the medial and lateral epicondyles?

Flexor muscles (anterior) of forearm

Extensor muscles (posterior) of forearm

Which forearm bone is more medial?

Ulna

What are the proximal projections of the ulna?

Olecranon

Coronoid process

What are the distal landmarks of the ulna?

Head

Styloid process

What does the ulna function in the forearm?

Functions are a stabilizing bone

What two bone articulation make up the wrist?

Radius + Carpus → Radiocarpal joint

Which forearm bone is lateral?

Radius

What are the proximal landmarks of the radius?

Head (covered in cartilage)

Neck

Radial tuberosity

What are the distal landmarks of the radius?

Styloid process

Dorsal tubercle

• Between shallow groove for passage of tendon

What are the notches on the ulna and radius?

Radial notch of the ulna

Ulnar notch of the radius

What is the proximal row of carpals, lateral → medial?

Scaphoid

Lunate

Triquetrum

Pisiform

What is the distal row of carpals, lateral to medial?

Trapezium

Trapezoid

Capitate

Hamate

Which is the largest carpal bone?

Capitate

Which carpal bone has a “hook”?

Hamate

Which carpal bone is most commonly fractured?

Scaphoid

What are the main parts of a metacarpal?

Base

Shaft

Head

Which metacarpal is shortest and thickest?

First metacarpal

How many phalanges are in each finger?

3

How many phalanges are in the thumb?

2

Where can you find the scaphoid tubercle?

Scaphoid

Which metacarpal has a styloid process on the lateral base?

3rd metacarpal

What are the main contents of the axilla?

Axillary artery → Subclavian artery

Axillary vein

Axillary LNs

Brachial plexus

What are the roots of the brachial plexus?

C5-T1

The superior trunk is formed by?

C5 and C6

The middle trunk is formed by?

C7

The inferior trunk is formed by what roots?

C8 and T1

What do the anterior divisions of the brachial plexus supply?

Flexor compartments

What do the posterior divisions of the brachial plexus supply?

Extensor compartments

What muscles does musculocutaneous nerve supply?

Biceps brachii

Brachialis

Coracobrachialis

Which muscle does musculocutaneous nerve pierce?

Coracobrachialis

What compartments does the radial nerve supply?

Posterior arm and forearm

What structure does the radial nerve travel through?

Radial groove

What compartment does the median nerve mainly supply?

Anterior forearm

Where does the median nerve travel in cubital fossa?

Deep to bicipital aponeurosis

What landmark is associated with the “funny bone?”

Ulnar nerve behind medial epicondyle

What intrinsic hand muscles are primarly supplied by the ulnar nerve?

Most intrinsic hand muscles

What is the order of the brachial plexus (Roots → Branches)?

Roots

Trunks

Divisions

Cords

Branches

What are the three trunks?

C5 + C6 → Superior

C7 → Middle

C8 + T11 → Inferior

What are the three cords?

Superior + Middle → Lateral

Superior, middle, inferior → Posterior

Inferior → Medial

What roots make up the median nerve?

C6, C7, C8, and T1

What roots make up the ulnar nerve?

C8 and T1

What roots make up the radial nerve?

C5-T1

Are flexors or extensors stronger in the arm?

Flexors are twice as strong

Which nerve injury causes wrist drop?

Radial nerve injury

Which nerve injury impairs thumb opposition?

Medial nerve injury

Which carpal tunnel structure is most clinically important?

Median nerve

Which muscle initiates first 15 degrees of arm ABduction?

Supraspinatus

Which muscle ABducts arm AFTER 15 degrees?

Deltoid