Anatomical Spaces of upper limb Flashcards
Elbow Joint
Type of joint: hinge synovial joint
Degrees of freedom: one
Motion possibilities: flexion and extension
Osteokinematics: flexion & extension occur in the sagittal plane, around a medial-lateral axis
Joints of the Forearm - Radioulnar Joint
Type of joints: both are pivot synovial joints
Degrees of freedom: one (both joints have one degree of freedom)
Motion possibilities: pronation and supination of the radius upon the ulna
Anatomical Spaces of the Upper Limb
Posterior shoulder spaces – 3 small spaces posterior to the glenohumeral joint
Axilla – armpit
Cubital fossa – anterior to the elbow
Carpal tunnel – anterior aspect of wrist
Anatomical snuff box – posterolateral aspect of the thumb
Ulnar Canal (tunnel of Guyon) – anteromedial wrist
Posterior Shoulder Spaces
- Quadrangular space
- Lateral triangular space
- Medial triangular space
Quadrangular space
Contents
- Axillary nerve
- Posterior circumflex humeral artery & vein
Borders
- Teres minor
- Teres major
- Long head of triceps brachii
- Surgical neck of humerus
Lateral Triangular Space
Contents
- Radial nerve
- Deep artery of the arm (and deep vein of the arm)
Borders
- Teres major
- Long head of triceps brachii
- lateral head of triceps brachii
Medial Triangular Space
Contents
-Circumflex scapular artery
Borders
- Teres minor
- Teres major
- Long head triceps
Axilla
- Pyramidal anatomical space inferior to the glenohumeral joint
- Provides safe passageway for the neurovascular structures of the upper limb
Apex – cervicoaxillary canal (space bound by rib 1, clavicle, scapula)
Base (axillary fossa/armpit) – concave skin, subcutaneous tissue, axillary (deep) fascia
Axilla - walls
Anterior wall- Pectoralis Major & Minor, deep fascia
Posterior wall- Scapula, Subscapularis, Teres Major, Latissimus Dorsi
Medial wall – Ribs 1- 4 & intercostal muscles, Serratus Anterior
Lateral wall- intertubercular (bicipital) groove of humerus
Axilla - Contents
- Axillary artery and its branches
- Axillary vein and its tributaries
- Cords of the brachial plexus and their branches
- Axillary lymph vessels and nodes
- Fat (adipose tissue)
Cubital fossa
- Triangular anatomical space
- Anterior to the elbow joint
- Passageway for neurovascular structures between the arm and forearm
Cubital Fossa- Boundaries
Superior - imaginary line between medial and lateral epicondyles (also known as the base of the space)
Medial - pronator teres muscle
Lateral - brachioradialis muscle
Floor - brachialis and supinator muscle
Roof - brachial fascia, bicipital aponeurosis, superficial fascia and skin
Cubital fossa – Contents
- Median nerve
- Brachial artery, as it divides into radial & ulnar arteries
- Brachial vein (formed by union of radial and ulnar veins)
- Biceps brachii tendon
- Radial nerve
Cubital Fossa – Superficial (veins)
Veins lie superficial to the cubital fossa
- Median cubital vein
- Basilic vein
- Cephalic vein
Carpal Tunnel
An osseofibrous tunnel formed by the carpal bones & flexor retinaculum of the wrist. It is found:
- Anterior to the carpals
- Deep to flexor retinaculum
Clinical relevance – common location of median nerve compression ‘carpal tunnel syndrome
