elbow, arm, forearm, wrist hand Flashcards
forearm bones
radius on the lateral or thumb side
ulna on the medial or little finger side
both bones articular with the humerus, so the elbow joint is really 2 synovial joints enclosed in the same capsule
joint between the humerus (trochlea) and the ulna (trochlear notch on the olecranon process)
a hinge joint allowing only flexion-extension
joint between the head of the radius and the capitulum of the humerus
allows flexion-extension and the head of the radius to rotate; this rotation in turn allows for supination and pronation of the forearm and hand; the superior (proximal) radioulnar joint also lies in the joint capsule
at the superior (proximal) radiulnar joint
the head of the radius lies within a ring composed of the anular ligament and the radial notch of the ulna; this is a pivot joint; the head of the radius slides again the ulna allowing the head to rotate during supination and pronation
in the supine position (anatomical position), the radius and ulna
lie parallel to each other; in the prone position, the radius rotates nearly 180degrees and comes to lie over the ulna; the hand is attached to and rotates with the radius
pronation is performed by
the teres and pronator quadrants muscles of the forearm
supination is performed by
the supinator muscle of the forearm, but biceps is the most powerful supinator when the elbow is fixed
collateral ligaments of the elbow joint
prevent abduction-adductionof the forearm at the elbow
ulnar collateral ligament
attaches medial epicondyle of humerus to ulna, but radial collateral ligament attaches to the ulnar ligament, not to the radius itself (to allow rotation of the radius)
hooked olecranon process
allows increased area for attachment of the triceps muslce
on extensionof the elbow, the olecranon process goes into the olecranon fossa on the posterior side of the humerus; this prevents hyperextensionfthejoint
A FOOSH with the elbow flexed (more common in children)
can break the humerus above the condyles of the elbow joint
in this supracondylarfracture, the brachial artery and median nerve areat risk, because they are immediately anterior to the joint
how do protonation and supination of the radius become compromised
if the headbecomes unableto rotate freely within the anular ligament
pulling forcibly on the hand, particularly of small children
can pull the head of the radius out of the anular ligament (dislocation); this is called pulled elbow or “nursemaids elbow”
anterior compartmentof the upper limb
contain flexor muscles innervated by nerves from anterior divisons of the brachial plexus
posterior compartments of the upper limb
contain extensor muscles innervated by nerves from posterior divisions of the plexus
what separates the anterior and posterior componentsofthe arm
the septa and the humerus
musculocutaneous nerve
supplies the muscles of the anterior compartment of the arm (flexors of the elbow and shoulder joints)
biceps brachii
has 2 heads; a long head runs in the bicipital groove across the shoulder joint to the supraglenoid tubercle, while a short head attaches to the coracoid process (already seen with the shoulder joint); biceps inserts on the tuberosity of the radius via the biceps tendon and to forearm fascia via the bicipital aponeurosis
biceps brachii actions
bicepsis a flexor of the elbow joint; the tendon of the long head stabilizes the shoulder joint during flexion.
biceps is also the important supinator of the forearm when the elbow is flexed
coracobrachialis muscle
runs from the coracoid process of the scapular to the humerus; together with the pectoralis major, it draws the arm medially across the chest; an adductor when the arm is abeducted
brachialis muscle
lies deep to the biceps, originates on distal portion of humerus and inserts on tuberosity and coronoid process of ulna; it flexes the elbow joint, but does not supinate the hand because it doesn’t act on the radius
musculocutaneous nerve
from lateral cord of brachial plexus; it pierces coracobrachialis and supplies it, then runs between the biceps and brachialisis and supplies them. its terminal branch is the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm, which emerges lateral to the distal part of the biceps
cutaneous innervation of the arm
although the axillary nerve comes from the posterior cord, its cutaneous branches supply anterior skin just distal to the shoulder join; the axillary nerve may be damaged by a shoulder dislocation, causing a deficit in the cutaneous sensation; a branch of the radial nerve also winds around the lateral side of the arm to supply a lateral portion of anterior skin
lateral cutaneous branch of T2
supplies skin coveringthe rib cage and adjacent portionsof the arm; it is therefore called the intercostalbrachial nerve; pain from angina or a heart attach is referred in part to the T2 dermatome on the left side, accounting for the characteristic distribution of this pain; medical and posterior cutaneous nerves of the arm supply their named areas