Hand Anatomy/ Embryology Flashcards
What tissues comprise the limb bud?
Mesenchyme covered by ectoderm. The limbs grow by proliferation of mesenchyme.
Which genes regulate patterning in limb development?
Homeobox-containing (HOX ) genes.
When do the limb buds first appear?
Toward the end of the fourth week of development, at which time a group of mesenchymal cells in the lateral
mesoderm are activated. The buds are visible by day 26 to day 27.
When is the critical period for upper limb development?
Twenty-four to thirty-six days after fertilization.
When are finger buds visible?
The end of week 6.
When does ossification occur?
Between weeks 8 and 12, ossification of the cartilaginous framework occurs. Epiphyses gradually ossify until the
termination of puberty.
What are the last bones to ossify within their cartilaginous framework?
The carpal bones in which ossification begins during the first year of life.
Does sensory or motor innervation occur first?
Sensory axons enter the limb after motor axons and use these for guidance.
When is nervous system myelination completed?
Around 2 years of age.
What is responsible for proximodistal development?
The apical ectodermal ridge (AER), which expresses endogenous fibroblast growth factors.
What is responsible for radioulnar development?
The zone of polarizing activity, found in the posterior margin of the limb bud, and activated by fibroblast growth
factors from the AER that cause Sonic hedgehog (SHH) gene expression.
What is responsible for dorsoventral development?
Expression of WNT7 and engrailed-1 (EN1) from the dorsal and the ventral epidermis, respectively.
What process is responsible for syndactyly occurrence?
Apoptosis, likely mediated by bone morphogenic proteins signaling TGF-.
How common is syndactyly and which digits are most commonly affected?
Occurs in one in 2,200 births, most commonly affecting the webspace between the middle and ring fingers.
Which arteries supply the limb buds?
Dorsal intersegmental arteries arising from the aorta.
Outline the American Society for Surgery of the Hand classification of congenital deformities of the hand.
The original classification scheme was proposed by Swanson:
i. Failure of formation
ii. Failure of differentiation
iii. Duplication iv. Overgrowth
v. Undergrowth
vi. Constriction band syndromes
vii. Generalized anomalies and syndromes
What is the anatomic snuffbox?
The area bounded by the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis anteriorly and the tendon of the extendor pollicis longus posteriorly. The floor is formed by the scaphoid and trapezium, and it is a frequent site of tenderness after scaphoid fracture
Where is the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint relative to the MCP palmar flexion crease?
Proximal.
What is the “fixed unit” of the hand?
The distal carpal row and second and third metacarpals.
What is a felon?
A subcutaneous abscess of the distal digital pulp. It involves the septal compartments and causes compartment
syndrome of the distal phalangeal pulp. If the pad is not involved, then it is an “apical infection” instead.
What is the normal value for moving two-point discrimination of the fingertip?
2 to 3 mm, with best discrimination occurring in individuals in their 20s and in ulnar sided digits. A score of 7 out of 10 correct answers determines the value of two-point discrimination.
What is the perionychium? Paronychium? Hyponychium? Eponychium? Lunula?
The perionychium includes the nail bed, nail fold, eponychium, paronychium, and hyponychium. The paronychium is the skin on either side of the nail bed. The hyponychium is skin distal to the nail bed. The eponychium is the skin proximal to the nail that covers the nail fold. The white arc in the proximal nail is the lunula and is the distal extent of the germinal matrix. Distal to this is the sterile matrix
Which tissues contribute to nail growth?
The germinal matrix produces approximately 90% of the nail, while the sterile matrix adds a thin layer of cells
underneath the nail to ensure its adherence.
What is a paronychia?
Acute paronychia is infection of the paronychial tissues.
How long does a nail take to grow?
Approximately 6 months.
Name the median innervated intrinsic muscles of the hand.
The intrinsic muscles of the hand are innervated by the ulnar nerve, except the radial two lumbricals, opponens
pollicis, abductor pollicis brevis, and superficial head of the flexor pollicis brevis
What are the functions of the palmar and dorsal interossei?
The interossei originate from the metacarpal shafts and form the lateral bands, aiding in the function of the lumbrical muscles. In addition, the Palmar interossei ADduct the fingers and the Dorsal interossei ABduct the fingers
Name the thenar muscles. What order are they in?
Superficial to deep, they are:
abductor pollicis brevis
flexor pollicis brevis
opponens pollicis
adductor pollicis
Name the hypothenar muscles.
Palmaris brevis
Abductor digiti minimi
Flexor digiti minimi brevis r Opponens digiti minimi
Name the muscles of the mobile wad.
Brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi radialis longus.
How can you test for extensor pollicis longus (EPL) function?
Ask the patient to rest their hand palm down on a table and lift the thumb—only the EPL can move lift the thumb
dorsal to the plane of the palm.
What are Cleland’s and Grayson’s ligaments?
Cleland’s ligaments connect the digital fascia to the sides of the phalanges and are not involved in Dupuytren disease. They lie dorsal to the neurovascular bundle. Grayson’s ligaments connect the tendon sheath to the digital fascia and are often involved in Dupuytren disease. They lie volar to the neurovascular bundle.
What are natatory ligaments?
This is another name for the superficial transverse metacarpal ligaments and these help to create the webspaces.
These coalesce distally with the spiral bands and may be involved in Dupuytren’s disease.
What are the boundaries and contents of the carpal tunnel?
- Roof: transverse carpal ligament 4. Ulnar border: pisiform and hamate
- Floor: carpal bones 5. Contents: the median nerve and nine tendons
- Radial border: scaphoid and trapezium
(flexor digitorum superficialis [FDS], flexor digitorum profundus [FDP], and flexor pollicis longus [FPL])
What are the boundaries and contents of Guyon’s canal?
- Roof: volar carpal ligament and pisohamate ligament
- Floor: transverse carpal ligament
- Ulnar wall: pisiform
- Contents: ulnar nerve and artery
What is the oblique retinacular ligament?
A ligament running between the flexor tendon sheath at the proximal phalanx and the terminal extensor tendon, linking flexion and extension between the interphalangeal joints.
What is the transverse retinacular ligament?
They are ligaments that span the edge of the flexor tendon sheath to the conjoined lateral bands, preventing dorsal
shift of the lateral bands, and thus preventing a swan neck deformity