Joints of the Upper Extremity

Question 1

Sternoclavicular Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 1

1) Sellar synovial
2) Clavicular notch of manubrium and sternal end of clavicle
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane), articular disc; costoclavicular, anterior/posterior sternoclavicular, and interclavicular ligaments

Question 2

Acromioclavicular Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 2

1) Planar synovial
2) Acromial facet on acromial end of clavicle and facet on the acromion of the scapula
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane), articular disc; acromioclavicular, coracoclavicular (trapezoid ligament laterally, conoid ligament medially) ligaments

Question 3

Glenohumeral Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 3

1) Spheroidal synovial joint
2) Glenoid cavity of scapular head, which is deepened and supported by the glenoid labrum, and the head of the humerus
3) Glenoid labrum, articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane), subscapular bursa, subacromial bursa; glenohumeral, coracohumeral, transverse humeral, and coracoacromial ligaments (coracoacromial arch)

Question 4

Elbow Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 4

1) Ginglymus synovial joint
2) Humeral condyle, trochlear notch of the ulna, and head of the radius
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane); ulnar collateral (anterior, posterior, oblique bands), radial collateral ligaments of the elbow

Question 5

List the bursae of the elbow joint

Answer 5

1) Olecranon bursae (clinically relevant)
- subtendinous olecranon bursa
- intratendinous olecranon bursa
- subcutaneous olecranon bursa
2) Subcutaneous bursa of the medial/lateral humeral epicondyle
3) Bursa of the anconeus
4) Bursa at origin of extensor carpi radialis brevis
5) Bicipitoradial bursa

Question 6

Proximal Radioulnar Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 6

1) Trochoid synovial (primary site of supination/pronation)
2) Radius and ulna
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane, sacciform recess); annular ligament

Question 7

Middle Radioulnar Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 7

1) Syndesmosis
2) Radius and ulna
3) Oblique cord and interosseous membrane

Question 8

Distal Radioulnar Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 8

1) Trochoid synovial joint
2) Head of the ulna and the ulnar notch of the radius laterally and the articular disc inferiorly
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane, sacciform recess, articular disc of distal radioulnar joint)

Question 9

Radiocarpal Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 9

1) Condylar synovial
2) Distal end of the radius, articular disc of the distal radioulnar joint, scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane, articular disc of the distal radioulnar joint); palmar/dorsal radiocarpal, palmar/dorsal ulnocarpal, radial/ulnar collateral ligaments of the wrist

Question 10

Intercarpal Joints

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 10

1) Planar synovial
2) Scapholunate, lunotriquetrum, pisotriquetrum, pisohamate, trapeziotrapezoid, capitohamate, trapeziocapitate
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane); posterior/anterior intercarpal, interosseous intercarpal

Question 11

Pisiform Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 11

1) Planar synovial
2) Articulation of the pisiform with the anterior surface of the triquetrum
3) Pisohamate ligament

Question 12

Midcarpal Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 12

1) Sellar synovial
2) Proximal and distal rows of carpal bones
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane)

Question 13

1st Carpometacarpal Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 13

1) Sellar synovial
2) Trapezium to 1st metacarpal
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane); palmar/dorsal metacarpal ligaments

Question 14

2nd-5th Carpometacarpal Joints

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 14

1) Planar synovial
2) Distal carpal row to 2nd-5th metacarpals
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane); palmar/dorsal carpometacarpal, pisometacarpal, radiate carpal ligaments

Question 15

Intermetacarpal Joints (4)

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 15

1) Planar synovial
2) Metacarpals
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane); dorsal/palmar intercarpal, interosseous intermetacarpal ligaments

Question 16

Metacarpopharyngeal Joints

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 16

1) Condylar synovial
2) Metacarpals and phalanges
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane); palmar, medial/lateral collateral, deep transverse metacarpal ligaments of the metacarpopharyngeal joints

Question 17

1st Interphalangeal Joint

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 17

1) Ginglymus synovial
2) Parts of the phalange
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane); palmar, medial/lateral collateral ligaments of the interphalangeal joints

Question 18

Proximal Interphalangeal Joints

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 18

1) Ginglymus synovial
2) 2nd-5th proximal and intermediate phalanges
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane); palmar, medial/lateral collateral ligaments of the proximal interphalangeal joints

Question 19

Distal Interphalangeal Joints

1) What type of joint is it?
2) What bones are involved?
3) What ligaments are involved?

Answer 19

1) Ginglymus synovial
2) 2nd-5th intermediate and distal phalanges
3) Articular capsule (fibrous capsule, synovial membrane); palmar, medial/lateral collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joints