LM 4.3: Upper Extremity Fascia

Question 1

what is fascia?

Answer 1

a connective tissue just deep to the dermis

it can be separated into a superficial and deep components

Question 2

what is the axillary sheath?

Answer 2

in the axilla, the brachial plexus and the axillary artery are enclosed together in the axillary sheath

it’s an extension of the prevertebral fascia of deep cervical fascia of the neck

Question 3

what is the brachial fascia?

Answer 3

the arm is divided into posterior and anterior compartments bound by the humerus, the lateral and medial inter muscular septa and the brachial fascia

the brachial fascia surrounds the arm

Question 4

what is the ante brachial fascia?

Answer 4

it’s a deep fascia that divides the forearm that surrounds the radius and ulna

extending from the fascia are lateral and medial inter muscular septum that attach to the radius and ulna, respectively

there’s also an interosseous membrane between the ulna and radius that completes the separation of compartments

Question 5

what does the antebrachial fascia turn into?

Answer 5

at the wrist it thickens and becomes the transverse carpal ligament and the polar carpal ligament

Question 6

what is De Quervain’s tenosynovitis?

Answer 6

a painful inflammation of tendons on the side of the wrist at the base of the thumb

tendons include extensor polices braves and abductor policies longs muscles

patients complain of radial sided wrist pain that radiates up the forearm with grasping/extension of the thumb

Question 7

what is Dupuytren’s contracture?

Answer 7

a disease of the palmar fascia resulting in progressive thickening and contracture of fibrous bands on the palmar surface of the hand and fingers

the tissue on the palm side of the hand thickens and shrinks and produces tightness in the area of the hand which the diseased tissue overlies

occurs mostly with ring finger and small finger