MSK Surface anatomy of the upper limb Flashcards
What is the pectoral girdle?
Bones that connect the upper limb to axial skeleton - clavicle and scapula
What is the jugular notch and what are the structures that make it?
An indentation at the bottle middle of the neck that is visible and palpable. It is made up of the sternal ends of the clavicle and inferiorly by the manubrium of the sternum
Describe what to feel for the acromioclavicular joint?
The acromial end of the clavicle is raised slightly higher than the acromion creating a palpable elevation.
How do you palpate the spine of the scapula?
Locate the accordion and flow it round the back to feel the spine of the scapula (ends near the midline at level of T3 vertebrae)
What landmarks are palpable of the glenohumeral joint?
Immediately distal to shoulder on adduction the lesser and greater tubercle of the humerus can be palpated
What bony landmarks can be felt at the elbow?
Medial and lateral epicondyles
The olecrannon of ulna is the tip of the elbow
The posterior border of ulna can be felt down the length of the arm
How do you palpate the ulnar and radial styloid processes?
Very superficial at medial and lateral wrist - feels like a bony point
Which carpal bones can you palpate?
Pisiform and hook of hamate
On the medial palmar side of the hand the pisiform feels round just underneath hypothenar eminence and distal to this you can feel hook of hamate if you press firmly
What makes up the anterior and posterior axillary fold? (the bits either side of the armpit)
Anterior axillary fold - pec major
Posterior axillary fold - latissimus dorsi and teres major
What features of the deltoid muscle are palpable / visible ?
The belly of the muscle in the round contour of the shoulder
Its insertion on the superolateral region of the arm is clearly visible
What features of the triceps brachii are palpable?
The long lateral and medial heads all form bulges when forearm extended against resistance
Tendon is also palpated as it attaches to olecranon
What can be palpated in the cubital fossa?
The biceps tendon (lateral to brachial artery)
A brachial artery pulse
How can you tell if someone has a palmaris longus muscle?
Flex the rest and oppose thumb and pinky
The tendon is very visible in the midline of the wrist (prominent because it is superior to the flexor retinaculum)
What are the pulse points of the upper limb?
- Brachial pulse - medial region of cubital fossa immediately medial to biceps tendon.
- Radial pulse - lateral wrist, lateral to felxor carpi radialis tendon
- Ulnar pulse - difficult to palpate, lateral to flexor carpi ulnaris tendon
