Palpation upper arm + Forearm

Question 1

Biceps Brachii Long Head

Answer 1

1. Have patient seated on plinth with femur fully supported and feet flat on the ground/step?
2. Palpate at the intertubercular groove of the humerus
3. Ask patient to actively flex the elbow (may provide resistance if necessary) - like bicep curl

For muscle belly:
1. Have patient seated on plinth with femur fully supported and feet flat on the ground/step?
2. Palpate the muscle belly at the biceps area
3. Ask patieint to actively flex the elbow (may provide resistance if necessary) - like bicep curl

Question 2

Biceps Brachii Short Head

Answer 2

1. Have patient seated on plinth with femur fully supported and feet flat on the ground/step?
2. Palpate the coracoid process
3. Ask patient to actively flex the elbow - like bicep curl

Question 3

Brachialis

Answer 3

1. Have patient seated on plinth with femur fully supported and feet flat on the ground/step?
2. Ask patient to pronate forearm (palm face down)
3. Palpate under the biceps brachii (hand around the arm and fingers sink under the biceps brachii
4. Ask patient to gently flex the elbow (lift hand up)

Question 4

Brachioradialis

Answer 4

1. Have patient seated on plinth with femur fully supported and feet flat on the ground/step?
2. Have patient’s hand in midposition of pronation and supination with thumb facing up
3. Palpate the muscle belly (below the elbow hole, slightly lateral to the middle of arm
4. Ask patient to flex elbow, provide resistance

Question 5

Pronator Teres

Answer 5

2. Have patient’s hand supinated (palm face up) and forearm rested on lap in elbow flexion (90 deg)
3. Palpate near the elbow joint (elbow hole), around the middle of the arm
4. Ask patient to actively turn the palm down (pronation)

Question 6

Triceps Brachii Long Head

Answer 6

2. Ask patient to bring arm up (full shoulder flexion), bend elbow once up (hand goes behind the head so bending is a bit sideways)
3. Palpate more towards the outer side
4. Ask patient to actively extend the elbow (move the hand up and down)

Question 7

Triceps Brachii Middle Head

Answer 7

1. Have patient sit on towards the edge of the plinth with hands on both sides (mostly supported on the bottom of palm
2. Palpate near the medial epicondyle (slightly above & slightly behind)
3. Ask patient tot push down on the plinth as if going to push themselves up to stand)

Question 8

Triceps Brachii Lateral Head

Answer 8

1. Can have patient sitting on plinth, and arm behind them
2. Palpate back of arm, more laterally
3. Ask patient to extend elbow, provide resistance

Question 9

Supinator

Answer 9

2. Palpate below the elbow hole, more on the lateral side of the arm, must push away the top muscle
3. Have patient’s forearm in pronation (palm facing down), resting on lap
4. Ask patient to slowly supinate w/o biceps activation