The Arm & Brachium

Question 1

what is considered the brachium?

Answer 1

head of the humerus to the elbow

Question 2

what is the primary elbow joint?

Answer 2

humeroulnar joint

Question 3

what are the three joints of the elbow?

Answer 3

humeroulnar
humeroradial
proximal radioulnar

Question 4

what elbow joint is responsible for pronation and supination?

Answer 4

humeroradial

*more specifically - the radio-capitulum joint

Question 5

what creates the carrying angle?

Answer 5

the lateral deviation that the obliquity (or angle) of the trochlea of the humerus creates

Question 6

what movements does the elbow provide?

Answer 6

flexion and extension

Question 7

the carrying angle MAY relate to the pelvis in terms of…

Answer 7

a larger carrying angle in women than in men

Question 8

what does a VALGUS (normal cubitus or excessive cubitus) carrying angle mean?

Answer 8

the distal segment is abducted from the midline

Question 9

what constitutes a VARUS carrying angle (cubitus varus)

Answer 9

any time the carrying angle is past 0 degrees (i.e. -2, -1, -4, etc)

Question 10

which ligament is more likely to be damaged in baseball pitchers?

Answer 10

medial collateral ligament

AKA ulnar collateral ligament

Question 11

tennis elbow is a result of…

Answer 11

a great deal of stress at the common tendon from all extensor muscles

Question 12

what type of joint is the radio-capitulum joint?

Answer 12

pivot joint

Question 13

what is the main function of the annular ligament?

Answer 13

maintains the radial head, provides stability at the proximal radio-ulnar joint

Question 14

what is “nursemaid’s elbow?”

Answer 14

-pistoning effect

• when the radius moves down and creates a little vacuum, causing the annular ligament to get sucked in between the joint space
• more typical in children due to immaturity of bones/ligaments

Question 15

what is the 0-degree (or neutral position) of the forearm?

Answer 15

thumb-up position

Question 16

what is the cubital fossa?

Answer 16

triangular depression anterior to elbow joint

Question 17

what runs through the cubital fossa?

Answer 17

biceps brachii tendon

brachial artery

median nerve

Question 18

what is the cubital tunnel?

Answer 18

space between the medial epicondyle and the olecranon

Question 19

what runs through the cubital tunnel?

Answer 19

the ulnar nerve

Question 20

what is your “funny bone” and what happens when you hit it?

Answer 20

your funny bone is your ulnar nerve, essentially.

when the cubital tunnel is hit, the ulnar nerve is squashed into the medial epicondyle, resulting in a shocking sensation from your forearm down to your fingers

Question 21

what muscles are in the anterior compartment in the arm and forearm?

Answer 21

flexor muscles

Question 22

what muscles are in the posterior compartment in the arm and forearm?

Answer 22

extensor muscles

Question 23

what happens if the olecranon bursa experiences a blow or pressure?

Answer 23

can become inflamed – olecranon bursitis. swelling and pain develop

Question 24

what is the ARTERIAL circulation of the arm/brachium?

Answer 24

axillary, brachial, deep brachial, ulnar collateral, radial collateral, ulnar recurrents, radial recurrents

Question 25

what are the abbreviations to remember the arterial circulation?

Answer 25

A B DB UC RC UR RR

Question 26

what is the VENOUS circulation of the arm & brachium?

Answer 26

axillary, brachial, ulnar collateral, radial collateral, ulnar recurrents, radial recurrents

Question 27

what are the abbreviations to remember the arterial circulation?

Answer 27

A B UC RC UR RR

Question 28

what are the superficial veins of the arm/brachium?

Answer 28

cephalic, basilic, median cubital (^on the palmar surface)

Question 29

what creates the dorsal venous arch?

Answer 29

the cephalic and basilic arteries as they wrap around from palmar surface to dorsal surface

Question 30

what do the brachial cutaneous nerves run from?

Answer 30

the lateral, medial, and posterior cords of the brachial plexus

Question 31

what is the sensory innervation of the skin on the arm/brachium?

Answer 31

the cutaneous nerves

Question 32

where does the musculocutaneous nerve come off of?

Answer 32

the lateral cord of the brachial plexus

Question 33

where does the musculocutaneous nerve run through?

Answer 33

the coracobrachialis and passes through the cubital fossa

Question 34

is the musculocutaneous nerve susceptible to increased tension, which could create a peripheral situation?

Answer 34

yes, as the musculocutaneous nerve running through the coracobrachialis/cubital fossa makes it a tension point

Question 35

where does the median nerve come off of?

Answer 35

the medial and lateral cords of the brachial plexus

Question 36

where does the ulnar nerve come off of?

Answer 36

the medial cord of the brachial plexus

Question 37

where does the median nerve run through?

Answer 37

through the arm, but ONLY innervates the HAND muscles

Question 38

what is the flexor retinaculum of the wrist?

Answer 38

it creates the carpal tunnel also known as the VOLAR ligament

Question 39

where does the radial nerve come off of?

Answer 39

the posterior cord of the brachial plexus

Question 40

what does the radial nerve innervate?

Answer 40

posterior arm muscles

Question 41

what is the primary shoulder flexion muscle?

Answer 41

biceps brachii

Question 42

what is the primary elbow flexion muscle?

Answer 42

brachialis