Upper arm/ cubital Fossa

Question 1

What are the articulating surfaces at the elbow joint?

Answer 1

Trochlea and ulna articulate

Capitulum and radius articulate

Question 2

Identify the coranoid fossa and the radial fossa on the humerus

Answer 2

Question 3

Identify the following structures of the humerus

Supracondylar ridge

epicondyles

olecranon fossa

trochlea

radial ridge

Answer 3

Question 4

What are the muscles that make up the anterior compartment of the upper arm ?

Answer 4

BBC

biceps brachii

brachialis

coracobrachialis

Question 5

What are the attachments of the biceps brachii? What is it’s action?

Answer 5

Long head = supraglenoid fossa to the radial tuberosity

short head = Coracoid process to the radial tuberosity

• it flexes the elbow and accessory flexes the shoulder- it is the primary supinator as well

Question 6

What are the attachments of the coracobrachialis and what are it’s actions?

Answer 6

Coracobrachialis is attached to the coracoid process of the scapula and the middle surface of the humerus -

It functions as a shoulder flexor

Question 7

What is the nerve supply to the anterior arm compartment?

Answer 7

Musculocuataneous nerve= C5,6,7

Question 8

What nerve does the musculocutaneous nerve become in the forearm?

Answer 8

the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm

Question 9

Identify the muscles in the posterior compartment of the upper arm

Answer 9

triceps = long head, medial head, lateral head

Question 10

Name the attachments of the triceps muscles

Answer 10

medial head = from posterior humeral surface to the olecranon process

Long head (most medial) = infraglenoid tubercle to the olecranon process

Lateral head = posterior humeral surface to the olecranon process

Question 11

What are the actions of the tricpes muscles?

Answer 11

they extend the elbow- the long head is a weak shoulder adductor and a shoulder extensor

Question 12

What function does the anconeus have?

Answer 12

arguably part of the posterior forearm =

it is a weak elbow extensor

Question 13

What nerve innervates the posterior compartment of the arm?

Answer 13

Radial nerve (C5, T1)

Question 14

What cutaneous nerve supplies the medial arm?

Answer 14

medial cutaneous nerve of the arm (C8 T1)

Question 15

Describe the branches of the brachial artery

Answer 15

Main branches = profunda brachii artery (runs in radial groove)- continues down posterior aspect of arm

Terminal branches = ulnar artery and radial artery

Question 16

What type of joint is the elbow joint?

Answer 16

synovial hinge joint

Question 17

What are the three ligaments of the elbow joint?

Answer 17

radial collateral, ulnar collateral and the anular ligament

Question 18

What are the three bursae of the elbow?

Answer 18

Subcutaneous olecranon bursa

deep olecranon bursa

bicipitoradial bursa

Question 19

What is the elbow ‘carrying angle’

Answer 19

Due to the shape of articular surfaces at the elbow joint = forearm is deviated laterally in relation to the arm by 5-15 degrees (greater in females than in males )

Question 20

What movements occur at the elbow and which muscles are responsible for those movements?

Answer 20

flexion = Biceps brachii, brachialis, brachoradialis (C5,6)

extension = triceps, anconeus (C7,8)

Question 21

What are the borders of the cubital fossa?

Answer 21

Lateral = brachoradialis

medial = pronator teres

horizontal line between medial epicondyles = superior

floor = brachialis

roof = bicipital aponeurosis

Question 22

What are the contents of the cubital fossa from medial to lateral

Answer 22

median nerve, brachial artery, biceps tendon

Question 23

What is the clinical relevance of a shoulder dislocation?

Answer 23

potential for axillary nerve damag

Question 24

What is the clinical significance of a fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus

Answer 24

axillary nerve damage

Question 25

What is the clinical significance of a fracture of the shaft of the humerus ?

Answer 25

radial nerve damage (remember the radial ride passing posteriorly on the humerus where the radial nerve runs)

Question 26

What do we use the brachial artery for?

Answer 26

We use this artery to palpate a pulse and to take blood pressure

Question 27

What is the clinical relevance of a fracture of the medial epicondyle of the humerus?

Answer 27

potential ulnar nerve damage

Question 28

What is the clinical relevance of a supracondylar fracture of the humerus?

Answer 28

damage to the brachial artery - potential volkmann’s ischaemic contracture

Question 29

What is ‘Volkmann’s ischaemic contracture’?

Answer 29

Volkmann’s contracture results from acute ischaemia and necrosis of the muscle fibres of the flexor group of muscles of the forearm, especially the flexor digitorum profundus and flexor pollicis longus. The muscles become fibrotic and shortened.

*this commonly occurs in people who work with their hands a lot like carpenters - otherwise it can also occur in alcoholics*

Question 30

What is ‘nursemaid’s elbow?’

Answer 30

dislocation of the radial head

Question 31

Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

Answer 31

swelling/stiffness of small joints- stiffness lasting hours in the early morning- Rheumatoid nodules- Sjogren’s syndrome -

Question 32

identify the relationship of the following in the cubital fossa

median and radial nerves

brachial, ulnar, and radial arteries

cephalic, basilic, and median cubital veins

brachioradialis, biceps, and pronator teres muscles

Answer 32