Upper Limb Flashcards
Acromioclavicular joint
Palpation: Begin at clavical, feel outwards until reaching the acromion process.
1) Joint between the acromion, which is part of the scapula, and the clavical.
2+3+4)
This is a synovial joint, which is found at junctions that require movement.
It facilitates this with four key features, a fibrous membrane (that encloses the joint, synovial membrane (that encloses the synovial fluid), synovial fluid (which reduces friction in the joint) and hyaline cartilage (which is located at the ends of the bones in the joint and creates a smooth surface).
Spine of scapula
Palpation: Find bottom of scapular, feel along medial border until top, then feel along the top.
1) Separates the supraspinous fossa from the infraspinous fossa of the scapula.
2) Muscles that attach are deltoid, and the middle to lower fibres of the trapezius.
3) Also other regions of the scapula, which include the inferior angle, medial border.
4)
Acromion Process
Palpation: Feel along clavical until reaching a shelf.
1) Muscles that attach are deltoid and the trapezius.
2) The anterior end is flat and smooth, allowing for the connection between the clavical to form the acromioclavicular joint.
2+3) This is a synovial joint, which is found at junctions that require movement.
It facilitates this with four key features, a fibrous membrane (that encloses the joint, synovial membrane (that encloses the synovial fluid), synovial fluid (which reduces friction in the joint) and hyaline cartilage (which is located at the ends of the bones in the joint and creates a smooth surface).
Inferior angle of scapula
Palpation: Feel along medial edge of scapula until reaching the bottom.
1) Is where the medial and lateral borders meet.
2) Teres major origionates from the posterior aspect.
3) It then attatches to the intertubecular groove in the humerous.
4) It extends, adducts, and internally rotates the scapula.
Medial and lateral border of scapula
Palpation: Feel along middle and lateral sides of scapula
1+2) Serves as attatchment site of four muscles, lavetor scapulae, rhomboid major and minor, and serratus anterior.
3+4) Lateral muscles include teres minor and major and is the thickest border of the scapula.
Greater and lesser tubercles
Palpation: Start at clavical, feel outwards until acromion process, then onto greater tubercles.
1) Landmarks on the humorous, which is the largest bone in the upper extremities.
2) Humerous articulates with the glenoid on the scapular to create the glenohumeral joint.
3) This is a ball and socket joint, and also classified as a synovial joint.
4) Compared to the hip this is more flexible and has greater movement due to the articulation size not being as great.
Lateral and medial epicondyles of humerus
Palpation: Flex elbow and is the most lateral and medial borders of the arm.
1) Medial is larger than the lateral.
2) Lateral is the attachment for various extensor muscles, including extensor carpi ulnaris, extensor radialis brevis, and extensor digitorium.
3) Medial is the attatchment site for the flexor muscles, including flexor carpi ulanris, flexor carpi radialis and flexor digitorium superficialis.
Olecranon process
Palpation: Flex forearm, is the bit that points out, then extend and feel it lock into place.
1) Is part of the ulnar bone.
2) Provides attachment for the triceps muscle.
3) Running along the olecranon process is the ulnar nerve.
4) When you hit your elbow, or funny bone, this is actually hitting the ulnar nerve
Radial styloid process
Palpation: Bony landmark below thumb.
1) Attachment site for brachioradialis.
2) Works with biceps brachii and brachiallis to primarily felx the elbow.
3) Also assists with super and pronation.
4) Also the attatchment site for the radial collateral ligament of the wrist which connects to the schaphoid.
Scaphoid
Palpation: Find snuff box and is bone in the middle.
1) It is a carpal bone, located just above the radius.
2) Has various ligament attatchments
3) Allows wrist movement by articulating with the radius, and the lunate does with the ulnar, become the major bones involved in wrist movement.
4) It also forms the radial border of the carpal tunnel.
Pisiform
Palpation: On back of hand, near ulnar bone, before
1) Flexor carpi ulnaris runs through it.
2) It then attaches onto the metacarpal bones, allowing wrist flexion.
3) It is a sesamoid bone, which are free standing bones not connected to other bones.
4) They are instead act as attachment sites, which include abductor digiti minimi, and other ligaments, such as the anterior annular ligament.
Metacarpals
Palpation: Feel along a digit until reaching the very end.
1) Classed as long bones.
2) Function is to accomodate for the muscles, tendons and nerves of the hand.
3) Located between the phalangeal and carpal bones.
4) Attachment site for various intrinsic (such as oppons pollucis, aductor pollucis, oppnons digiti minimi, interossi)
and extrinsic muscles (such as flexor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi radialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis)
Metacarpophalangeal joints
Palpation: Find end of proximal phalanx, feel along groove and that is the joint.
1) Between the metacarpals and proximal phalangeas 1-5.
2) A synovial joint, and acts as a hinge joint.
3) They have several supporting ligaments, including collateral ligaments.
4) Function is to allow actions, such as extension, flexion, abduction and adduction of the phalanges.
Carpometacarpal joint of the thumb
Palpation: Between carpals and metacarpals on the thumb
1) Between the 1st metacarpal and the trapezium.
2) A synovial joint, saddle shaped to allow movement.
3) These movements include opposition, abduction, adduction, flexion and extension.
Phalges
Palpation: From base to tip
1) Long bones.
2) Locates above the metacarpals and have three distinct section (1-4) and two for the thumb.
3) Proximal, intermediate and distal sections with the thumb not having a middle.
4) Proximal is site for thenar and hypothenar muscles and interossi.
Distal includes extensore pollucis longus, flexor digitorium profundus and flexor pollucis longus.
