Upper Limb Flashcards
Axillary nerve
Shoulder region
Innervates the deltoid muscle and skin through the quadrangular space
Clavicle (Shoulder)
Name: Clavicle
Classification: Long bone
Shape: S-shaped
General Features:
Medial (sternal) end articulates with the manubrium of the sternum.
Lateral (acromial) end articulates with the acromion of the scapula.
Shaft has a double curve; the medial two-thirds are convex anteriorly, and the lateral third is concave anteriorly.
Muscles: pectoralis major, deltoid, latissimus dorsi
Joints Formed: Shoulder
Scapula (Shoulder)
Name: Scapula
Classification: Flat bone
Shape: Triangular
Features include the spine, acromion, coracoid process, and the glenoid cavity.
The scapula acts as a stable platform for arm movements.
Particular Features:
Articular Surfaces: Glenoid cavity joins with the head of the humerus
Attachments:
Muscles: trapezius, serratus anterior,
Joints Formed: scapula joint
Humerus (Arm)
Name: Humerus
Classification: Long bone
Shape: Cylindrical
General Features:
Proximal end includes the head, greater and lesser tubercles, and the anatomical neck.
The shaft features the deltoid tuberosity and radial groove.
The distal end features the capitulum, trochlea, and medial and lateral epicondyles.
Muscles: biceps brachii, triceps brachii, brachialis,
Joints Formed: elbow joint
Radius (Lateral Forearm)
Name: Radius
Classification: Long bone
Shape: Cylindrical, slightly curved.
General Features:
Proximal end includes the head and radial tuberosity.
The shaft is curved and features an interosseous border.
The distal end includes the styloid process and ulnar notch.
Muscles: supinator, pronator teres, pronator quadratus, flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum superficialis
Joints Formed: radio-ulna joint, wrist joint
ulna (medial Forearm)
Name: Ulna
Classification: Long bone
Shape: Triangular in cross-section, tapering distally.
Muscles: supinator, pronator teres, pronator quadratus, flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum superficialis
Joints Formed: radio-ulna joint, wrist joint
Scapula joint
Location: Scapular region, part of the pectoral girdle.
Histological Classification: N/A (as it’s not a joint, but acts like one).
Mechanical Classification: Not a joint but functions similar to a joint.
Movement: Elevation, Depression, Protraction, Retraction, Upward Rotation, Downward Rotation.
Muscle Group Producing the Movement: Trapezius, Serratus Anterior.
Shoulder joint
Location: Shoulder joint, connecting the arm to the trunk.
Histological Classification: Synovial joint.
Mechanical Classification: Ball and Socket.
Movement: Flexion, Extension, Abduction, Adduction, Medial Rotation, Lateral Rotation.
Muscle Group Producing the Movement: Pectoralis Major, Latissimus Dorsi, Deltoid.
elbow joint
Location: Between the humerus, radius, and ulna.
Histological Classification: Synovial joint.
Mechanical Classification: Hinge.
Movement: Flexion, Extension.
Muscle Group Producing the Movement: Biceps Brachii, Triceps.
radio-ulna joint
Location: Between the radius and ulna in the forearm.
Histological Classification: Synovial joint.
Mechanical Classification: Pivot.
Movement: Pronation, Supination.
Muscle Group Producing the Movement: Pronator Teres, Supinator.
wrist joint
Location: Between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones.
Histological Classification: Synovial joint.
Mechanical Classification: Ellipsoid.
Movement: Flexion, Extension, Abduction, Adduction.
Muscle Group Producing the Movement: Flexor Digitorum Superficialis (FDS).
carpo metacarpoal joint (thumb)
Location: Between the first metacarpal and the trapezium.
Histological Classification: Synovial joint.
Mechanical Classification: Saddle.
Movement: Flexion, Abduction, Opposition, Extension, Adduction.
Muscle Group Producing the Movement: Thenar muscles (Flexor Pollicis Brevis, Abductor Pollicis Brevis, Opponens Pollicis).
metacarpol-phalangeal joint (2-5 fingers)
Location: Between the metacarpals and the proximal phalanges of fingers 2-5.
Histological Classification: Synovial joint.
Mechanical Classification: Condyloid.
Movement: Flexion, Extension, Abduction, Adduction.
Muscle Group Producing the Movement: Flexor Digitorum Superficialis (FDS), Interossei muscles.
interphalangeal joint
Location: Between the phalanges of the fingers.
Histological Classification: Synovial joint.
Mechanical Classification: Hinge.
Movement: Flexion, Extension.
Muscle Group Producing the Movement: Flexor Digitorum Superficialis (FDS), Interossei muscles.
Trapezius muscle
Name: Trapezius
Size: Large
Shape: Trapezoid
Location: Shoulder and upper back
Classification: Extrinsic shoulder muscle
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Scapula
Key Action: Elevation of the scapula
Other Actions: Retraction, rotation, and stabilization of the scapula
serratus anterior
Muscle Group: Shoulder
Size: Large
Shape: Fan-shaped
Classification: Extrinsic shoulder muscle
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Scapula
Key Action: Protraction of the scapula
Other Actions: Rotation and stabilization of the scapula
deltoid
Name: Deltoid
Size: Large
Shape: Triangular
Location: Shoulder
Classification: Shoulder Muscle (Group), Skeletal Muscle (Histology
Muscle Group: Shoulder
Classification: Intrinsic shoulder muscle
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Shoulder
Key Action: Abduction of the shoulder
Other Actions: Flexion, extension, and rotation of the arm
Pectoralis Major
Name: Pectoralis Major
Size: Large
Shape: Fan-shaped
Location: Chest
Classification: Shoulder Muscle (Group), Skeletal Muscle (Histology)
Muscle Group: Shoulder
Classification: Extrinsic shoulder muscle
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Shoulder
Key Action: Adduction of the shoulder
Other Actions: Flexion and medial rotation of the arm
Latissimus Dorsi
Name: Latissimus Dorsi
Size: Large
Shape: Broad and flat
Location: Lower back to the arm
Muscle Group: Shoulder
Classification: Extrinsic shoulder muscle
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Shoulder
Key Action: Adduction of the shoulder
Other Actions: Extension and medial rotation of the arm
Biceps Brachii
Name: Biceps Brachii
Size: Medium
Shape: Fusiform
Location: Anterior arm
Muscle Group: Anterior Arm
Classification: Flexor muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Elbow
Key Action: Flexion of the elbow
Other Actions: Supination of the forearm
triceps
Name: Triceps Brachii
Size: Large
Shape: Fusiform with three heads
Location: Posterior arm
Muscle Group: Posterior Arm
Classification: Extensor muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Elbow
Key Action: Extension of the elbow
Other Actions: Stabilization of the shoulder joint (long head)
pronator teres
Name: Pronator Teres
Size: Small to medium
Shape: Fusiform
Location: Anterior forearm
Muscle Group: Anterior Forearm
Classification: Flexor-pronator muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Radio-Ulna
Key Action: Pronation of the forearm
Other Actions: Flexion of the elbow
pronator quadratus
Name: Pronator Quadratus
Size: Small
Shape: Quadrilateral
Location: Distal forearm
Muscle Group: Anterior Forearm
Classification: Flexor-pronator muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Radio-Ulna
Key Action: Pronation of the forearm
Other Actions: Stabilization of the distal radioulnar joint
supinator
Name: Supinator
Size: Small
Shape: Spiral
Location: Posterior forearm
Muscle Group: Posterior Forearm
Classification: Extensor-supinator muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Radio-Ulna
Key Action: Supination of the forearm
Other Actions: Stabilization of the proximal radioulnar joint
Flexor Carpi Radialis
Muscle Group: Anterior Forearm
Classification: Flexor-pronator muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Wrist
Key Action: Flexion of the wrist
Other Actions: Abduction (radial deviation) of the wrist
Name: Flexor Carpi Radialis
Size: Small to medium
Shape: Fusiform
Location: Anterior forearm
flexor carpi ulnaris
Name: Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
Size: Small to medium
Shape: Fusiform
Location: Anterior forearm
Muscle Group: Anterior Forearm
Classification: Flexor-pronator muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Wrist
Key Action: Flexion of the wrist
Other Actions: Adduction (ulnar deviation) of the wrist
Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
Name: Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
Size: Large
Shape: Fusiform
Location: Anterior forearm
Muscle Group: Anterior Forearm
Classification: Flexor-pronator muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Wrist and fingers
Key Action: Flexion of the proximal interphalangeal joints
Other Actions: Flexion of the wrist
extensor digitorum
Name: Extensor Digitorum
Size: Medium
Shape: Fusiform
Location: Posterior forearm
Muscle Group: Posterior Forearm
Classification: Extensor-supinator muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Wrist and fingers
Key Action: Extension of the fingers
Other Actions: Extension of the wrist
thenar group
Name: Thenar Group (includes muscles like Flexor Pollicis Brevis, Abductor Pollicis Brevis, Opponens Pollicis)
Size: Small
Shape: Various (flexor, abductor, and opponens)
Location: Base of the thumb
Muscle Group: Intrinsic Hand Muscles
Classification: Thenar muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Carpometacarpal joint 1 (thumb)
Key Action: Flexion of the thumb
Other Actions: Abduction and opposition of the thumb
hypothenar
Muscle Group: Intrinsic Hand Muscles
Classification: Hypothenar muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Metacarpophalangeal joint 5 (little finger)
Key Action: Flexion of the little finger
Other Actions: Abduction and opposition of the little finger
interosseous group
Muscle Group: Intrinsic Hand Muscles
Classification: Interosseous muscle group
Joint/Bone/Structure Acted Upon: Metacarpals and proximal phalanges
Key Action: Fine movements of the fingers (abduction/adduction)
Other Actions: Flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joints, extension of the interphalangeal joints
axillary nerve
Plexus: Brachial
Regions Traversed: Shoulder
Structures Supplied:
Muscles: Deltoid
Skin: Upper lateral arm
Musculocutaneous Nerve
Plexus: Brachial
Regions Traversed: Shoulder, Arm, Forearm
Structures Supplied:
Muscles: Anterior arm (e.g., Biceps brachii, Brachialis)
Skin: Lateral forearm
radial nerve
Plexus: Brachial
Regions Traversed: Shoulder, Arm, Forearm, Hand
Structures Supplied:
Muscles: Posterior arm (e.g., Triceps brachii), Posterior forearm
Skin: Posterior arm, forearm, and lateral dorsal hand
median nerve
Plexus: Brachial
Regions Traversed: Shoulder, Arm, Forearm, Hand
Structures Supplied:
Muscles: Most anterior forearm muscles (e.g., Flexor digitorum superficialis), Thenar muscles
Skin: Lateral anterior hand
ulnar nerve
Plexus: Brachial
Regions Traversed: Shoulder, Arm, Forearm, Hand
Structures Supplied:
Muscles: Some anterior forearm muscles (e.g., Flexor carpi ulnaris), Hypothenar muscles, Interosseous muscles
Skin: Medial anterior and dorsal hand
