Upper Limb Joints & Ligaments Flashcards
What bones make up the upper limb?
The clavicle, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, and bones of the wrist & hand
How is the upper limb attached to the body?
Only directly attached by the clavicle to the sternum
What joints make up the pectoral girdle?
Sternoclavicular, Acromioclavicular, & Glenohumeral Joints
What type of joint is the SC joint?
Synovial joint with a meniscus
What ligaments are associated with the SC joint?
Sternoclavicular (SC), Costoclavicular, & Interclavicular ligaments
What do the SC ligaments (anterior & posterior) do?
Limit movement of the joint forward or backward
What does the costoclavicular ligament do?
It limits movement of the joint upward
What does the interclavicular ligament do?
It limits movement of the joint downward
Where is the acromioclavicular (AC) joint located?
Located between the acromium process of the scapula and the clavicle
What type of joint is the AC joint?
Synovial joint with a small meniscus
What ligaments are associated with the AC joint?
The acromioclavicular & coracoclavicular ligaments
The coracoclavicular ligament is actually made up of 2 separate ligaments, what are they?
Conoid & trapezoid ligaments
Why are the AC joint ligaments so important?
Important because the AC joint capsule is very weak & fragile and the ligaments help strengthen it
What is a “separated shoulder?”
Ruptured AC ligament causing the humerus and scapula to detach from the clavicle
What type of joint is the glenohumeral joint?
Synovial “Ball & Socket” joint with a capsule filled with synovial fluid
The GH joint has a fibrocartilage labrum. What is this?
A fibrocartilage “cup” or “rim” around the articular cartilage of the joint that helps form a more complete socket
What makes the GH joint unlike any other joint?
It has muscles not just ligaments that stabilize the joint and keep it in the socket
What muscles help stabilize the GH joint?
Rotator cuff muscles (subscapularis, supraspinatus, infrapspinatus, & teres minor)
What makes the GH joint prone to dislocation?
Most of the ligaments and muscles supporting it are located posteriorly so it often dislocates forward
What are the common problems associated with dislocation injuries of the GH joint?
Rotator cuff injuries (especially supraspinatus), torn labrum, damage to the axillary nerve
What ligaments are associated with the GH joint?
Capsular (GH) ligaments, coracohumeral ligament, and coracoacromial ligament
What does the coracoacromial ligament do?
It forms the coracoacromial roof/arch which prevents upward dislocation of the GH joint
What bursa are found in the GH joint?
The subdeltoid, subacromial, & subscapularis.
*Subdeltoid & Subacromial are fused into 1
What joints is the “Elbow Joint” made up of?
The humeroradial, humeroulnar, and proximal radioulnar joints
What ligaments are associated with the elbow joint?
The anular ligament, radial collateral ligament, & ulnar collateral ligament
What does the anular ligament do?
It limits the rotation of the radius
What does the radial collateral ligament do?
It prevents lateral movement medially
What does the ulnar collateral ligament do?
It is made of 3 bands (anterior, posterior, & oblique) and prevents lateral movement laterally
What is unique about the ulnar collateral ligament?
The anterior UCL band is often injured in baseball players and requires reconstructive surgery
What is UCL reconstructive surgery also called and how is it done?
AKA “Tommy Johns” surgery, they remove the anterior band of the UCL and replace it with the palmaris longus tendon from the opposite arm
What bursa is found in the elbow joint?
The subcutaneous olecranon bursa found on the posterior of the elbow
Where is the distal radioulnar joint located?
At the wrist between the radius, ulnar, and wrist
What ligaments are associated with the distal radioulnar joint?
The triangular ligament and dorsal & palmar radioulnar ligaments
What is the triangular ligament?
It is a tough ligament embedded with cartilage that makes up the floor of the distal radioulnar joint and holds it together
What is another name for the triangular ligament?
AKA the “articular disc” or the distal radioulnar joint
What/where is the radiocarpal joint?
It is the wrist joint between the carpals, radius, and triangular ligament
What allows the radiocarpal joint to be so flexible?
It has a small articular meniscus
What ligaments are associated with the radiocarpal joint?
The radial collateral (lateral side), ulnar collateral (medial side), dorsal ulnocarpal, dorsal radiocarpal, palmar ulnocarpal, & palmar radiocarpal ligaments
What is the difference between the palmar and dorsal ulnocarpal/radiocarpal ligaments?
The palmar ones are much shorter and tighter
What are the intercarpal joints?
The joints between the wrist bones
What ligaments are associated with the intercarpal joints?
The palmar & dorsal radiate ligaments and interosseous ligaments
What are the interosseous ligaments?
The ligaments between the carpal bones
Where/what are the carpometacarpal (CM) joints?
The joints between the carpals and metacarpals
What ligaments are associated with the CM joints?
The palmar & dorsal CM ligaments
What are the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints?
The joints of the fingers between the metacarpals and the phalangies
What ligaments are associated with the MP joints?
The medial & lateral collateral ligaments, transverse ligaments, and palmar longitudinal ligaments
What do the medial & lateral collateral ligaments of the MP joint do?
Prevent lateral (either medially or laterally) movement of the MP joint
What do the transverse ligaments of the MP joint do?
They are found between the fingers and limit the fingers from spreading too far apart
What do the palmar longitudinal ligaments of the MP joint do?
They limit the upward movement of the digits
What are the interphalangeal (IP) joints?
The joints between the phalanges
What ligaments are associated with the IP joints?
The medial & lateral collateral ligaments and the palmar ligaments
How do you determine it the IP collateral ligaments are medial or lateral?
You use the middle finger as the mid-line. Medial is for abduction & lateral is for adduction
What are the movements of ALL 5 digits?
Flexion & extension; Adduction & abduction
What movement is unique to the pollex (thumb) and digiti minimi (pinky)?
Opposition (touching tip of thumb to tip of pinky)
From what we’ve learned so far, what are the places that we have articular meniscus?
Sternoclavicular joint, acromioclavicular joint, radiocarpal joint, TMJ, and the spine
