Week 4: Vessels and Nerves of the UL Flashcards
Explain the basic arterial supply to the upper limb
- subclavian arteries arise from the brachiocephalic trunk on the right and arch of the aorta on the left
- subclavian continues as the axillary artery in the axilla
- axillary artery continues as the brachial artery in the arm
- brachial artery bifurcates into the radial and ulnar arteries (these supply the forearm and hand)
What is the boundary for the axillary artery becoming the brachial artery?
teres major
The brachial artery gives off a branch that is the major supplier to the posterior compartment of the arm. What is it called?
profunda brachii
which artery does the ulnar artery give off?
common interosseous which gives off anterior and posterior interosseous
Which artery is at risk in a:
- Fracture of the humeral shaft
- Supracondylar fracture
- Profunda brachii
2. Brachial artery
Which vein drains the deep veins of the upper limb?
brachial veins
Which vein is a communication between the cephalic and basilic vein?
median cubital vein
What is the name of the superficial vein that runs up the anterior aspect of the forearm and drains into the median cubital?
median antebrachial vein
What is the superficial venous arch?
veins in the palm
What is the dorsal venous network?
veins on the back of the hand
Explain the deep vein drainage system of the hand
palmar and dorsal digital veins drain into the deep palmer venous arch and up through the veins of the forearm
Explain how the radial nerve branches
Divides into two branches: superficial and deep
- superficial is sensory supply of skin
- deep branch continues as posterior interosseous nerve
supplies all posterior forearm muscles
The ‘M’ shape of the brachial plexus leads us to be able to identify which nerves?
musculocutaenous, ulnar and median
Which nerve innervates the deep muscles of the anterior compartment of the forearm?
median nerve (anterior interosseous nerve)
What is the thenar eminence?
bulky muscle region at the bottom of the thumb/palm innervated by the recurrent branch of the median nerve:
- adductor pollicis brevis
- flexor pollices brevis
What does the deep branch of the ulnar nerve supply?
- hypothenar eminence (raised area proximal to little finger)
- AP
- interossei
- medial 2 lumbricals
Which areas of the hand does the radial nerve innervate?
-dorsal aspect of lateral hand and lateral 3 difits as far as the DIPJs of the 2nd and 3rd digits and the IPJ of the thumb
Which areas of the hand does the median nerve innervate?
- middle and lateral palm
- dorsal aspec of lateral 3.5 digits distal to DIPJ of fingers and IPJ of thumb
What areas of the hand does the ulnar nerve innervate?
- medial pal
- dorsum medial 2 digits excluding lateral 1/2 of tip of 4th digit, distal to DIPJ
What is a myotome?
the muscle mass innverated by a single spinal nerve
Spinal nerve C5 is tested by which movement?
shoulder abduction –> C5 contributes to axillary nerve which innervates deltoid which abducts the shoulder
Spinal nerve C6 is tested by which movement?
Elbow flexion
Spinal nerve C7 is tested by which movement?
Elbow extension
Spinal nerve C8 is tested by which movement?
finger flexion, thumb extension
Spinal nerve T1 is tested by which movement?
Finger abduction and adduction
What is a green stick fracture?
fracture in a young person when the bone bends and breaks, but not into two pieces
What is a colles fracture?
fracture through the most distal part of the radius
What is the most common of the carpal bones to fracture?
scaphoid bone
How do the ulnar artery and nerve travel in relation to the carpal tunnel?
superficially (along it)
Which is the only tendon that can flex the distal phalanx?
flexor digitorum profundus (FDP)
