Upper limb
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Overview
In human anatomy, the upper limb (also upper extremity) refers to what in common English is known as the arm, that is, the region of the shoulder to the fingertips. It includes the entire limb, and thus, is not synonymous with the term upper arm.
General structures
The upper limb includes the following structures:
- Shoulder
- Arm (proper) - in anatomy, the region between the shoulder and the elbow
- Elbow
- Forearm
- Wrist
- Hand
Note that anatomists use the term arm to denote only the region between the shoulder and the elbow. This is in contrast to the proper English definition. Anatomists also use the term leg to refer to the region between the knee and the ankle. This, however, is the proper and traditional usage of the word, even though popular modern usage tends to include the thigh and foot in the definition.
Bones
The following bones are considered to be part of the upper limb:
- Clavicle - the only bone that directly articulates with the trunk
- Scapula
- Humerus
- Radius
- Ulna
- Carpal bones
- Metacarpals
- Phalanges
References
General anatomy of upper limbs | |
|---|---|
| Arm | Axilla • Axillary sheath • axillary folds (Anterior, Posterior)
spaces (Quadrangular space, Triangular space, Triangular interval) • Clavipectoral triangle compartment of arm (Posterior, Anterior) fascia (Axillary, Brachial) - intermuscular septa (Lateral, Medial) |
| Forearm | Cubital fossa (Bicipital aponeurosis) • Cubital tunnel • common tendons (Extensor, Flexor) • Interosseous membrane of the forearm
compartment of forearm (Posterior, Anterior) fascia (Antebrachial fascia) |
| Hand | posterior: Extensor retinaculum • Extensor expansion • Vincula tendina • Anatomical snuff box
anterior: Flexor retinaculum • Carpal tunnel • Palmar aponeurosis • Ulnar canal • Synovial sheath (Common synovial sheath for the flexor tendons]) Finger |
List of arteries of upper limbs | |
|---|---|
| Axillary | scapular anastomosis - 1st part superior thoracic - 2nd part thoracoacromial (deltoid branch) - lateral thoracic - 3rd part subscapular (circumflex scapular, thoracodorsal) - anterior humeral circumflex - posterior humeral circumflex |
| Brachial | profunda brachii (radial collateral, medial collateral) - ulnar collateral artery (superior, inferior) |
| Radial | forearm: radial recurrent
wrist/carpus: dorsal carpal branch - palmar carpal branch hand: superficial palmar branch - princeps pollicis (radial of index finger) |
| Ulnar | forearm: ulnar recurrent (anterior, posterior) - common interosseous (anterior, posterior, recurrent)
wrist/carpus: dorsal carpal branch - palmar carpal branch hand: deep palmar branch |
| Arches | dorsal carpal arch: dorsal metacarpal (dorsal digital)
superficial palmar arch: common palmar digital (proper palmar digital) deep palmar arch: palmar metacarpal |
Veins of upper limbs | |
|---|---|
| superficial - hand/forearm | Dorsal digital • Dorsal metacarpal • Dorsal network • Palmar digital • Intercapitular |
| superficial - arm | Cephalic • Median cubital • Accessory cephalic • Basilic • Median antebrachial |
| deep - hand/forearm | Palmar metacarpal • Superficial palmar arch • Deep palmar arch |
| deep - arm | Radial • Ulnar • Brachial • Axillary |
Nerves of upper limbs (primarily): the brachial plexus (C5-T1) | |
|---|---|
| Supraclavicular | root (dorsal scapular, long thoracic) - upper trunk (suprascapular, to the subclavius) |
| Infraclavicular: lateral cord | lateral pectoral
musculocutaneous (lateral cutaneous of forearm) median/lateral root: anterior interosseous - palmar - recurrent - common palmar digital (proper palmar digital) |
| Infraclavicular: medial cord | medial pectoral
cutaneous: medial cutaneous of forearm • medial cutaneous of arm ulnar: muscular - palmar - dorsal (dorsal digital nerves) - superficial (common palmar digital, proper palmar digital) - deep median/medial root: see above |
| Infraclavicular: posterior cord | subscapular (upper, lower) • thoracodorsal
axillary (superior lateral cutaneous of arm) radial: muscular - cutaneous (posterior of arm, inferior lateral of arm, posterior of forearm) - superficial (dorsal digital nerves) - deep (posterior interosseous) |
| Other | cutaneous innervation of the upper limbs |
Lymphatics of upper limbs | |
|---|---|
| Axillary | brachial - pectoral axillary - subscapular axillary - central - apical subclavian trunk |
| Other | supratrochlear - deltopectoral |
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de:Obere Extremität
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lt:Viršutinės galūnės
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Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
