Upper limb
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
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 |
ar:طرف علوي
de:Obere Extremität
he:יד
lt:Viršutinės galūnės
ja:ゼローアth:รยางค์บน
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 .

