Upper Limb Anatomy Overview

The upper limb consists of:
- Shoulder
- Arm (brachium)
- Forearm (antebrachium)
- Hand (manus)

Clavicle
- Connects the upper limb to the trunk.
- S-shaped bone; acts as a strut.
Scapula
- Flat, triangular bone.
- Forms the shoulder girdle with clavicle.
- Major features: acromion, glenoid cavity, coracoid process.
Humerus
- Long bone of the arm.
- Features: head, neck, greater and lesser tubercles, shaft.
Radius
- Lateral bone of the forearm (thumb side).
- Involved in wrist joint.
- Features: radial head, styloid process.
Ulna
- Medial bone of the forearm (pinky side).
- Forms the elbow joint with the humerus.
- Features: olecranon, coronoid process, styloid process.
Carpals (8 bones)
- Arranged in two rows (proximal and distal).
- Major bones: scaphoid, lunate, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate.
Metacarpals (5 bones)
- Forms the framework of the palm.
Phalanges (14 bones)
- Bones of the fingers.
- Each finger has 3 (proximal, middle, distal), except the thumb which has 2.

Shoulder Joint (Glenohumeral)
- Ball-and-socket joint.
- Allows extensive range of motion.
Elbow Joint
- Hinge joint between humerus, radius, and ulna.
- Allows flexion and extension.
Wrist Joint (Radiocarpal)
- Condyloid joint.
- Allows flexion, extension, and lateral movement.
Interphalangeal Joints
- Hinge joints between phalanges.
- Permit flexion and extension.

Shoulder Muscles:
- Deltoid: abduction of the shoulder.
- Rotator Cuff Muscles: stabilize the shoulder joint.
Arm Muscles:
- Biceps Brachii: flexes elbow, supinates forearm.
- Triceps Brachii: extends elbow.
Forearm Muscles:
- Flexors (anterior compartment): flex wrist and fingers.
- Extensors (posterior compartment): extend wrist and fingers.
Hand Muscles:
- Thenar muscles: move the thumb.
- Hypothenar muscles: move the little finger.
- Intrinsic muscles: control fine motor movements.

Brachial Plexus:
- Major nerve network providing motor and sensory innervation to the upper limb.
- Main nerves: median, ulnar, radial, musculocutaneous.

The upper limb is crucial for:
- Grasping and manipulation.
- Strength and endurance activities.
- Coordination and fine motor skills.

The clavicle, an S-shaped bone, acts as a strut connecting the upper limb to the trunk.
The scapula is a flat, triangular bone forming the shoulder girdle with the clavicle.
The scapula has key features: the acromion, glenoid cavity, and coracoid process.
The humerus is the long bone of the arm, with features including the head, neck, greater and lesser tubercles, and shaft.
The radius, located on the thumb side of the forearm, is involved in the wrist joint.
The radius has features: radial head, and styloid process.
The ulna, the medial bone of the forearm (pinky side), forms the elbow joint with the humerus.
The ulna has features: olecranon, coronoid process, and styloid process.
The carpals, eight small bones arranged in two rows, provide the framework for the wrist.
The carpals include the scaphoid, lunate, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, and hamate.
The metacarpals, five bones forming the palm, are the bones of the hand.
The phalanges, 14 bones composing the fingers support the movements of the hand.
Each finger has three phalanges (proximal, middle, and distal) except the thumb, which has two phalanges.

The shoulder joint, a ball-and-socket joint, allows for extensive range of motion.
The elbow joint, a hinge joint between the humerus, radius, and ulna, permits flexion and extension.
The wrist joint, a condyloid joint, enables flexion, extension, and lateral movement.
The interphalangeal joints, hinge joints between the phalanges, allow for flexion and extension.

Shoulder muscles:
- The deltoid muscle abducts the shoulder.
- Rotator cuff muscles stabilize the shoulder joint.
Arm muscles:
- The biceps brachii muscle flexes the elbow and supinates the forearm.
- The triceps brachii muscle extends the elbow.
Forearm muscles:
- Flexors in the anterior compartment of the forearm flex the wrist and fingers.
- Extensors in the posterior compartment of the forearm extend the wrist and fingers.
Hand muscles:
- Thenar muscles move the thumb.
- Hypothenar muscles move the little finger.
- Intrinsic muscles control fine motor movements.

The brachial plexus is a major nerve network providing motor and sensory innervation to the upper limb.
The brachial plexus contains the median, ulnar, radial, and musculocutaneous nerves.

The subclavian artery is the main artery supplying blood to the upper limb.
The brachial artery, a continuation of the axillary artery, supplies blood to the arm.
The radial and ulnar arteries provide blood to the forearm and hand.

The upper limb plays a crucial role in:
- Grasping and manipulation of objects.
- Strength and endurance activities.
- Coordination and fine motor skills.