Upper Limb Bones Anatomy

Upper Limb Bones

• The bones of the upper limb include the scapula, humerus, clavicle, radius, and ulna.

Pectoral Girdle

• The pectoral girdle consists of the scapula and clavicle.
• The clavicle is the only bone of the upper limb that articulates with the axial skeleton.
• The clavicle articulates with the sternum at the sternoclavicular joint.
• The lateral end of the clavicle articulates with the acromion of the scapula at the acromioclavicular joint.
• The clavicle has a conoid tubercle on its inferior and posterior surface.

Scapula

• The scapula has a subscapular fossa on its anterior surface.
• The glenoid fossa is located laterally and articulates with the humerus.
• The supraglenoid tubercle is located above the glenoid fossa and the infraglenoid tubercle is located below the glenoid fossa.
• The coracoid process is located on the anterior surface of the scapula.
• The posterior surface of the scapula has a spine with an acromion process.
• The infraspinous fossa is below the spine of the scapula and the supraspinous fossa is above the spine.

Humerus

• The head of the humerus articulates with the glenoid fossa of the scapula.
• The greater tubercle is located laterally on the humerus and the lesser tubercle is located anteriorly.
• The intertubercular groove is located between the greater and lesser tubercles.
• The deltoid tuberosity is located on the shaft of the humerus.
• The medial condyle of the humerus is called the trochlea and articulates with the trochlear notch of the ulna.
• The lateral condyle of the humerus is called the capitulum and articulates with the head of the radius.
• There is an epicondyle located medial and lateral to the condyles.
• The coronoid fossa, located on the anterior surface of the humerus, accommodates the coronoid process of the ulna during flexion.
• The olecranon fossa, located on the posterior surface of the humerus, accommodates the olecranon process of the ulna during extension.

Ulna

• The ulna is the medial bone of the forearm.
• The trochlear notch of the ulna articulates with the trochlea of the humerus.
• The olecranon process is located posteriorly and fits into the olecranon fossa of the humerus during extension.
• The coronoid process is located anteriorly and fits into the coronoid fossa of the humerus during flexion.
• The radial notch of the ulna articulates with the head of the radius.
• The styloid process of the ulna is the distal medial projection.

Radius

• The radius is the lateral bone of the forearm.
• The head of the radius articulates with the capitulum of the humerus and the radial notch of the ulna.
• The radial tuberosity is located anteriorly on the radius.
• The ulnar notch is located medially on the distal end and articulates with the ulna.
• The styloid process is located laterally on the distal end.