Activity Analysis of the Upper Extremity
Today’s Activities
 Soft Tissue Palpation of the Wrist and Hand
 Activity Analysis
 Military Press
 Sit Up
Soft Tissue Palpation
 Understanding the anatomy of the tendons can lead to
greater understanding of injuries that can occur
 Tendon injuries in the hand are very common and lead to
a decreased quality of life
 Understanding the location of the tendons and applying
them to the principles of active and passive insufficiency
observed in Lab 2
Extensor Tendons of the Hand
 Extensor Pollicis Brevis
 Extensor Pollicis Longus
 Extensor Digitorum Communis
 Extensor Indicis Proprius
 Extensor Digiti Minimi
 Extensor Carpi Ulnaris
Extensor Pollicis Brevis (EPB)/
Extensor Pollicis Longus (EPL)
 Action: Work together to extend and abduct the
thumb at the Wrist and MCP joint
 Location: Make up ulnar (EPL) and radial (EPB)
sides of anatomical snuffbox.
Extensor Digitorum Communis
(EDC)
• Action: Extension of the hand, wrist and all
phalanges.
• Location: Tendon branches from the wrist, along
the phalanges on the dorsal surface. The pinky
and ring finger share a tendon.
• Palpation trick: Making a clawed grasp
Extensor Indicis Proprius (EIP)
 Action: Extends the MCP joint and extends the PIP
& DIP joints of the index finger
 Location: Ulnar side of index finger, along EDC. It
is less superficial than the EDC
Extensor Digiti Quinti (EDQ) or
Extensor Digiti Minimi (EDM)
 Action: Extend the MCP and extends the PIP and
DIP of the little finger.
 Location: Located on radial side of pinky. Most
prominent tendon on extensor side of pinky
Extensor Carpi Ulnaris
 Action: Extends and adducts (ulnarly deviates) the
wrist
 Location: On ulnar side of pinky. Less
prominent/superficial than the EDM/EDQ.
Flexor Tendons and Muscles of the
Hand
 Palmaris Longus
 Flexor Carpi Radialis
 Thenar Eminence
 Hypothenar Eminence
 MCP Ligaments
Palmaris Longus
 Action: Flexes the wrist, may assist in elbow flexion.
 Location: On palmar surface of wrist. Most superficial
tendon.
 Palpation trick: Holding a round object in hand, flex the
wrist to see the palmaris longus protrude proximallydistally along the wrist.
Flexor Carpi Radialis (FCR)
 Action: Flexes and abducts (radially deviates) the
wrist, may assist in pronation of the forearm and
flexion of the wrist.
 Location: Deep to the Palmaris Longus, it runs
proximally-distally along the wrist. Located on the
radial side of wrist.
Thenar Eminence
 Location: Muscle pad along the thumb side of
hand (made up of 3 muscles: Abductor pollicis
brevis, Flexor pollicis brevis and Opponens
pollicis).
Hypothenar Eminence
 Location: Muscle pad along the pink side of hand
(made up of 3 muscles: Opponens digiti minimi,
Flexor digiti minimi & Abductor digiti minimi).
Activity Analysis: Military Press/Sit Up
 Chart breaking down the movement by joint FOR BOTH PHASES
 Osteokinematic motion (Flex, adduct, etc.)
 Muscle Functional Group (i.e. Wrist Flexors)
 Agonist & Synergists
 Contraction Type
 Planes and axes
 Effects of gravity (Resisting, Assisting, No effect)
 Narration of chart
 Diagram of movement (up phase/down phase)
 Use arrows for gravities effect
 Diagram of a single joint
 Identify muscle group and Contraction Type
 Identify the type of lever
 Label the Axis, Effort and Resistance
 PAY ATTENTION TO LAB HANDOUT!
In Two Weeks
 Lab Report 4
 Midterm Practicals
 Activity Analysis
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Push up
Sit up
Military Press
Bench Press
 Palpations (Labs 1 and 4)