The Upper Limbs
• Shoulder Girdle (aka Pectoral Girdle) contains two
bones: clavicle and scapula
• Clavicle makes up the collarbone
– Attaches to manubrium medially (sternal end) at
the sternoclavicular joint
– Attaches to scapula laterally (acromial end) at
acromioclavicular joint
– Serves to push arm back from thoracic cage and
helps prevent shoulder dislocation
Anterior View
Superior View
• The Scapulae are the shoulder blades
– Attached to clavicles, but held loosely in place by
muscles
– Triangular shape with three sides (Superior border,
Medial border, and Lateral border) and three angles
(Superior angle, Lateral angle, and Inferior angle)
– Suprascapular notch on superior border allows
nerves to pass over scapula
– Spine is ridge on top half of posterior side of scapula
– Lateral end of spine is Acromion process
– Coracoid process is inferior and anterior to acromion
– Acromion and coracoid processes make the superior
border of the Glenoid cavity (the socket for the arm)
Anterior View
Posterior View
• The arm consists of one long bone—the Humerus
– The rounded Head of the humerus fits in the glenoid
cavity of the scapula
– Lateral to the head are the Greater and Lesser tubercles,
which serve as sites of muscle attachment
– Partway down the bone is the Deltoid tuberosity for the
deltoid (shoulder) muscle to attach
– The Radial groove, which goes by the deltoid tuberosity,
marks the path of the radial nerve
– The distal end includes the Trochlea and Capitulum that
articulate with the bones of the forearm
– The Coronoid and Olecranon fossae are depressions that
allow the forearm bone Ulna to move when bending and
extending the elbow
Anterior View – Right Arm
Posterior View – Right Arm
• The Forearm includes two bones--the Radius and
the Ulna
– The Forearm bones articulate at both ends by
radioulnar joints
– The bones are connected by interosseous
membrane
– The radius is the lateral bone in the anatomical
position (same side as thumb)
• The flattened head forms a joint with the capitulum
of the humerus
• Below the head, on the anterior side is the Radial
tuberosity where the bicep muscle attaches
– The ulna is the medial bone in the anatomical
position
• On the proximal end are the Olecranon and
Coronoid processes which articulate with the
fossae of the humerus
• In between the processes is the Trochlear notch
that glides along the trochlea of the humerus
Anterior View
– Right Arm
Posterior View
– Right Arm
Posterior View
– Right Arm
Anterior View
– Right Arm
• The hand consists of the Carpals, Metacarpals,
and Phalanges
• The carpals make up the wrist
– The wrist, or carpus, is made of 8 short bones that
are lined up in 2 irregular rows
– The carpal bones are bound tightly by ligaments
that allow minimal movement
• The 5 metacarpal bones make up the palm
• The phalanges are the finger bones
– 14 bones total
– Bones are labeled Proximal, Middle, and Distal for
each finger (thumb only has proximal and distal as
there are only two bones)