Upper limb- from shoulder to tips of fingers
Arm- from shoulder to elbow
Forearm- from elbow to wrist
Bones of the upper limb
1. Scapula
Important features:
• Subscapular fossa- depression on the anterior surface of scapula to fit the
bones of the thoracic cage
• Spine of the scapula- bony ridge on the posterior surface of scapula; serves
as attachment point for many muscles eg. deltoid, trapezius
• Acromion- bony point formed posteriorly where spine of scapula
terminates; forms the acromioclavicular joint with the clavicle which can be
traced anteriorly
• Coracoid process- bony point on anterior surface that serves as muscle
attachment point
o Note: coracoacromial ligament attaches from acromion to coracoid
process to form an arch; maintains stability within glenohumeral
(shoulder) joint
• Glenoid fossa- depression that holds the head of the humerus to form the
glenohumeral joint
, 2. Humerus
Important features:
• Head- fits into glenoid fossa and articulates with scapula to form
glenohumeral joint
• Neck- between head and tubercles
• Surgical neck- below tubercles; in this region the bone tapers and gets
thinner so it’s more commonly fractured than the actual neck (hence called
surgical neck)
• Greater tubercle- on the lateral side in line with lateral epicondyle
• Lesser tubercle- on the anterior side
o Note: a tubercle is a small rounded point of a bone
• Intertubercular groove- between the greater and lesser tubercle
• Deltoid tuberosity- bony bump that the deltoid muscle attaches onto
• Lateral and medial epicondyle- bony prominence at the end of the bone
which serves as attachment point for muscles
o Note: medial epicondyle has ulnar nerve running around it
• Coronoid fossa: depression above trochlea that holds the coronoid process
of ulna when elbow joint is fully flexed
• Capitulum- on the lateral side of end of humerus; articulates with radius to
form humeroradial joint (part of elbow joint)
2
, • Trochlea- on medial side; articulates with ulna to form humeroulnar joint
(part of elbow joint)
• Olecranon fossa- depression on posterior side of humerus where olecranon
of ulna sits when elbow joint is fully extended
3. Radius and Ulna
Interosseous membrane- membrane the runs between and connects the radius
and ulna
Important features of radius:
• Radial head- at proximal head of radius; articulates with capitulum to form
humeroradial joint (part of elbow joint); sits in radial notch of ulna to form
proximal radioulnar joint (this is not a part of the elbow joint)
• Radial tuberosity- bony prominence on proximal part of radius
• Styloid process of radius- bony point at distal end of radius
Important features of ulna:
• Olecranon- forms the posterior bony point of the elbow
• Trochlear notch- articulates with trochlea to form humeroulnar joint (part of
elbow joint)
3
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