Upper limb
Upper limb anatomy
Shoulder, arm, forearm, and hand - from the rotator cuff to the intrinsic hand muscles.
73 structures
Study guides for this region: The rotator cuff muscles, explained and How to learn the brachial plexus.
Muscles
49Abductor digiti minimi (hand)
Moves the little finger away from the others
MuscleAbductor pollicis brevis
Lifts the thumb out of the plane of the palm
MuscleAbductor pollicis longus
Moves the thumb at its base
MuscleAdductor pollicis
Brings the thumb inward for a firm pinch
MuscleAnconeus
Small helper at the back of the elbow
MuscleBiceps brachii
Turns the forearm palm-up and bends the elbow
MuscleBrachialis
Elbow flexion regardless of palm position
MuscleBrachioradialis
Radial-supplied flexor on the outer forearm
MuscleCoracobrachialis
Links the coracoid to the medial arm
MuscleDeltoid
Shoulder cap with three directions of pull
MuscleDorsal interossei (hand)
Spread the fingers around the middle-finger axis
MuscleExtensor carpi radialis brevis
Short radial wrist extensor
MuscleExtensor carpi radialis longus
Long radial wrist extensor
MuscleExtensor carpi ulnaris
Wrist extension toward the ulna
MuscleExtensor digiti minimi
Additional little-finger extensor
MuscleExtensor digitorum
Extensor shared by four fingers
MuscleExtensor indicis
Separate extension for the index finger
MuscleExtensor pollicis brevis
Straightens the thumb at the MCP joint
MuscleExtensor pollicis longus
Extensor of the thumb's terminal joint
MuscleFlexor carpi radialis
Bends the wrist toward the thumb side
MuscleFlexor carpi ulnaris
Bends the wrist toward the little finger
MuscleFlexor digiti minimi brevis (hand)
Bends the little finger at its knuckle
MuscleFlexor digitorum profundus
Flexor that reaches the fingertips
MuscleFlexor digitorum superficialis
Flexor that stops at the middle phalanges
MuscleFlexor pollicis brevis
Short thumb flexor with variable nerve supply
MuscleFlexor pollicis longus
Deep flexor of the thumb tip
MuscleInfraspinatus
Posterior cuff muscle for outward rotation
MuscleLatissimus dorsi
Broad back muscle that pulls on the upper arm
MuscleLevator scapulae
Connects the upper neck to the shoulder blade
MuscleLumbricals (hand)
Coordinate a bent knuckle with straighter finger joints
MuscleOpponens digiti minimi
Turns the fifth metacarpal to cup the palm
MuscleOpponens pollicis
Turns the thumb pad toward the fingertips
MusclePalmar interossei
Draw the fingers back toward the middle-finger axis
MusclePalmaris longus
Variable tendon to the palmar fascia
MusclePectoralis major
Large chest muscle for bringing the arm inward
MusclePectoralis minor
Pulls the scapula toward the front of the chest
MusclePronator quadratus
Short pronator near the wrist
MusclePronator teres
Proximal forearm pronator
MuscleRhomboid major
Draws the shoulder blade toward the spine
MuscleRhomboid minor
Small retractor at the root of the scapular spine
MuscleSerratus anterior
Keeps the shoulder blade against the rib cage
MuscleSubclavius
Short stabilizer beneath the clavicle
MuscleSubscapularis
Anterior cuff muscle for inward rotation
MuscleSupinator
Rotates the radius into supination
MuscleSupraspinatus
Helps lift the arm and center the shoulder joint
MuscleTeres major
Pulls the arm inward and backward
MuscleTeres minor
Small external rotator within the cuff
MuscleTrapezius
Positions the scapula for shoulder movement
MuscleTriceps brachii
Main muscle for straightening the elbow
MuscleBones
9Clavicle
Bony support between chest and shoulder
BoneHumerus
Long bone linking shoulder and elbow
BoneLunate
Central bone of the proximal wrist row
BoneMetacarpals
Numbered supports of the palm
BoneRadius
Forearm bone on the thumb side
BoneScaphoid
Carpal link on the thumb side of the wrist
BoneScapula
Mobile platform for the shoulder muscles
BoneTrapezium
Wrist bone supporting the thumb base
BoneUlna
Forearm bone on the little-finger side
BoneNerves
9Axillary nerve
Motor and sensory supply around the deltoid
NerveBrachial plexus
Network that redistributes upper-limb nerve fibers
NerveLong thoracic nerve
Long surface route to serratus anterior
NerveMedian nerve
Major nerve for forearm flexor muscles and thumb control
NerveMusculocutaneous nerve
Arm motor supply that continues to forearm skin
NerveRadial nerve
Major supply to the posterior arm and forearm
NerveSuprascapular nerve
Nerve linking two posterior rotator-cuff muscles
NerveThoracodorsal nerve
Posterior-cord route to latissimus dorsi
NerveUlnar nerve
Fine hand control and little-finger-side sensation
NerveVessels
5Axillary artery
Arterial passage through the armpit
VesselBrachial artery
Arterial connection from shoulder to forearm
VesselRadial artery
Thumb-side route from elbow to hand
VesselSubclavian artery
Supply route beneath the collarbone
VesselUlnar artery
Medial forearm supply leading to the superficial palm
Vessel