Upper limb
Upper limb anatomy
Shoulder, arm, forearm, and hand — from the rotator cuff to the intrinsic hand muscles.
70 structures
Muscles
49Abductor digiti minimi (hand)
Hypothenar — abducts little finger
MuscleAbductor pollicis brevis
Thenar — abducts the thumb
MuscleAbductor pollicis longus
Deep thumb abductor
MuscleAdductor pollicis
Adducts the thumb (Froment sign)
MuscleAnconeus
Assists elbow extension
MuscleBiceps brachii
Chief supinator of the forearm
MuscleBrachialis
Workhorse elbow flexor
MuscleBrachioradialis
"Beer-raising" elbow flexor
MuscleCoracobrachialis
Pierced by musculocutaneous nerve
MuscleDeltoid
Prime arm abductor
MuscleDorsal interossei (hand)
ABduct the fingers (DAB)
MuscleExtensor carpi radialis brevis
Wrist extensor, tennis elbow
MuscleExtensor carpi radialis longus
Extends and abducts the wrist
MuscleExtensor carpi ulnaris
Extends and adducts the wrist
MuscleExtensor digiti minimi
Extends the little finger
MuscleExtensor digitorum
Main finger extensor
MuscleExtensor indicis
Independent index extensor
MuscleExtensor pollicis brevis
Extends the thumb MCP
MuscleExtensor pollicis longus
Extends the thumb IP joint
MuscleFlexor carpi radialis
Flexes and abducts the wrist
MuscleFlexor carpi ulnaris
Flexes and adducts the wrist
MuscleFlexor digiti minimi brevis (hand)
Hypothenar — flexes little finger
MuscleFlexor digitorum profundus
Only muscle flexing the DIP joints
MuscleFlexor digitorum superficialis
Flexes the PIP joints
MuscleFlexor pollicis brevis
Thenar — flexes the thumb
MuscleFlexor pollicis longus
Flexes the thumb IP joint
MuscleInfraspinatus
Rotator cuff — lateral rotation
MuscleLatissimus dorsi
Broad climbing/swimming muscle
MuscleLevator scapulae
Elevates the scapula
MuscleLumbricals (hand)
Flex MCP, extend IP joints
MuscleOpponens digiti minimi
Hypothenar — cups the palm
MuscleOpponens pollicis
Thenar — opposes the thumb
MusclePalmar interossei
ADduct the fingers (PAD)
MusclePalmaris longus
Absent in ~10–15% of people
MusclePectoralis major
Anterior chest wall, arm adductor
MusclePectoralis minor
Anchors the scapula, surgical landmark
MusclePronator quadratus
Deep primary pronator
MusclePronator teres
Pronates the forearm
MuscleRhomboid major
Scapular retractor
MuscleRhomboid minor
Scapular retractor (superior)
MuscleSerratus anterior
Boxer's muscle
MuscleSubclavius
Protects subclavian vessels
MuscleSubscapularis
Rotator cuff — medial rotation
MuscleSupinator
Supinates the extended forearm
MuscleSupraspinatus
Rotator cuff — initiates abduction
MuscleTeres major
"Lat's little helper"
MuscleTeres minor
Rotator cuff — lateral rotation
MuscleTrapezius
Superficial back, scapular stabiliser
MuscleTriceps brachii
Chief elbow extensor
MuscleBones
9Clavicle
Collarbone — the strut of the shoulder
BoneHumerus
Bone of the arm
BoneLunate
Moon-shaped carpal bone
BoneMetacarpals
Five bones of the palm
BoneRadius
Lateral forearm bone
BoneScaphoid
Boat-shaped carpal bone
BoneScapula
Shoulder blade
BoneTrapezium
Carpal bone at the thumb base
BoneUlna
Medial forearm bone
BoneNerves
7Axillary nerve
Supplies the deltoid
NerveLong thoracic nerve
Nerve to serratus anterior
NerveMedian nerve
The 'labourer's nerve'
NerveMusculocutaneous nerve
Anterior arm and lateral forearm skin
NerveRadial nerve
The great extensor nerve
NerveSuprascapular nerve
Supraspinatus and infraspinatus
NerveUlnar nerve
The 'funny bone' nerve
Nerve