UE Bones and Joints

• What are the bones of the upper limb?

  Clavicle, scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges
• What is the clavicle commonly known as?


  • Collar bone
• When does the clavicle ossify and when is it completed?


  It is the 1st long bone to ossify and the last to be completed
• What is the shape of the medial and lateral thirds of the clavicle?


  The medial 2/3 is convex anteriorly, and the lateral 1/3 is concave anteriorly
• What is the scapula commonly known as?


  • Shoulder blade
• What type of bone is the scapula?


  Flat bone
• At what level of ribs or vertebrae is the scapula located?


  At the level of the 2nd to 7th ribs/vertebrae
• What is the humerus commonly known as?


  • Arm bone
• What type of bone is the humerus?


  Long bone
• What is the largest bone in the upper extremity?

  The humerus
• What are the superior, spine, and inferior angles of the humerus associated with?


  Superior angle = T2/2nd rib, Spine = T3/3rd rib, Inferior angle = T7/7th rib
• What is the radius in relation to the forearm?


  • Shorter, lateral bone of the forearm
  • Long bone
• What is the ulna in relation to the forearm?


  • Longer, medial bone of the forearm
  • Long bone
  • Stabilizing bone of the forearm
• What are the carpals?


  • Proximal row: scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform
  • Distal row: trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate
• What are metacarpals?


  • Skeleton of the palm, long bones
• What are phalanges?


  • Bones of the digits, long bones
• What are the bony markings of a metacarpal?


  • Base
  • Shaft
  • Head
• What are the bony markings of a phalanx?


  • Base
  • Shaft
  • Head
• What are the types of joint movements based on degrees of freedom (DOF)?


  • Uniaxial: 1 DOF
  • Biaxial: 2 DOF
  • Triaxial: 3 DOF
• What are the types of uniaxial joints?


  • Hinge (Ginglymus)
  • Pivot (Trochoid)
• What are the types of biaxial joints?


  • Condyloid
  • Ellipsoid
  • Saddle (Sellar)
• What are the types of triaxial joints?


  • Plane (Gliding)
  • Ball and Socket (Spheroid)
• What are the joints of the upper limb?

  1. Sternoclavicular
  2. Acromioclavicular
  3. Glenohumeral
  4. Humeroulnar & humeroradial
  5. Proximal radioulnar
  6. Distal radioulnar
  7. Radiocarpal
  8. Midcarpal
  9. Intercarpal

  10. Carpometacarpal

  11. Intermetacarpal

  12. Metacarpophalangeal

  13. Interphalangeal
• What is the sternoclavicular joint?


  • Articulation between sternal end of clavicle with manubrium and 1st costal cartilage
  • Synovial plane joint
  • Only articulation between the upper extremity and axial skeleton
• What ligaments are associated with the sternoclavicular joint?


  Anterior and posterior sternoclavicular, interclavicular, costoclavicular
• What is the function of the articular disc in the sternoclavicular joint?


  • Fibrocartilage
  • Divides the joint into 2 compartments
• What movements occur at the sternoclavicular joint?


  • Elevation-depression
  • Protraction-retraction
  • Rotation
• What is the acromioclavicular joint?


  • Articulation between acromial end of clavicle and acromion of scapula
  • Synovial plane joint
• What ligaments are associated with the acromioclavicular joint?


  Acromioclavicular, coracoclavicular (conoid and trapezoid)
• What is the function of the articular disc in the acromioclavicular joint?


  • Variable in size
  • Fibrocartilaginous in the first 2 years
• What movements occur at the acromioclavicular joint?


  • Upward rotation – downward rotation
  • Anterior tilting – posterior tilting
  • Internal rotation (medial winging) – external rotation (lateral winging)
• What is the glenohumeral joint?


  • AKA "shoulder joint"
  • Articulation between the humeral head and glenoid cavity of the scapula
  • Synovial ball and socket joint
• What ligaments are associated with the glenohumeral joint?

  Glenohumeral, coracohumeral, transverse humeral, coracoacromial
• What are the bursae associated with the glenohumeral joint?


  1. Subacromial / subdeltoid
  2. Subscapular
• What is the function of the glenoid labrum in the glenohumeral joint?


  • Fibrocartilage
  • Surrounds and is attached to the periphery of the glenoid fossa
  • Function: Deepens glenoid fossa
• What movements occur at the glenohumeral joint?


  • Flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, internal rotation, external rotation
• What is the elbow joint?


  • Articulation between trochlea and capitulum of the humerus with the head of the radius and trochlear notch of the ulna
  • Humeroulnar and humeroradial joints
  • Synovial hinge joint
• What is the humeroradial joint?


  Articulation between cuplike fovea of radial head and rounded capitulum of humerus
• What is the humeroulnar joint?


  Articulation between concave trochlear notch of ulna and convex trochlea of humerus
• What ligaments are associated with the elbow joint?


  Radial (lateral) collateral, ulnar (medial) collateral