Anatomy of Upper Limb
Anatomy of Upper Limb
Anatomy of Upper Limb
Forearm
The distal radius is shaped to articulate with the proximal carpal bones
distally, and along its medial or ulnar border it articulates with the distal
ulna.
The distal radius therefore has three articular components: the scaphoid
fossa, which allows articulation with the scaphoid; the lunate fossa,
which allows articulation with the lunate; and the sigmoid notch, which
allows articulation with the ulna.
Between the scaphoid and the lunate fossa is a ridge that corresponds
with the scapholunate interval.
This entire surface is covered with articular cartilage.
The radial styloid allows attachment of the brachioradialis tendon.
Also, it is the origin of several important wrist ligaments, including
the radial scapholunate and radial lunocapitate ligaments.
The third articular component of the distal radius is the sigmoid notch.
This convex structure allows the radius to rotate around the distal
ulna.
The distal ulna itself has an ulnar styloid, which contains attachments
to the triangular fibrocartilage complex, including the meniscus
homolog, the volar and dorsal ulnar carpal ligaments, and the ulnar
collateral ligament at the wrist.
On the dorsal surface, six dorsal compartments contain wrist and
digital extensor tendons
On the volar surface reside the contents of the carpal canal, with nine
flexor tendons and the median nerve.
On the ulnar surface, the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon can be palpated
near its insertion on the pisiform.
The boundaries of the ulnar tunnel, or Guyon's canal, are the volar
carpal ligament and transverse carpal ligament, the hook of the
hamate radially and the pisiform ulnarly.
Guyon's canal contains the ulnar artery and nerve.
In the most superficial soft tissue layer of the wrist reside the flexor
carpi radialis layers, flexor carpi ulnaris, and palmaris longus.
The ulnar shaft, however, remains fixed in its rotation at the
ulnohumeral joint, and the radius rotates around the ulna in pronation
and supination.
The radius has a lateral bow that is crucial to the maintenance of full
pronation and supination.
Elbow