THE PECTORAL GIRDLE & UPPER LIMB

Chapter 7

Pectoral Girdle / Shoulder

Very light and has high degree of mobility

Considered an open joint

Consists of the following bones Clavicle -anteriorly Scapula – has free movement across the thorax

(posteriorly) Vertebrae – muscle attachment

Clavicles provide a source of bracing for the arm and scapula

The scapula (shoulder blade) is flat bone that articulates with humerus (glenoid cavity) and clavicle (acromion). Dorsal feature

Upper Limb

The upper arm extends from the shoulder to the elbow and contains only 1 bone – HUMERUS

Humerus = longest and largest bone of upper limb

Articulates with the scapula at the shoulder along with the ulna and radius at the elbow

FOREARM

The forearm is between the elbow and wrist

Contains the Ulna and Radius

The ulna forms the elbow joint and articulates proximally with the radius and distally with the carpals at the wrist

The radius articulates with the proximal end of humerus and distally with the carpals of the wrist and the ulna

WRIST / PALM

The wrist consists of 8 short bones arranged in 2 rows of 4 bones

The metacarpus (palm) consists of 5 small, long bones numbered 1-5 from thumb to little finger

Articulates proximally with the carples and the phalanges distally

HAND / FINGERS

The fingers consist of 14 bones The thumb (pollex) is considered digit # I

and has only 2 phalanges

The other fingers # II – V each have 3 phalanges