In this pdf-note, we’ll start with the borders of the upper limb:

• The anterior border is the deltopectoral groove

• The posterior border is the posterior deltoid groove

  

  

Within the upper limb, there is a large number of regions:

• Deltoid region (regio deltoidea)

• Axillary region (regio axillaris)

• Anterior region of the arm (regio brachialis anterior)

• Posterior region of the arm (regio brachialis posterior)

• Anterior region of the elbow (regio cubitalis anterior)

• Posterior region of the elbow (regio cubitalis posterior)

• Anterior region of the forearm (regio anterobrachialis anterior)

• Posterior region of the forearm (regio anterobrachialis posterior)

• Anterior region of the wrist (regio carpalis anterior)

• Posterior region of the wrist (regio carpalis posterior)

• Palmar region of the hand (regio palmaris manus)

• Dorsal region of the hand (regio dorsalis manus)

Within these areas, the muscles of the upper limb are located.

These include:

• Pectoral girdle muscles

• Muscles of the free part of the upper limb

  The muscles of the free part of the upper limb are divided into:

• Arm muscles

• Forearm muscles

• Hand muscles

  There are two groups of forearm muscles: anterior and posterior.

  The anterior group consists of the hand and finger flexor muscles. They are arranged in several layers.

  Superficial layer:

• Brachioradialis muscle (m. brachioradialis), which is sometimes described as part of a separate lateral group of forearm muscles, but this is of no principal significance

  

  

  

  Brachioradialis muscle
  (m. brachioradialis)

  Origin: medial supraepicondylar ridge of the humerus, lateral intermuscular septum of the arm

  Insertion: above the styloid process of the radius

  Function: flexes the upper limb at the elbow joint, supinates the hand. The hand pronates from the supination position.

  Innervation: radial nerve (C5-C8)

  Blood supply: collateral radial artery, recurrent radial artery, radial artery

• Pronator teres muscle (m.pronator teres)

  

  

  Pronator teres muscle
  (m. pronator teres)

  Origin:

  Humeral head (caput humerale) arises from the medial epicondyle of the humerus and the medial intermuscular septum of the arm

  Ulnar head (caput ulnare) arises from the tuberosity of the ulna, coronoid process of the ulna

  Insertion: lateral surface of the body of the radius

  Function: pronation of the forearm, flexion of the upper limb at the elbow joint

  Innervation: median nerve (C5-Th1)

  Blood supply: branches of the brachial, ulnar and radial arteries

• Flexor carpi radialis muscle (m. flexor carpi radialis)

  

  

  

  Flexor carpi radialis muscle
  (m. flexor carpi radialis)

  Origin: medial epicondyle of the humerus, medial intermuscular septum of the arm

  Insertion: palmar surfaces of the bases of the 2nd and 3rd metacarpals

  Function: flexes and abducts the hand, flexes the forearm

  Innervation: median nerve (C5-Th1)

  Blood supply: branches of the brachial, ulnar and radial arteries

• Palmaris longus muscle (m. palmaris longus)

  

  

  Palmaris longus muscle
  (m. palmaris longus)

  Origin: medial epicondyle of the humerus

  Insertion: continues into the palmar aponeurosis, which attaches to the bases of the middle phalanges of the fingers 2-5 (4 tendons)

  Function: stretches the palmar aponeurosis, flexes the hand and the forearm

  Innervation: median nerve (C5-Th1)

  Blood supply: radial artery

• Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (m. flexor carpi ulnaris)

  

  

  Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle
  (m. flexor carpi ulnaris)

  Origin:

  Humeral head (caput humerale) arises from the medial epicondyle of the humerus and the medial intermuscular septum of the arm

  Ulnar head (caput ulnare) arises from the olecranon and the posterior border of the ulna

  Insertion: pisiform bone, hamate bone, base of the 5th metacarpal

  Function: flexes and adducts the hand

  Innervation: ulnar nerve (C7-C8)

  Blood supply: superior and inferior ulnar collateral arteries, ulnar artery

  Second layer:

• Flexor digitorum superficialis muscle (m. flexor digitorum superficialis)

  

  

  Flexor digitorum superficialis muscle
  (m. flexor digitorum superficialis)

  Origin:

  Humero-ulnar head (caput humeroulnare) arises from the medial epicondyle of the humerus, ulnar collateral ligament, and the coronoid process of the ulna

  Radial head (caput radiale) arises from the anterior border of the radius

  Insertion: divides into four tendons that reach the bases of the middle phalanges of the fingers 2-5 and bifurcate. The resulting cruses insert into the lateral surfaces of the bases of the middle phalanges

  Function: flexes the middle phalanges of the fingers 2-5, flexes the hand, flexes the forearm

  Innervation: median nerve (C5-Th1)

  Blood supply: radial and ulnar arteries

  Third layer:

• Flexor digitorum profundus muscle (m. flexor digitorum profundus)

  

  

  Flexor digitorum profundus muscle
  (m. flexor digitorum profundus)

  Origin: anterior surface of the ulna, interosseous membrane of the forearm

  Insertion: divides into four tendons, which insert into the bases of the distal phalanges of the fingers 2-5

  Function: flexes the distal phalanges of the fingers 2-5

  Innervation: ulnar and median nerves (C5-Th1)

  Blood supply: radial artery, ulnar artery

• Flexor pollicis longus muscle (m. flexor pollicis longus)

  

  

  Flexor pollicis longus muscle
  (m. flexor pollicis longus)

  Origin: anterior surface of the radius, interosseous membrane of the forearm, medial epicondyle of the humerus

  Insertion: base of the distal phalanx of the thumb

  Function: flexes the distal phalanx of the thumb

  Innervation: median nerve (C5-Th1)

  Blood supply: radial artery, ulnar artery, anterior interosseous artery

  Fourth layer:

• Pronator quadratus muscle (m. pronator quadratus)

Dictionary

Forearm muscles

Deltoid region

regio deltoidea

Axillary region

regio axillaris

Anterior region of the arm

regio brachialis anterior

Posterior region of the arm

regio brachialis posterior

Anterior region of the elbow

regio cubitalis anterior

Posterior region of the elbow

regio cubitalis posterior

Anterior region of the forearm

regio anterobrachialis anterior

Posterior region of the forearm

regio anterobrachialis posterior

Anterior region of the wrist

regio carpalis anterior

Posterior region of the wrist

regio carpalis posterior

Palmar region of the hand

regio palmaris manus

Dorsal region of the hand

regio dorsalis manus

Brachioradialis muscle

m. brachioradialis

Pronator teres muscle

m.pronator teres

Flexor carpi radialis

m. flexor carpi radialis

Palmaris longus muscle

m. palmaris longus

Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle

m. flexor carpi ulnaris

Flexor digitorum superficialis muscle

m. flexor digitorum superficialis

Flexor digitorum profundus muscle

m. flexor digitorum profundus

Flexor pollicis longus muscle

m. flexor pollicis longus

Pronator quadratus muscle

m. pronator quadratus