Prelab 3: The Upper Appendicular Skeleton and Associated Muscles

Hand

located distal to the wrist

Coronoid fossa

Superior to the trochlea is the coronoid fossa, which receives the coronoid process of the ulna

Capitulum

Immediately lateral to the trochlea is the capitulum ("small head"), a knob-like structure located on the anterior surface of the distal humerus. The capitulum articulates with the radius bone of the forearm.

Greater tubercle

Located on the lateral side of the proximal humerus is an expanded bony area called the greater tubercle

Carpal bone

The base of the hand contains eight bones, each called a carpal bone

head of the humerus

The humerus is the single bone of the upper arm region. At its proximal end is the head of the humerus. This is the large, round, smooth region that faces medially. The head articulates with the glenoid cavity of the scapula to form the glenohumeral (shoulder) joint.

Elbow joint

The distal end of the humerus has two articulation areas, which join the ulna and radius bones of the forearm to form the elbow joint.

Phalanx bone of the hand

The fingers and thumb contain a total of 14 bones, each of which is a phalanx bone of the hand

Forearm

The forearm is between the elbow and wrist joints

Anatomical neck

The margin of the smooth area of the head is the anatomical neck of the humerus.

Trochlea

The more medial of these areas is the trochlea, a spindle- or pulley-shaped region (trochlea = "pulley"), which articulates with the ulna bone.

Lateral epicondyle of the humerus

The much smaller bony projection lateral epicondyle of the humerus is found on the lateral side of the distal humerus.

Medial epicondyle of the humerus

The prominent bony projection on the medial side is the medial epicondyle of the humerus

Radius

The radius is lateral to the ulna, which are the paired bones of the forearm

lateral supracondylar ridge

The roughened ridge of bone above the lateral epicondyle is the lateral supracondylar ridge.

scapula

The scapula (shoulder blade) lies on the posterior aspect of the shoulder. The scapula is a flat, triangular-shaped bone with a prominent ridge running across its posterior surface.

Clavicle

The scapula is supported by the clavicle, which also articulates with the humerus (arm bone) to form the shoulder joint.

Lesser tubercle

The smaller lesser tubercle of the humerus is found on the anterior aspect of the humerus. Both the greater and lesser tubercles serve as attachment sites for muscles that act across the shoulder joint.

Surgical neck

The surgical neck is located at the base of the expanded, proximal end of the humerus, where it joins the narrow shaft of the humerus. It is a common site of arm fractures.

Ulna

The ulna is medial to the radius, which are the paired bones of the forearm

Arm

These consist of the arm, located between the shoulder and elbow joints

Radial fossa

above the capitulum is the radial fossa, which receives the head of the radius when the elbow is flexed.

Deltoid tuberosity

roughened, V-shaped region located on the lateral side in the middle of the humerus shaft. It is the site of attachment for the deltoid muscle.

Rotator cuff muscles

subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinaltus, and teres minor, that originate on the scapula

Metacarpal bone

the palm of the hand is formed by five bones, each called a metacarpal bone

Olecranon fossa

the posterior humerus has the olecranon fossa, a larger depression that receives the olecranon process of the ulna when the forearm is fully extended.

Humerus

the single bone of the upper arm