The upper extremities in general

The upper extremities include the pectoral girdle and the free upper limbs. The pectoral girdle consists of the shoulder bone (clavicula) and the shoulder blade (scapula). It is not firmly joined to the trunk but via the breastbone/collar bone joint (articulatio sternoclavicularis), a ball-and-socket joint.

The pectoral girdle forms the basis for the upper extremities. The free upper limbs are joined on at the shoulder joint. These limbs consist of the humerus (humerus), the elbow joint (articulatio cubiti), which connects the upper arm bone to the two lower arm bones ulna (ulna) and radius (radius), together with the hand (manus), which consists of the wrist (carpus), the metacarpus (metacarpus) and the fingers (digiti).

Carpal joints form the transition from the lower arm to the hand. In the area of the fingers there are numerous joints, which connect the proximal phalangeal, medial phalangeal and distal phalangeal joints, together with a thumb saddle joint (articulatio carpometacarpea pollicis).

The upper extremities are important for grasping and feeling functions, demanding a great freedom of movement provided by the large number of joints.

Please click on the image below for a 3D animation.

Please click on the image below for an animation on the upper extremities.

 

 

Further detail on the thoracic girdle, upper arm, and hand can be obtained by clicking on the image of the following links: