The Upper Extremity

In this lab you will learn about the bones and bony landmarks of the upper extremity.

Begin by clicking on the following:

Anterior Skeleton

Roll your cursor over and identify the following bones:

Clavicle

Scapula

Humerus

Ulna

Radius

Metacarpals

Phalanges

Click on the following to see the upper extremity bones only:

Anterior Upper Extremity Right

Using your textbook and the thumbwheel to rotate the image locate the following landmarks on the scapula:

    Spine of scapula

    Acromion process

    Coracoid process

    Glenoid fossa or cavity

    Glenoid labrum

    Acromioclavicular joint

Remember the processes are attachment sites for ligaments and tendons. The acromioclavicular joint or AC joint is important because shoulder separations occur there. There are various grades of separations ranging from partial to complete separation of this joint.

Using you textbook and the thumbwheel, locate the following landmarks:

Humerus

    Head

    Greater Tubercle

    Lesser Tubercle

    Capitulum

    Trochlea

    Medial Epicondyle

    Lateral Epicondyle

The head of the humerus forms a ball and socket joint with the glenoid fossa of the scapula. The tendon of the biceps muscle is located between the greater and lesser tubercles. Sometimes tendonitis occurs there known as bicipital tendonitis. Other common areas for tendonitis include the lateral epicondyle for tennis elbow, aka lateral epicondylitis and the medial epicondyle for golfer's elbow, aka medial epicondylitis.

The capitulum forms a joint with the radius and the trochlea forms a joint with the ulna.

Locate the following landmarks:

Radius

    Head

    Radial tuberosity

Ulna

    Olecranon process

The radial tuberosity is the location where the biceps muscle forms a distal attachment. The olecranon process is the bump that is commonly called the elbow.

Click on the following to see a close up of the wrist:

Carpal Area

Highlight and identify the following bones of the wrist:

Capitate

Scaphoid

Lunate

Triquetrum

Hamate

Trapezium

Trapezoid

Click on the following to see the other side of the wrist:

Anterior Carpals

Identify the same bones as above but this time find the pisiform bone. It sits on top of the triquetrum.

Highlight and identify the metacarpals. Notice they are numbered 1-5. This is how they are identified in medical reports.

Highlight and identify the phalanges.

Notice how they are identified as proximal, middle and distal phalanges. Notice that the thumb has only a proximal and distal phalanx.

This concludes the lab.