Muscles and Nerves of the Upper Extremity
Alphabetically / By Category / clinical highlights only / Demo
Chief Complaint
Muscles
- Abductor digiti minimi
- Abductor pollicis brevis
- Abductor pollicis longus
- Adductor pollicis
- Anconeus
- Biceps brachii
- Brachialis
- Brachioradialis
- Coracobrachialis
- Deltoid
- Dorsal interossei (hand)
- Extensor carpi radialis (longus and brevis)
- Extensor carpi ulnaris
- Extensor digiti minimi
- Extensor digitorum communis
- Extensor indicis proprius
- Extensor pollicis brevis
- Extensor pollicis longus
- Flexor carpi radialis
- Flexor carpi ulnaris
- Flexor digiti minimi
- Flexor digitorum profundus 2 & 3
- Flexor digitorum profundus 4 & 5
- Flexor digitorum sublimis (superficialis)
- Flexor pollicis brevis
- Flexor pollicis longus
- Infraspinatus
- Latissimus dorsi
- Lumbricals
- Opponens digiti minimi
- Opponens pollicis
- Palmar interossei (hand)
- Palmaris brevis
- Palmaris longus
- Pectoralis major (clavicular head)
- Pectoralis major (sternal head)
- Pectoralis minor
- Pronator quadratus
- Pronator teres
- Rhomboids (major and minor)
- Subclavius
- Subscapularis
- Supinator
- Supraspinatus
- Teres major
- Teres minor
- Triceps
Muscle Group
- Median nerve - Anterior interosseous group
- Median nerve - Superficial forearm group
- Median nerve - Terminal group
- Median nerve - Thenar group
- Radial nerve - Elbow group
- Radial nerve - Finger & thumb extensors
- Ulnar nerve - Forearm muscle group
- Ulnar nerve - Hypothenar group
- Ulnar nerve - Intrinsic hand group
- Ulnar nerve - Thenar group
Nerve
(Cont.)
- Lower subscapular nerve
- Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve
- Medial brachial cutaneous nerve
- Medial pectoral nerve
- Median nerve
- Median nerve digital sensory branches
- Median palmar cutaneous nerve
- Musculocutaneous nerve
- Nerve to subclavius
- Palmar ulnar cutaneous nerve
- Posterior cutaneous nerve of arm
- Posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm
- Posterior interosseous nerve
- Radial nerve
- Recurrent motor branch of the thumb
- Superficial branch (of ulnar nerve)
- Superficial radial sensory nerve
- Supraclavicular nerve
- Suprascapular nerve
- Thoracodorsal nerve
- Ulnar nerve
- Upper lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm
- Upper subscapular nerve
Plexus
Brachial Plexus Trunk
Brachial Plexus Division
Brachial Plexus Cord
Anatomical Site
Articulation Site
Muscle Action
(Cont.)
- Finger abduction (finger spread)
- Finger adduction (finger closure)
- Forearm pronation
- Forearm supination
- Hypothenar eminence corrugation
- Metacarpalphalangeal flexion with proximal interphalangeal extension
- Moves thumb forward
- Opposition of thumb to digit 5
- Palmar abduction
- Palmar abduction of thumb
- Scapula abduction (protraction)
- Scapula adduction (retraction)
- Scapula depression
- Scapula elevation
- Shoulder abduction
- Shoulder adduction
- Shoulder adduction (transverse)
- Shoulder extension
- Shoulder external rotation
- Shoulder flexion
- Shoulder flexion (transverse)
- Shoulder internal rotation
- Shoulder transverse extension
- Thumb abduction in plane of palm
- Thumb adduction
- Thumb interphalangeal joint extension
- Thumb interphalangeal joint flexion
- Thumb metacarpalphalangeal joint extension
- Thumb metacarpalphalangeal joint flexion (moves thumb forward)
- Wrist corrugation
- Wrist extension and abduction
- Wrist extension and adduction
- Wrist flexion
- Wrist flexion and abduction
- Wrist flexion and adduction
Other
- Anconeus is often considered a continuation of the triceps, and lies lateral to olecranon process of ulna
- Biceps brachii provides elbow flexion with forearm in supination
- Brachialis is mostly musculocutaneous innervated.
- Contains long, lateral, and medial heads
- Flexes all finger joints but is the only muscle to flex the distal joints.
- Injury results in medial scapular winging
- Injury results in superolateral scapular winging
- Lies deep to biceps brachii; position of forearm does not affect its activation
- Median n. innervates lumbricals 1 & 2
- Median n. innervates superficial head
- Moves thumb away from midline
- Moves thumb away from palm
- Muscle tested in mid-pronation/supination
- Muscle tested with forearm in extension
- Muscle tested with forearm in flexion
- Palmaris longus tendon pops-out in midline
- Position of forearm does not affect it
- Receives additional supply from C7
- Receives additional supply from T1
- Results in a "Benediction Posture".
- Supination may be partially preserved due to preserved biceps brachii strength
- The clavicular head of pectoralis major provides shoulder flexion; the sternal head provides shoulder extension.
- The deltoid has three heads: lateral, anterior, and posterior
- The first dorsal interosseus muscle is the most clinically relevant.
- The intercostobrachial nerve is the lateral cutaneous sensory branch of the T2 intercostal nerve
- The triceps has three heads: lateral, long, and medial
- Through unclear means, reportedly receives additional supply from C6, C7.
- Ulnar n. innervates deep head
- Ulnar n. innervates lumbricals 3 & 4
- Underlies flexor carpi radialis and pronator teres
- When the musculocutaneous nerve is entraped in this muscle, the muscle, itself, is spared.