Anatomy
section 1 Introduction
A Osteology: The human skeleton has 206 bones: axial skeleton (80) and appendicular skeleton (126)
Intramembranous (direct laying down of bone without a cartilage model [skull]) or enchondral (with a cartilage precursor [most bones]).
Enchondral growth begins in the diaphyses of long bones at primary ossification centers, most of which are present at birth (Table 2-1).
Table 2-1
2. Secondary ossification centers usually develop in the periphery of bones and are important for growth and the treatment of childhood fractures.
3. Heterotopic ossification is the formation of bone tissue in an atypical, extraskeletal location.
4. Anatomic landmarks of the skeleton and their related structures are listed in Table 2-2.
Table 2-2
B Arthrology: Joints are commonly classified into three types on the basis of their freedom of movement
1. Synarthroses: joining of two bony elements with no motion during maturity; skull sutures
2. Amphiarthroses: have hyaline cartilage and intervening discs with limited motion; symphysis pubis
3. Diarthroses: characterized by hyaline cartilage, synovial membranes, capsules, and ligaments
C Myology: classification based on the arrangement of muscle fibers
2. Fusiform (e.g., biceps brachii)
3. Oblique (with tendinous interdigitation): further classified as pennate, bipennate, multipennate
Originate from the ventral rami of spinal nerves and are distributed via several plexuses (cervical, brachial, lumbosacral)
The mnemonic “SAME” can be used to help understand the function of nerves: sensory = afferent; motor = efferent.
Efferent (motor) fibers carry impulses from the central nervous system to muscles.
Afferent (sensory) fibers carry information toward the central nervous system.
section 2 Upper Extremity
Table 2-3 summarizes upper extremity innervation. Table 2-4 summarizes standard surgical approaches to the upper extremity.
Table 2-3
Summary of Upper Extremity Innervation
Nerves | Muscles Innervated |
Musculocutaneous (lateral cord) | Coracobrachialis, biceps, brachialis |
Axillary (posterior cord) | Deltoid, teres minor |
Radial (posterior cord) | Triceps, brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis |
Posterior interosseous | Supinator, extensor carpi ulnaris, extensor digitorum, extensor digiti minimi, abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis longus and brevis, extensor indicis proprius |
Median (medial and lateral cord) | Pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor digitorum superficialis, abductor pollicis brevis, supinator head of flexor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, first and second lumbrical muscles |
Anterior interosseous | Flexor digitorum profundus (first and second), flexor pollicis longus, pronator quadratus |
Ulnar (medial cord) | Flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum profundus (third and fourth), palmaris brevis, abductor digiti minimi, opponens digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi, third and fourth lumbrical muscles, interossei, adductor pollicis, deep head of flexor pollicis brevis |
Spans the second through seventh ribs and serves as an attachment for 17 muscles and four ligaments
Glenoid is retroverted approximately 5 degrees.
Scapular spine: separates supraspinatus from infraspinatus.
Coracoid: Attachments to the coracoid include the coracoacromial ligament, coracoclavicular ligaments (conoid and trapezoid [lateral]), conjoined tendon (coracobrachialis and short head of biceps), and pectoralis minor.
Suprascapular notch has the superior transverse scapular ligament separating the suprascapular artery (superior) from the suprascapular nerve (inferior).
Spinoglenoid notch has both the artery and nerve inferior to the inferior transverse scapular ligament; long-term nerve compression at the spinoglenoid notch (i.e., ganglion; assume labral disease) results in infraspinatus atrophy.
It is the fulcrum for lateral movement of the arm.
It has a double curvature (sternal-ventral, acromial-dorsal) and serves as an attachment for the upper extremity.
The clavicle is the first bone in the body to ossify (at 5 weeks of gestation) and the last to fuse (medial epiphysis at 25 years of age; see Table 2-1). Fracture of the clavicle is the most common musculoskeletal birth injury.
B Arthrology: one major articulation (glenohumeral joint) and several minor articulations (sternoclavicular, acromioclavicular, scapulothoracic joints)
1. Glenohumeral joint (Figure 2-1): Spheroidal, ball and socket, with the greatest joint range of motion; motion is at the expense of stability with static and dynamic restraints.
Static restraints include the articular anatomy, glenoid labrum, negative pressure, capsule, and ligaments.
Dynamic restraints include the rotator cuff and biceps tendon, and scapulothoracic motion is restrained.
Important glenohumeral stabilizers summarized in Table 2-5
Table 2-5
Structure | Function |
Coracohumeral ligament | Primary restraint in inferior translation of the adducted arm and to external rotation |
Glenoid labrum | Increases surface area, static stabilizer |
Superior glenohumeral ligament | Primary restraint in external rotation of the adducted or slightly abducted arm Primary restraint in inferior translation of the adducted arm |
Middle glenohumeral ligament (absent up to 30% of shoulders) | Primary stabilizer in anterior translation, with the arm abducted to 45 degrees |
Inferior glenohumeral ligament complex | Primary stabilizer for anterior and inferior translation in abduction |
This joint is double-gliding, with an articular disc.
Ligaments include the anterior and posterior sternoclavicular ligaments, an interclavicular ligament, and a costoclavicular ligament.
The sternoclavicular joint rotates 30 degrees with shoulder motion.
Plane/gliding joint with a fibrocartilaginous disc
Figure 2-2 Ligaments about the shoulder. The acromioclavicular ligaments (superior, inferior, anterior, and posterior) prevent anteroposterior translation of the distal clavicle. The superior ligament is the most important and is reinforced by fibers from the trapezius and deltoid muscles. The coracoclavicular ligaments—conoid (posteromedial) and trapezoid (anterolateral)—prevent superior translation of the distal clavicle. The coracoacromial ligament should be preserved in massive rotator cuff defects because it provides superior restraint to the humeral head. Bleeding encountered during release of the coracoacromial ligament comes from the acromial branch of the thoracoacromial artery (second part of axillary artery; see Figure 2-6). (Adapted from Jenkins DB: Hollinshead’s functional anatomy of the limbs and back, ed 6, Philadelphia, 1991, Saunders, p 71.)
Acromioclavicular ligament: prevents anteroposterior displacement
Coracoclavicular ligaments: prevent superior displacement of the distal clavicle (trapezoid [anterolateral] and conoid [posteromedial and stronger])
When the arm is maximally elevated, about 5 to 8 degrees of rotation is possible at the acromioclavicular joint, although the clavicle rotates approximately 40 to 50 degrees.
Though not a true joint, this attachment allows scapular movement against the posterior rib cage.
Fixed primarily by the scapular muscular attachments.
Glenohumeral motion in comparison with scapulothoracic motion is in a 2:1 ratio.
5. Intrinsic ligaments of the scapula:
Superior transverse scapular ligament (which separates the suprascapular nerve [inferior] and vessels [superior] at the suprascapular notch; mnemonic: “Army over Navy” for artery over nerve)
Inferior transverse scapular ligament (spinoglenoid notch)
Frequent cause of impingement.
The coracoacromial ligament is important for superoanterior restraint in rotator cuff deficiencies and should be preserved during débridement of painful massive rotator cuff tears that cannot be surgically repaired.
The acromial branch of the thoracoacromial artery runs on the medial aspect of the coracoacromial ligament.
1. Muscles connecting the upper limb to the vertebral column: trapezius, latissimus, both rhomboid muscles, and levator scapulae
2. Muscles connecting the upper limb to the thoracic wall: both pectoralis muscles, subclavius, and serratus anterior
3. Muscles acting on the shoulder joint itself: deltoid, teres major, and the four rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis)
The rotator cuff muscles depress and stabilize the humeral head against the glenoid; all attach to the greater tuberosity except the subscapularis, which has a lesser tuberosity insertion (shoulder internal rotator).
The shoulder internal rotators (pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, teres major, and subscapularis) are stronger than the external rotators (teres minor and infraspinatus), which is why posterior shoulder dislocations are more common than anterior dislocations after electrical shock and seizures.
Table 2-6 presents the specific characteristics of these muscles, and Figure 2-4 and Table 2-7 describe the four layers of shoulder musculature.
Table 2-7
Shoulder-Supporting Anatomic Layers
Layer | Structures |
I | Deltoid; pectoralis major; trapezius |
II | Clavipectoral fascia; conjoined tendon, short head of biceps, and coracobrachialis |
III | Deep layer of subdeltoid bursa; rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis [SITS]) |
IV | Glenohumeral joint capsule; coracohumeral ligament |
1. Anatomy of brachial plexus (Figure 2-5)
The brachial plexus is formed from the ventral primary rami of C5 to T1 and lies under the clavicle between the scalenus anterior and scalenus medius.
Dorsal rami of C5 to T1 innervate the dorsal neck musculature and skin.
Brachial plexus consists of roots, trunks, divisions, cords, and branches (mnemonic: “Ron Taylor drinks cold beer”).
Five roots (C5 to T1, although contributions from C4 and T2 can be small)
Three trunks (upper, middle, lower)
Six divisions (two from each trunk)
Three cords (named because of their anatomic relationship to the axillary artery: posterior, lateral, and medial); the termination of each cord is shown in Table 2-8
Table 2-8
Brachial Plexus Cord Terminations
Cord | Termination |
Lateral | Musculocutaneous nerve* Lateral pectoral nerve |
Posterior | Radial and axillary nerve* Upper and lower subscapular nerve Thoracodorsal nerve |
Medial | Ulnar nerve* Medial pectoral nerve Medial brachial cutaneous nerve Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve |
Medial and lateral | Median nerve* |
Multiple branches: four preclavicular branches (from roots and upper trunk):
2. Muscle innervation: innervation of all rotator cuff muscles derived from C5 and C6 of the brachial plexus (Table 2-9; see also Table 2-3)
Preganglionic brachial plexus lesions
Proximal to the dorsal root ganglion
Produce medial scapular winging (because of paralysis of the preclavicular long thoracic nerve with resultant serratus anterior dysfunction) and Horner’s syndrome (injury to brachial plexus at C8 to T1 involving the inferior/stellate ganglion)
Postganglionic brachial plexus injuries
Obstetric brachial plexus palsy (Table 2-10)
Table 2-10
The left subclavian artery arises directly from the aorta, and the right subclavian artery arises from the brachiocephalic trunk.
It then emerges between the scalenus anterior and medius muscles and becomes the axillary artery at the outer border of the first rib.
2. Axillary artery (Table 2-11, Figure 2-6)
Table 2-11
This artery is conceptualized as divided into three parts on the basis of its physical relationship to the pectoralis minor muscle (the first part is medial to it, the second is under it, and the third is lateral to it).
Each part of the artery has as many branches as the number of that portion (e.g., the second part has two branches: thoracoacromial and lateral thoracic).
The third part of the axillary artery, at the origin of the anterior and posterior humeral circumflex arteries, is the most vulnerable to traumatic vascular injury.
F Surgical approaches to the shoulder (Table 2-12; see Table 2-4):
Table 2-12
Surgical Approaches to the Shoulder
Approach | Interval | Structures at Risk |
Anterior (Henry’s) | Deltoid (axillary nerve) and pectoralis major (medial and lateral pectoral nerve) | Axillary nerve limits inferior exposure; place arm in adduction and external rotation Musculocutaneous nerve: avoid vigorous retraction and medial dissection to the conjoined tendon/coracobrachialis |
Lateral | Deltoid splitting (axillary nerve) | Avoid deltoid split >5 cm below acromion, to avoid damaging axillary nerve |
Posterior | Infraspinatus (suprascapular nerve) and teres minor (axillary nerve) | Dissection inferior to the teres minor puts quadrangular space structures at risk: axillary nerve and posterior humeral circumflex artery Avoid excessive medial retraction on infraspinatus, which can injure suprascapular nerve |
1. Anterior (Henry’s) approach (Figure 2-7)
Interval: deltoid (axillary nerve) and the pectoralis major (medial and lateral pectoral nerves)
Dissect the cephalic vein, and retract it laterally with the deltoid, thereby exposing the underlying subscapularis.
Then divide the subscapularis (preserving the most inferior fibers in order to protect the axillary nerve); then the shoulder capsule is visualized.
A leash of three vessels (one artery and the superior and inferior venae comitantes) marks the lower border of the subscapularis.
Musculocutaneous nerve (lateral cord brachial plexus)
Protect by avoiding vigorous retraction of the conjoined tendon and avoiding dissection medial to the coracobrachialis.
This nerve usually penetrates the biceps/coracobrachialis 5 to 8 cm below the coracoid, but it enters these muscles proximal to this 5-cm “safe zone” in almost 30% of shoulders.
Palsy of the musculocutaneous nerve would affect the coracobrachialis, biceps brachii, and brachialis muscles, and it would affect sensation in the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve (termination of the musculocutaneous nerve).
3. Posterior approach (Figure 2-8)
Interval: infraspinatus (suprascapular nerve) and teres minor (axillary nerve)
Dissection: Split the posterior deltoid, thereby exposing the interval between the infraspinatus and teres minor; the posterior capsule lies immediately beneath it.
Risks: Both the axillary nerve and the posterior circumflex humeral artery run in the quadrangular space below the teres minor, so it is important to stay above this muscle. Excessive medial retraction of the infraspinatus can injure the suprascapular nerve.
G Arthroscopy (discussed in Chapter 4, Sports Medicine)
Articulates with the smaller scapular glenoid cavity
Retroverted 30 degrees (in relation to the transepicondylar axis of the humerus)
2. Anatomic neck, directly below the humeral head, serves as an attachment for the shoulder capsule.
3. Surgical neck is lower and is more often involved in fractures.
4. Greater tuberosity is lateral to the humeral head.
Serves as the attachment for the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor muscles (anterior to posterior, respectively)
5. Lesser tuberosity, located anteriorly, has only one muscular insertion: the last rotator cuff muscle, the subscapularis.
6. Bicipital groove (for the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii) is a bony groove between the two tuberosities.
7. Humeral shaft has a posterior spiral groove (for the radial nerve) adjacent to the deltoid tuberosity and approximately 13 cm above the articular surface of the trochlea.
8. Distally, the humerus flares into medial and lateral epicondyles.
Elbow is composed of a hinge joint (the humeroulnar articulation) and a pivot joint (the humeroradial articulation) (Table 2-13).
Table 2-13
Articulation | Components |
Humeroulnar | Trochlea and trochlear notch |
Humeroradial | Capitulum and radial head |
Proximal radioulnar | Radial notch and radial head |
Axis of rotation for the elbow is centered through the trochlea and capitellum and passes through a point anteroinferior on the medial epicondyle.
Elbow joint has capsuloligamentous tissues (Figure 2-9) that are a key source of testable material.
Table 2-14
Ligament | Components | Comments |
Medial collateral | Anterior bundle of MCL (ulnar collateral); posterior bundle; transverse bundle (Cooper ligament) | Anterior bundle (strongest of all elbow ligaments): anterior band taut from 60 degrees of flexion to full extension, posterior band taut from 60-120 degrees of flexion |
Lateral collateral | LUCL; annular ligament; quadrate (annular ligament to radial neck) and oblique cord | Deficiency of LUCL results in posterolateral rotator instability |
LUCL, lateral ulnar collateral ligament; MCL, medial collateral ligament.
The medial collateral ligament (MCL) (anterior, posterior, and transverse bundles) arises from the anteroinferior portion of the medial humeral epicondyle and provides stability in valgus stress.
The anterior bundle is the most important in helping resist valgus forces and attaches 18 mm distal to the coronoid tip.
Valgus stability with the arm in pronation suggests that the anterior bundle of the MCL is intact.
The lateral or radial collateral ligament (annular, radial, and ulnar parts) originates on the lateral humeral epicondyle near the axis of elbow rotation.
C Muscles: four muscles of the arm controlling elbow motion (Table 2-15)
Table 2-15
1. Flexors (biceps, brachialis, and brachioradialis); the brachialis attaches to the coronoid at 11 mm distal to the tip
2. Extensors (triceps); also helps form borders for three important spaces (Figure 2-10 and Table 2-16)
Table 2-16
Triangular space: bordered by teres minor (superiorly), teres major (inferiorly), and long head of biceps brachii (laterally)
Quadrangular space: bordered by the teres minor (superiorly) and teres major (inferiorly); medial border formed by the long head of the triceps, and lateral border formed by the humerus
Triangular interval: immediately inferior to the quadrangular space and bordered by the teres major (superiorly), long head of the triceps (medially), and lateral head of the triceps or the humerus (laterally)
Four major nerves traverse the arm; two give off branches to arm musculature, and two innervate the distal musculature (Figure 2-11). Most of the cutaneous innervation of the arm arises directly from the brachial plexus.
Musculocutaneous nerve (lateral cord):
Pierces the coracobrachialis 5 to 8 cm distal to the coracoid
Branches to supply the coracobrachialis, the biceps, and the brachialis
Gives off a branch to the elbow joint before it becomes the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve of the forearm, which is located deep to the cephalic vein
Radial nerve (posterior cord):
Spirals around the humerus (medial to lateral) in the spiral groove at a distance of approximately 13 cm from the trochlea
Emerges on the lateral side of the arm after piercing the lateral intermuscular septum approximately 7.5 cm above the trochlea between the brachialis and brachioradialis anterior to the lateral epicondyle (where it supplies the anconeus muscle)
Median nerve (medial and lateral cords):
Accompanies the brachial artery along the arm, crossing it during its course (lateral to medial)
Supplies some branches to the elbow joint but has no branches in the arm itself
Passes medial to the brachial artery in the arm and then runs behind the medial epicondyle of the humerus, where it is superficial
Supraclavicular nerve (C3 and C4) supplies the upper shoulder.
Axillary nerve supplies the shoulder joint and the overlying skin.
Medial, lateral, and dorsal brachial cutaneous nerves supply the balance of the cutaneous innervation of the arm.
Lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve is the termination of the musculocutaneous nerve (Figure 2-12 summarizes the dermatome patterns).
Figure 2-12 Dermatome patterns.
2. Compressive neuropathies (Table 2-17)
Table 2-17
Nerve Compression Syndromes of the Arm and Forearm
Syndrome | Nerve Involved | Sites of Compression |
Pronator | Median | Supracondylar process of humerus and ligament of Struthers Lacertus fibrosis (bicipital aponeurosis) Pronator teres Arch of flexor digitorum superficialis |
AIN | AIN of median | Deep head of pronator teres Flexor digitorum superficialis Aberrant vessels Accessory muscles (i.e., Gantzer’s muscles) |
Cubital tunnel | Ulnar | Arcade of Struthers Medial intermuscular septum Medial epicondyle Cubital tunnel Proximal edge of flexor carpi ulnaris (Osborne fascia) Deep flexor pronator aponeurosis |
PIN Radial tunnel |
PIN of radial | Fibrous bands Recurrent leash of Henry Extensor carpi radialis brevis Arcade of Frohse (proximal edge of superficial head of supinator) Supinator distal margin |
Superficial radial nerve | Superficial radial | Between the brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis longus |
AIN, anterior interosseous nerve; PIN, posterior interosseous nerve.
Originates at the lower border of the tendon of the teres major and continues to the elbow, where it bifurcates into the radial and ulnar arteries (see Figure 2-11)
Lies medial in the arm, curving laterally to enter the cubital fossa
Cubital fossa: formed by the distal humerus proximally, the brachioradialis laterally, and the pronator teres medially
Deep brachial (also known as the profunda, this artery accompanies the radial nerve posteriorly in the triangular interval)
Superior and inferior ulnar collateral arteries
The nutrient and muscular branches
The supratrochlear artery (the least flexible branch)
These collateral vessels can bind up the brachial artery with distal humerus fractures
F Surgical approaches to the humerus. (Table 2-18)
Table 2-18
Surgical Approaches to the Humerus
Approach | Interval | Structures at Risk |
Anterolateral—proximal | Proximal—deltoid (axillary nerve) and pectoralis major (medial and lateral pectoral nerve) Distal—brachialis (radial and musculocutaneous nerve) |
Radial nerve; axillary nerve; anterior humeral circumflex artery |
Posterior | Triceps (radial nerve); lateral and long heads | Radial nerve; deep brachial artery |