Chapter 6: The Upper Extremity: The Elbow, Forearm, Wrist, and Hand

Outline

• The Elbow Joint

  Structure

  Movements

• The Radioulnar Joints

  Structure of Proximal Radioulnar Joint

  Structure of Distal Radioulnar Joint

  Movements

• Muscles of the Elbow and Radioulnar Joints

  Location

  Characteristics and Functions of Individual Muscles

• Muscular Analysis of the Fundamental Movements of the Forearm

  Flexion

  Extension

  Pronation

  Supination

• The Wrist and Hand

  Structure of the Wrist (Radiocarpal) Joint

  Movements of the Hand at the Wrist Joint

  Structure and Movements of the Midcarpal and Intercarpal Joints

  Structure of the Carpometacarpal and Intermetacarpal Joints

  Movements of the Carpometacarpal Joint of the Thumb

  Movements of the Carpometacarpal and Intermetacarpal Joints of the Fingers

  Structure of the Metacarpophalangeal Joints

  Movements of the Metacarpophalangeal Joints of the Four Fingers

  Movements of the Metacarpophalangeal Joints of the Thumb

  The Interphalangeal Joints

• Muscles of the Wrist and Hand

  Location

  Characteristics and Functions of Muscles

• Muscular Analysis of the Fundamental Movements of the Wrist, Fingers, and Thumb

  The Wrist

  The Fingers

  The Thumb

  The Thumb Metacarpal

  The Thumb Phalanges

  Length of Long Finger Muscles Relative to Range of Motion in Wrist and Fingers

  Using the Hands for Grasping

• Common Injuries of the Forearm, Elbow, Wrist, and Fingers

  Fractures of the Forearm

  Elbow Dislocation and Fracture

  Sprained or Strained Wrist

  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  Avulsion Fracture

  Epicondylitis

• Laboratory Experiences

Objectives

At the conclusion of this chapter, the student should be able to:

1. Name, locate, and describe the structure and ligamentous reinforcements of the articulations of the elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand.

2. Name and demonstrate the movements possible in the joints of the elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand regardless of the starting position.

3. Name and locate the muscles and muscle groups of the elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand, and name their primary actions as agonists, stabilizers, neutralizers, or antagonists.

4. Analyze the fundamental movements of the forearm, hand, and fingers with respect to joint and muscle actions.

5. Describe the common athletic injuries of the forearm, elbow, wrist, and fingers.

6. Perform an anatomical analysis of the elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand in a motor skill.

In much the same way that the shoulder girdle's cooperation with the shoulder joint contributes to the wide range of motion available to the hand, the cooperative movements of the elbow, radioulnar, and wrist joints contribute to the versatility and precision of its movements. Although the hand is intrinsically skillful, its usefulness is greatly impaired when anything interferes with the motions of the forearm or wrist. Injury to any one of the joints involved makes this painfully obvious to the sufferer.

The Elbow Joint

Structure

The elbow is far more complex than the simple hinge joint that it appears to be. The two bones of the forearm attach to the humerus in totally different ways. The humeroulnar joint is indeed a true hinge joint, but the humeroradial joint is far from it. It has ...