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Upper Limbs ‐ Muscles of the Upper Limbs
Brachial Plexus
Formed by ventral rami of C5–C8 and T1 (and often
C4 and T2)
It gives rise to the nerves that innervate the upper
limb
Major branches of this plexus:
o Roots—five ventral rami (C5–T1)
o Trunks—upper, middle, and lower
o Divisions—anterior and posterior
o Cords—lateral, medial, and posterior
Nerves of the Arm
Axillary—innervates the deltoid, teres minor, and
skin and joint capsule of the shoulder
Musculocutaneous—innervates the
biceps brachii and brachialis and skin of
lateral forearm
Median—innervates the skin, most
flexors and pronators in the forearm,
and some intrinsic muscles of the hand
Ulnar—supplies the flexor carpi ulnaris,
part of the flexor digitorum profundus,
most intrinsic muscles of the hand, and
skin of medial aspect of hand
Radial—innervates essentially all
extensor muscles, supinators, and
posterior skin of limb
Muscles of the Trunk: Anterior
Pectoralis Major:
o Flexion, adduction, medial
rotation of the arm
Pectoralis Minor
o Downward rotation of
scapula, stabilization
Serratus Anterior:
o Stabilization of scapula
Muscles of the Trunk: Posterior
Latissimus Dorsi:
o Arm adduction, extension, medial
rotation of arm
Teres major:
o Arm adduction, medial rotation
Trapezius:
o Shrug, neck extension, scapula
elevation, retraction, rotation
Levator scapulae:
o Elevate scapula
Rhomboid (major & minor):
o Retraction of scapula
Rotator Cuff: Muscles
Muscles that hold the head of the humerus in the
glenoid cavity
o Supraspinatus
o Infraspinatus
o Teres Minor
o Subscapularis
Rotator Cuff Muscles
Supraspinatus:
o Stabilization of scapula, abduction of arm
Infraspinatus:
o Stabilization of scapula, lateral rotation of
arm
Teres Minor:
o Stabilization of scapula, lateral rotation of
arm
Subscapularis:
o Stabilization of scapula, medial rotation of
arm
Muscles of the Upper Arm
Lateral
o Deltoid:
Arm abduction, extension,
medial & lateral rotation
of arm (at shoulder)
Anterior
o Biceps Brachii:
Forearm flexion (at elbow,
supinated), flexion of arm
(at shoulder), supination
o Brachialis:
Forearm flexion (at elbow,
pronated)
Posterior
o Triceps Brachii:
Forearm extension (at
elbow)
Arm extension (at shoulder)
Muscles of the Forearm: Anterior
Brachioradialis:
o Flexion of forearm (at elbow)
Flexor Carpi Radialis:
o Wrist abduction, flexion
Flexor Carpi Ulnaris:
o Wrist adduction, flexion
Palmaris Longus:
o Weak wrist flexion
Flexor Digitorum Superficialis:
o Flexion of fingers, and hand
Muscles that Rotate the Forearm
Pronator Quadratus:
o Pronation of forearm
Supinator:
o Supination of forearm
Muscles of the Forearm: Posterior
Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus:
o Extends and abducts wrist Tendon Sheaths
Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis: Extensor retinaculum:
o Extends and abducts wrist o wide band of connective tissue
Extensor Carpi Ulnaris: o posterior surface of wrist
o Extension, adduction of wrist o stabilizes tendons of extensor muscles
Extensor Pollicis Longus: Flexor retinaculum:
o Extends thumb and abducts wrist o anterior surface of wrist
Extensor Pollicis Brevis: o stabilizes tendons of flexor muscles
o Extends thumb and abducts wrist