Surface Anatomy Palpation List

- For each palpation, state why it’s important and what type of injuries could happen here or
what it’s an attachment site for.

Upper Body Palpations

1. Angle of the Jaw
2. C1 Transverse Process
3. C7 Spinous Process
4. Carotid Pulse
5. Cricoid Rings
6. Hyoid
7. Lacrimal Bone
8. Mandible
9. Mastoid Process
10. Maxilla
11. Nasal Bone
12. Orbit
13. Scalene Muscles
14. Sternal (Jugular Notch)
15. Sternocleidomastoid
16. Tempomandibular Joint
17. Thyroid Cartilage
18. Zygomatic Arch
19. Manubrium
20. Sternum
21. Xiphoid Process
22. Acromioclavicular Joint
23. Acromion Process
24. Anterior Deltoid
25. Axillary Border of the Scapula
26. Bicipital Groove
27. Clavicle
28. Coracoid Process
29. Deltoid Tubercle
30. Greater Tubercle
31. Inferior Angle of Scapula
32. Infraspinatus Muscle
33. Latissimus Dorsi Muscle
34. Lesser Tubercle
35. Mid Deltoid Muscle
36. Pectoralis Major
37. Posterior Deltoid Muscle
38. Spine of the Scapula
39. Sternoclavicular Joint
40. Subacromial Bursa
41. Superior Angle of Scapula
42. Supraspinatus
43. Teres Major Muscle
44. Teres minor Muscle
45. Upper Trapezius
46. Vertebral Border of the Scapula
47. Annular Ligament
48. Biceps Brachii Tendon
49. Brachioradialis Muscle
50. Common Extensor Tendon
51. Common Flexor Tendon
52. Cubital Fossa
53. Lateral Epicondyle of the Elbow
54. Lateral Supracondylar Ridge
55. Medial Epicondyle of Elbow
56. Medial Supracondylar Ridge
57. Olecranon Bursa
58. Olecranon Fossa
59. Olecranon Process
60. Radial (Lateral) Collateral Ligament
61. Radial Head
62. Ulnar (Medial) Collateral Ligament
63. Ulnar Groove (Notch)
64. Ulnar Nerve
65. Triceps Tendon
66. Abductor Pollicis Longus Tendon (APL)
67. Anatomical Snuffbox
68. Capitate
69. Distal Interphalangeal Joint
70. Extensor Carpi Radialis Muscle
71. Extensor Carpi Radialis Tendon
72. Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Muscle
73. Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Tendon
74. Extensor Digitorum Muscle
75. Extensor Digitorum Tendons
76. Extensor Pollicis Brevis Tendon
77. Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon
78. Flexor Carpi Radialis Tendon
79. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Tendon
80. Flexor Digitorum Profundus Tendon
81. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Tendons
82. Heads of the Metacarpals
 83. Hook of the Hamate
84. Hypothenar Eminence
85. Lister’s Tubercle
86. Lunate
87. Metacarpal Phalangeal Joints
88. Metacarpals
89. Palmaris Longus Tendon
90. Phalanges
91. Pisiform
92. Proximal Interphalangeal Joints
93. Radial Styloid
94. Scaphoid
95. Thenar Eminence
96. Trapezium
97. Trapezoid
98. Triquetrum
99. Ulnar Styloid

Lower Body Palpations

1. Adductor Longus Muscle
2. Anterior Superior Iliac Spine
3. Coccyx
4. Gluteus Maximus Muscle
5. Gluteus Medius Muscle
6. Gracilis Tendon/Muscle
7. Greater Trochanter
8. Iliac Crest
9. Ischial Tuberosity
10. Posterior Superior Iliac Spine
11. Pubic Tubercles
12. Rectus Femoris Muscle and Tendon
13. Sacrum
14. Sartorius Muscle
15. Sciatic Nerve
16. Tensor Fascia Lata Muscle
17. Adductor Tubercle
18. Biceps Femoris Tendon
19. Common Peroneal Nerve
20. Fibular Head
21. Gerdy’s Tubercle
22. Iliotibial Tract
23. Infrapatellar Bursa
24. Joint line of the Knee
25. Lateral Collateral Ligament
26. Lateral Epicondyle of the Knee
27. Medial Collateral Ligament of the Knee
28. Medial Epicondyle of the Knee
29. Patella
30. Patellar Ligament
31. Pes Anserine
32. Pes Anserine Bursa
33. Popliteal Fossa
34. Prepatellar Bursa
35. Quadriceps Tendon
36. Semimembranosus Tendon
37. Semitendinosus Tendon
38. Suprapatellar Bursa
39. Tibial Plateau
40. Tibial Tubercle
41. Achilles Tendon
42. Anterior Talofibular Ligament
43. Anterior Tibiofibular Ligament
44. Base of the 5th Metatarsal
45. Calcaneofibular Ligament
46. Cuboid
47. Cuneiforms
48. Deltoid Ligament
49. Distal Interphalangeal Joints
50. Dome of the Talus
51. Dorsal Pedal Pulse
52. Extensor Digitorum Longus Tendons
53. Extensor Hallucis Longus Tendon
54. Flexor Digitorum Longus Tendons
55. Flexor Hallucis Longus Tendon
56. Gastrocnemius Muscle
57. Head of the Metatarsals
58. Head of the Talus
59. Lateral Malleolus
60. Long Plantar Ligament
61. Medial Malleolus
62. Medial Tubercle of the Calcaneus
63. Medial Tubercle of the Talus
64. Metatarsals
65. Metatarsophalangeal Joints
66. Navicular Tubercle
67. Peroneal Tubercle
68. Peroneus Brevis Tendon
69. Peroneus (Fibularis) Longus Tendon
 70. Peroneus (Fibularis) Tertius Tendon
71. Phalanges (Foot)
72. Plantar Fascia
73. Posterior Talofibular Ligament
74. Posterior Tibiofibular Ligament
75. Proximal Interphalangeal Joints
76. Sesamoid Bones
77. Shaft of the Fibula
78. Shaft of the Tibia
79. Sinus Tarsi
80. Soleus Muscle
81. Spring Ligament
82. Sustentaculum Tali
83. Tibialis Anterior Tendon
84. Tibialis Posterior Tendon

Myotomes

 C4 – shoulder shrugs
 C5 – shoulder abduction and external rotation; elbow flexion
 C6 – wrist extension
 C7 – elbow extension and wrist flexion
 C8 – thumb extension and finger flexion
 T1 – finger abduction
 L2 – hip flexion
 L3 – knee extension
 L4 – ankle dorsiflexion
 L5 – great toe extension
 S1 – ankle plantarflexion
 S4 – bladder and rectum motor supply

Plexuses

 Cervical plexus (C1-C4) – innervates the diaphragm, shoulders and neck

 Brachial plexus (C6 – T1) – innervates the upper limbs
 Lumbosacral plexus (L2-S1) – innervates the lower extremities