Upper limb and lower limb or in anatomical terms extremitas superior et inferior is the

appendicular part of the human body that serves as the main locomotive system of the human
body. In this short article, we will discuss the bones that compose the upper and lower
extremities. Bones of the upper limb (ossa extremitatis superioris) consists of the pectoral
girdle (cingulum extremitatis superioris) and the upper and lower limb (ossa extremitatis
superioris liberi). It consists of:

Upper limb:
1. Os Clavicle (1 bone) *for each side
of the body
2. Os Scapula (1 bone)
3. Os Humerus (1 bone)
4. Os Radius (1 bone)
5. Os Ulna (1 bone)
6. Ossa Carpi (8 bones)
7. Ossa Metacarpi (5 bones)
8. Phalanges Digitorum Manus (14
bones)

Lower limb:
Lower limb:
1. Os Ilium (1 bone)
2. Os Ischii (1 bone)
3. Os Pubis (1 bone)
(forming os coxae)
4. Os Femoris (1 bone)
5. Os Patella (1 bone)
6. Os Tibia (1 bone)
7. Os Fibula (1 bone)
8. Ossa Tarsi (8 bones)
9. Ossa Metatarsi (5 bones)
10. Phalanges Digitorum Pedis (14)
Although they may look similar, there are many differences between these bones from the
aspect of size, function, orientation, etc. One example is the function of the upper limb which
is grasping and skilled movement such as writing, suturing, cutting, etc. and the function of
the lower limb which is weight-bearing (supporting body weight) and locomotion such as
walking and running and also “more harsh movement” such as kicking. There are also
differences in the sensory function between the upper limb and the lower limb. The hand, for
example, has a better sensory function than the foot which is caused by differences in the
nerve fiber.
(​ Sinam et al., 2015)
Sinam, V., Daimei, T., Singh, I. and Devi, D. (2015). Comparison of the Upper and Lower
Limbs-A Phylogenetic Concept. ​IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences​, [online]
14(8), pp.14–16. Available at:
https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jdms/papers/Vol14-issue8/Version-1/E014811416.pdf​.