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Muscles of the Upper Arm !!!!!
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Original Author(s): Oliver Jones
Last updated: December 9, 2020
Revisions: 35
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The upper arm is located between the shoulder joint and elbow joint. It
contains four muscles – three in the anterior compartment (biceps Already have an account?
brachii, brachialis, coracobrachialis), and one in the posterior LOG IN
compartment (triceps brachii).

In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the muscles of the upper
arm – their attachments, innervation and actions.

Quiz
Muscles of the Upper Arm !
Anterior Compartment
Question 1 of 3
There are three muscles located in the anterior compartment of the
upper arm – biceps brachii, coracobrachialis and brachialis. They are all
The illustration below
innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve. A good memory aid for this demonstates the muscles of
is BBC – biceps, brachialis, coracobrachialis. the arm. Which label
corresponds to the
Arterial supply to the anterior compartment of the upper arm is via coracobrachialis muscle?
muscular branches of the brachial artery.

Biceps Brachii
The biceps brachii is a two-headed muscle. Although the majority of the
muscle mass is located anteriorly to the humerus, it has no attachment
to the bone itself.

As the tendon of biceps brachii enters the forearm, a connective tissue

sheet is given o! – the bicipital aponeurosis. This forms the roof of the
cubital fossa and blends with the deep fascia of the anterior forearm. A

Attachments: Long head originates from the supraglenoid tubercle of

B
the scapula, and the short head originates from the coracoid process of
the scapula. Both heads insert distally into the radial tuberosity and the
fascia of the forearm via the bicipital aponeurosis. C

Function: Supination of the forearm. It also flexes the arm at the elbow
and at the shoulder. D

Innervation: Musculocutaneous nerve. The bicep tendon reflex tests

spinal cord segment C6. Skip Submit

Coracobrachialis Report question

The coracobrachialis muscle lies deep to the biceps brachii in the arm.

Attachments: Originates from the coracoid process of the scapula. The Recommended reading
$
muscle passes through the axilla, and attaches the medial side of the
humeral shaft, at the level of the deltoid tubercle.
Using Virtual Reality Head-Mounted
Function: Flexion of the arm at the shoulder, and weak adduction. Displays to Assess Skills in Emergency
Medicine: Validity Study
Innervation: Musculocutaneous nerve. Marie Høxbro Knudsen et al., J Med
Internet Res, 2023

Brachialis Multifunctionality of polymer composites

based on recycled carbon fibers: A review

The brachialis muscle lies deep to the biceps brachii, and is found more D. May et al., Advanced Industrial and
distally than the other muscles of the arm. It forms the floor of the cubital Engineering Polymer Research, 2021

fossa. Theoretical Insights into NH3 Absorption

Mechanisms with Imidazolium-based Protic
Attachments: Originates from the medial and lateral surfaces of the Ionic Liquids

humeral shaft and inserts into the ulnar tuberosity, just distal to the Wenhui Tu et al., Industrial Chemistry &
Materials, 2023
elbow joint.
A new approach to plastic recycling via the
concept of microfibrillar composites
Function: Flexion at the elbow.
Stoyko Fakirov, Advanced Industrial and

Innervation: Musculocutaneous nerve, with contributions from the

radial nerve.

Fig 1 – The coracobrachialis, biceps brachii and brachialis muscles of the anterior upper arm.

+
Clinical Relevance: Rupture of the Biceps
Tendon
A complete rupture of any tendon in the body is rare. However,
the long head of the biceps brachii is one of the more common
tendons to rupture.

This produces a characteristic sign on flexing the elbow – a

bulge where the muscle belly is, called the ‘Popeye Sign’. The
patient would not notice much weakness in the upper limb due
to the action of the brachialis and supinator muscles.

Fig 2 – Popeye sign, resulting from rupture of the biceps brachii muscle.

Posterior Compartment
The posterior compartment of the upper arm contains the triceps
brachii muscle, which has three heads. The medial head lies deeper than
the other two, which cover it.

Arterial supply to the posterior compartment of the upper arm is via the
profunda brachii artery.

Triceps Brachii
Attachments: Long head – originates from the infraglenoid
tubercle. Lateral head – originates from the humerus, superior to the
radial groove. Medial head – originates from the humerus, inferior to
the radial groove. Distally, the heads converge onto one tendon and
insert into the olecranon of the ulna.

Function: Extension of the arm at the elbow.

Innervation: Radial nerve. A tap on the triceps tendon tests spinal

segment C7.
Note: In some individuals, the long head of the triceps brachii is
innervated by the axillary nerve.

Fig 3 – The long and lateral heads of the triceps brachii.

Prosection Images

Prosection 1 – The muscles of the upper arm.

Prosection 2 – The muscles of the upper arm, with the biceps brachii reflected.

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