Upper limb anatomy

The upper limb runs from the shoulder to the fingertips. Its skeleton is the shoulder girdle (clavicle and scapula), the humerus in the arm, the radius and ulna in the forearm, and the bones of the wrist and hand. Its muscles are easiest to learn by the joint they move: the deltoid and the rotator cuff at the shoulder, the flexors in front of the arm and the extensors behind it, then the two compartments of the forearm that move the wrist and the fingers.

Bones of the upper limb

Carpal bonesOssa carpi ClavicleClavicula HumerusHumerus Metacarpal bones (1 to 5)Ossa metacarpi Phalanges of the handOssa digitorum manus (phalanges) RadiusRadius ScapulaScapula UlnaUlna

Tables: Arm bones · Hand bones

Muscles of the upper limb

Shoulder muscles 14 with a page · full table →

DeltoidMusculus deltoideus SupraspinatusMusculus supraspinatus InfraspinatusMusculus infraspinatus Teres minorMusculus teres minor SubscapularisMusculus subscapularis Teres majorMusculus teres major TrapeziusMusculus trapezius Levator scapulaeMusculus levator scapulae Rhomboid majorMusculus rhomboideus major Rhomboid minorMusculus rhomboideus minor Serratus anteriorMusculus serratus anterior Pectoralis minorMusculus pectoralis minor Pectoralis majorMusculus pectoralis major Latissimus dorsiMusculus latissimus dorsi

Forearm muscles 16 with a page · full table →

BrachioradialisMusculus brachioradialis Extensor carpi radialis longusMusculus extensor carpi radialis longus Extensor carpi radialis brevisMusculus extensor carpi radialis brevis Extensor digitorumMusculus extensor digitorum Extensor carpi ulnarisMusculus extensor carpi ulnaris Abductor pollicis longusMusculus abductor pollicis longus Extensor pollicis brevisMusculus extensor pollicis brevis Extensor pollicis longusMusculus extensor pollicis longus Extensor indicisMusculus extensor indicis Pronator teresMusculus pronator teres Flexor carpi radialisMusculus flexor carpi radialis Flexor carpi ulnarisMusculus flexor carpi ulnaris Flexor digitorum superficialisMusculus flexor digitorum superficialis Flexor digitorum profundusMusculus flexor digitorum profundus Flexor pollicis longusMusculus flexor pollicis longus Pronator quadratusMusculus pronator quadratus

Other muscles

Abductor digiti minimi of the handMusculus abductor digiti minimi manus Abductor pollicis brevisMusculus abductor pollicis brevis Adductor pollicisMusculus adductor pollicis Biceps brachiiMusculus biceps brachii BrachialisMusculus brachialis CoracobrachialisMusculus coracobrachialis Dorsal interossei of the handMusculi interossei dorsales manus Flexor digiti minimi brevis of the handMusculus flexor digiti minimi brevis manus Flexor pollicis brevisMusculus flexor pollicis brevis Lumbricals of the handMusculi lumbricales manus Opponens digiti minimiMusculus opponens digiti minimi manus Opponens pollicisMusculus opponens pollicis Palmar interosseiMusculi interossei palmares Palmaris longusMusculus palmaris longus Triceps brachiiMusculus triceps brachii

Test yourself

Name it, find it, light them all on a real 3D body, in 3 levels. Free, in the browser.

Shoulder quiz 18 structures in 3 levels. Arm and elbow quiz 11 structures in 3 levels. Forearm and hand quiz 49 structures in 3 levels. Upper limb muscles quiz 45 structures in 3 levels. Skeleton quiz 96 structures in 3 levels.