The Upper Limb Muscles

The muscles chiefly concerned in producing movements of the joints of the upper limb are as follows :

Shoulder.

Flexion : pectoralis major, anterior fibres of deltoid.

Extension : latissimus dorsi, posterior fibres of deltoid, teres major.

Abduction : deltoid, supra-spinatus.

Adduction : pectoralis major, coraco-brachialis, teres major, latissimus dorsi.

Circumduction : combinations of these muscles.

Rotation, inwards: subscapularis, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, teres major.

Rotation, outwards: supra-spinatus, infra-spinatus, teres minor.

Elbow.

Flexion : biceps, brachialis anticus, pronator radii teres, supinator longus.

Extension : triceps, anconeus.

Supination : biceps, supinator longus, supinator brevis.

Pronation : pronator radii teres, pronator quadratus, flexor carpi radialis.

Wrist.

Flexion : flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, palmaris longus, flexor profundus digitorum, flexor
longus pollicis.

Extension : extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi ulnaris.

Abduction : flexor carpi radialis.

Adduction : flexor carpi ulnaris.

Fingers.

The movements of the first phalanx are flexion, extension, abduction, adduction.

Flexion : interosseous and lumbrical muscles.

Extension : extensor communis and the special extensors of index and little fingers.

Abduction : dorsal interossei, abductor minimi digiti.

Adduction : palmar interossei.

Flexion of second phalanx is by flexor sublimis.

Flexion of third phalanx is by flexor profundus.

]Extension of these joints is by interossei and lumbricales and the extensor communis, into the
tendons of which they are inserted.

There are twenty muscles on the forearm. They are divided into flexors, extensors, pronators and
supinators.

The flexors and pronators consist of a deep and a superficial layer, and are on the front and inner side
of the forearm.

The superficial muscles are five ; they arise by a common tendon from the inner condyle of the
humerus. They are the pronator radii teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris,
and flexor sublimis digitorum.

The deep muscles arise from the bones of the forearm : they are the flexor profundus digitorum, flexor
longus pollicis, and pronator quadratus.

The extensors and supinators also consist of a deep and a superficial layer, and are on the back and
outer side of the forearm.

The superficial muscles are seven : the supinator longus extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi
radialis brevis, extensor communis digitorum, extensor minimi digiti, extensor carpi ulnaris, and
anconeus ; the two first arise from the external supra-condylar ridge of humerus, the four following
arise by a common tendon from the external condyle of humerus, the anconeus arises by a distinct
tendon from same condyle.

The deep muscles arise from the bones of the forearm ; they are the supinator brevis, the three
extensors of the thumb and the special extensor of the index finger.

The short muscles of the hand are all in the palm : four form the ball of the thumb, called the thenar
eminence ; three form the ball of the little finger, called the hypothenar eminence; one deepens the
hollow of the palm when contracted.

Four tapering muscles, the lumbricales (fiddlers' muscles), arise in the tendons of the flexor profundus
digitorum.

Four dorsal and three palmar interosseous muscles arise from the sides of the metacarpal bones.

The muscles which flex the forearm are on the front of the humerus ; those which extend the forearm
are on the back of the humerus ; those which act on the humerus are on the scapula, back, and chest.

Table Of Muscles Of Upper Limb

Name. Position. Origin. Insertion. Action. Nerve Supply.
 Crest of
ilium, sacral, Draws
lumbar, and elevated
six lower arm back
dorsal Lower part and
Latissimus Lumbar and
spines, lower inner ridge obliquely
lower part of
angle of bicipital down, raises Long sub-scapularis.
dorsi. dorsal
scapula, groove of body to
regions.
supra- humerus. arms,
spinous extends and
ligament. rotates arm
Three or four inwards.
lower ribs.

Draws arm
Sternum
Pectoralis Outer ridge forwards
Front of upper clavicle,
bicipital and External anterior
part of chest seven upper
major. groove of upwards, thoracic.
and axilla. costal
humerus. raises body
cartilages.
to arms.
Great
tuberosity of Assists
Supra-
Upper part of Fossa above humerus deltoid in
back of spine of (upper raising arm, Suprascapular.
spinatus.
scapula. scapula. facet). rotates
outwards.
Great
tuberosity of
Lower part of Fossa below humerus Rotates
Infra-spinatus. back of spine of (middle humerus Suprascapular.
scapula. scapula. facet). outwards.

Dorsal Great
surface of Axillary tuberosity of Rotates
Teres minor. upper part of border of humerus humerus Circumflex.
axillary border scapula. (lower outwards.
of scapula. facet).

Assists
Dorsal aspect latissimus
Inner ridge
of inferior Inferior angle dorsi in
Teres major. of bicipital Subscapular.
angle of of scapula. drawing
groove.
scapula. humerus
down and
 back,
rotates
inwards.

Fills Anterior Lesser Rotates

Subscapularis. subscapular aspect of tuberosity of humerus Subscapular.
fossa. scapula. humerus. inwards.

Outer third of Raises arm,

Covers clavicle. draws it
Deltoid
shoulder-joint Outer edge back by
impression
and extends acromion posterior
Deltoid. on outer Circumflex.
to middle of process. fibres, and
side of shaft
outer side of Lower border forward by
of humerus.
humerus. of spine of anterior
scapula. fibres.

inner side of
Raises arm
Upper and Coracoid shaft of
Coraco- obliquely, &
inner part of process of humerus, Musculocutaneous.
brachialis. draws it to
arm. scapula. about the
the side.
middle.

(1) Apex of
Whole of glenoid
Flexes and
Biceps brachii, anterior cavity. (2) Tuberosity
supinates Musculocutaneous
two heads. surface of Coracoid of radius.
forearm.
humerus. process of
scapula.

By forked
head each
Brachialis Lower half of
side of Coronoid
front of Flexes Musculo cutaneous.
deltoid and process of
anticus. humerus and forearm. Musculo-spiral.
lower half ulna.
elbow joint.
shaft of
humerus.

Triceps brachii, Covers back (1) Lower Olecranon Extends Musculo-spiral.

three heads. of humerus. part glenoid process of forearm.
cavity. (2) ulna.
Middle of
humerus
 above
musculo-
spiral
groove. (3)
Below
musculo -
spiral
groove.

Olecranon
Back of Assists
process and
Back of external triceps to
Anconeus. upper part Musculo-spiral.
elbow-joint. condyle of extend
of shaft of
humerus. forearm.
ulna.

(1) Inner
condyle of Middle of
Obliquely
Pronator radii humerus. (2) outer Pronates
across front of Median.
teres, two heads. Coronoid surface of hand.
elbow-joint.
process of radius.
ulna.

Palmar
Flexes wrist.
Inner side of Inner surface, first
Flexor carpi Draws hand
pronator radii condyle of and second Median.
radialis. to radial
teres. humerus. metacarpal
side.
bones.

Inner
Pal maris Flexes wrist.
On inner side condyle of Ligament.
Makes tense
of flexor carpi humerus. Palmar Median.
longus. palmar
radialis. Fascia of fascia.
fascia.
forearm.

Inner Pisiform
condyle of and Flexes hand
Flexor carpi Ulnar side of humerus. unciform and draws it
Ulnar.
ulnaris. forearm. Inner side of bones. Fifth to ulnar
olecranon. metacarpal side.
Back of ulna. bone.
Flexor
Under Inner By four Flexes Median.
sublimus preceding condyle of tendons into fingers from
 humerus.
Internal
second
lateral
muscles on front of phalanx,
ligament of
digitorum. front of second also flexes
elbow.
forearm. phalanges. wrist and
Anterior
elbow.
border of
radius.

Flexor Ulnar side of

By four Flexes third
forearm, Upper three-
tendons into phalanx, Ulnar. Anterior
profundus under fourths of
front of third also flexes interosseous.
digitorum. superficial shaft of ulna.
phalanges. wrist.
flexors.

Anterior
Last
Flexor longus Radial side of surface of Flexes
phalanx of Anteriorinterosseous.
pollices. forearm. shaft of thumb.
thumb.
radius.

Pronator Across lower Lower fourth

Lower
end of front of of ulna, Pronates
fourth of Anteriorinterosseous.
quadratus. radius and anterior hand.
radius,
ulna. surface.

Supinator Ridge above Close to Musculo-

Supinates
Radial side of external styloid
and flexes
longus. forearm. condyle of process of spiral.
forearm.
humerus. radius.

Radial side
Partly Ridge above Musculo-
of Extends
Extensor carpi beneath external
metacarpal wrist. Flexes
radialis longus. supinator condyle of spiral
bone of elbow.
longus. humerus.
index-finger.

Radial side
Beneath of meta
External Extends
Extensor carpi extensor carpi -carpal Posterior
condyle of wrist. Flexes
radialis brevis. radialis bone of interosseous.
humerus. elbow.
longus. middle
finger.
 Back of last
Extensor External two
Back of Extends Posterior
communis condyle of phalanges
forearm. fingers. interosseous.
digitorum. humerus. of four inner
fingers.

Inner side of
External Back of first
Extensor minimi extensor Extends little Posterior
condyle of phalanx of
digiti. communis finger. interosseous.
humerus. little finger.
digitorum.

Back of
External base of
Extensor carpi Ulnar side of Extends Posterior
condyle of metacarpal
ulnaris. forearm. wrist. interosseous.
humerus. bone of little
finger.

Depression
below lesser Outer edge
sigmoid of bicipital
Supinator radii Upper third of cavity. tuberosity Supinates Posterior
brevis. radius. External and and upper hand. interosseous.
orbicularis part of shaft
ligaments of of radius.
elbow.

Posterior
Immediately Radial side
surface of Extends and
Extensorossis below of base of Posterior
middle of abducts
metacarpi pollicis. supinator first interosseous.
radius and thumb.
brevis. metacarpal.
ulna.

Inner side of Radius Base of first

Extends and
Extensor primi extensorossis below phalanx of Posterior
abducts
internodii pollicis. meta-carpi preceding thumb, at interosseous.
thumb.
pollicis. muscle. back.

Base of
Inner side of Middle of
second Extends and
Extensor secundi extensor primi ulna. Posterior
phalanx of abducts
internodii pollicis. internodii Interosseous interosseous.
thumb at thumb.
pollicis.. membrane.
back.
 Middle of
Back of first
Extensor indicis Inner side of ulna. Points Posterior
phalanx of
proprius. last muscle. Interosseous index-finger. interosseous.
index-finger.
membrane.

Abductor Immediately Base of first

Annular Draws
beneath the phalanx of
ligament. thumb from Median.
pollicis. skin in front of thumb,
Trapezium. fingers.
thumb. outer side.

Flexes
Opponens Whole
Beneath Annular thumb and
length of
abductor ligament. draws it Median.
pollicis. first
pollicis. Trapezium. across
metacarpal.
fingers.

Annular Flexes
Outer side
ligament. thumb and
Flexor brevis On inner side of base first
Second row draws it Median.
pollicis. of opponens. phalanx of
of carpal across
thumb.
bones. fingers.

Bases of
second and
third Inner side Draws
Adductor pollicis Under flexor metacarpal of first thumb to
Ulnar, deep branch.
obliquus. brevis pollicis. bones and phalanx of fingers, as in
first three thumb. pinching.
carpal,
second row.

Lower two-
Adductor thirds of
Ulnar side
Beneath metacarpal Draws
of base of
transversus foregoing bone of thumb to Ulnar.
first phalanx
pollicis. muscles. middle finger, fingers.
of thumb.
palmar
surface.

Palmaris
Under skin on Skin of
Palmar Wrinkles
ulnar side of inner border Ulnar.
brevis. fascia. skin of palm.
hand. of palm.
 Ulnar side
Pisiform. Draws little
Abductor minimi Ulnar border of first
Fifth finger from Ulnar, deep branch.
digiti. of palm. phalanx of
metacarpal. ring-finger.
little finger.

Annular Ulnar side

Flexor bevis Ulnar border ligament. of first Flexes little
Ulnar, deep branch.
minimi digiti of palm. Unciform phalanx of finger.
bone. little finger.

Whole
Annular Flexes little
length of
Opponens minimi Ulnar border ligament. finger and
metacarpal Ulnar, deep branch.
digiti. of palm. Unciform deepens
bone of little
bone. palm.
finger.

Assist in
Into quick, short
Tendons of tendons of
In palm movements.
Lumbricales, four flexor extensor
between deep Flexes first Median. Ulnar.
in number. profundus communis
tendons. phalanx,
digitorum. digitorum extends
on dorsal others.
aspect of
fingers.
Abducts
Bases of fingers from
Sides of phalanges middle line.
Between
Dorsal interossei, metacarpal and Flexes first
metacarpal Ulnar, deep branch.
four in number. bones by two extensor phalanges,
bones.
heads. tendons. extends
second and
third.

Adducts to
Bases of
middle line.
Palmar first
Sides of Flexes first
Palmarinterossei, surface of phalanges
metacarpal phalanges, Ulnar, deep branch.
three in number. metacarpal and
bones. extends
bones. extensor
second and
tendons.
third.
Muscles of the shoulder

 Rotator Cuff Muscles

o Supraspinatus muscle
o Infraspinatus muscle
o Subscapularis muscle
o Teres minor muscle
 Anterior muscles
o Pectoralis major muscle
o Pectoralis minor muscle
o Serratus anterior muscle
 Posterior muscles
o Rhomboideus minor muscle
o Rhomboideus major muscle
o Lattisimus dorsi muscle
o Levator scapulae muscle
o Teres major muscle
 Superior muscles
 o Deltoid muscle
o Trapezius muscle

Muscles of the arm

 Biceps brachii muscle

 Coracobrachialis muscle
 Triceps brachii muscle
 Anconeus muscle

Muscles of the forearm

 Rotators of the radius

o Supinator muscle
o Pronator teres
o Pronator quadratus
 Extensors of the wrist and digits
o Extensors of the wrist
 Extensor carpi radialis longus
 Extensor carpi radialis brevis
 Extensor carpi ulnaris
o Extensors of the digits
 Extensor digitorum
 Extensor digiti minimi
 Extensor indicis
o Extensors of the thumb
 Abductor pollicis longus
 Extensor pollicis brevis
 Extensor pollicis longus
 Flexors of the wrist
o Flexor carpi radialis
o Palmaris longus
o Flexor carpi ulnaris
 Flexors of the digits
o Flexor digitorum superficialis
o Flexor digitorum profundus
o Flexor pollicis longus

Intrinsic muscles of the hand

 Opponens policis muscle

 Abductor pollicis brevis
 Adductor pollicis
 Abductor digiti minimi
 Flexor digiti minimi brevis
 Opponens digiti minimi muscle
 Lumbrical muscles
 Dorsal interosseous muscles
 Palmar interosseous muscles