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Joints

Joint of the Upper Limb:

  • Sternoclavicular joint

  • Acromioclavicular/ACL joint

  • Glenohumeral joint

  • Scapulothoracic joint (scapular movements)

  • Elbow joint

  • Proximal/superior radioulnar joint

  • Distal/inferior radioulnar joint

  • Wrist/radiocarpal joint

  • Hand joints

    • Carpometacarpal joints

    • Metacarpophalangeal joints

    • Inteprhalangeal joints

Sternoclavicular Joint

 

  • Synovial double plane joint

Acromioclavicular Joint

 

  • Synovial plane joint

Glenohumeral Joint

 

  • Synovial ball and socket joint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ligaments of glenohumeral/shoulder joint:

  • Coracoacromial ligament

  • Coracohumeral ligament

  • Glenohumeral ligament

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bursae of glenohumeral joint:

  • Subacromial bursa

  • Subscapular bursa 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movement of glenohumeral/shoulder joint:

  • Flexion- anterior deltoid

  • Extension- posterior deltoid, lattisimus dorsi

  • Abduction- middle deltoid, suprapsinatus (1st 15 degrees)

  • Adduction- pectoralis major, teres major, lattisimus dorsi

  • Medial/internal rotation- subscapularis, teres major, pectoralis major

  • Lateral/external rotation- supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor

Scapulothoracic Joint

 

Shoulder joint and scapulothoracic joint movement are at 2:1 ratio after 30 degrees

 

Movement of scapulothoracic joint (scapular movement):

  • Elevation- superior trapezius, levator scapulae

  • Depression- inferior trapezius

  • Protraction- serratus anterior, pectoralis major

  • Retraction- middle trapezius, rhomboids

  • Upward rotation- superior part of serratus anterior

  • Downward rotation- inferior part of serratus anterior

 

Elbow Joint

 

  • Synovial hinge joint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ligaments of elbow joint:

  • Anterior collateral ligament

  • Anular ligament of radius

  • Radial collateral ligament

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movement of elbow joint:

  • Flexion- biceps brachii, corachobrachialis, brachialis, brachioradialis

  • Extension- triceps brachii, anconeus

 

Proximal/Superior radio-ulnar Joint

 

  • Synovial pivot joint

 

Ligaments of proximal radio-ulnar joint:

  • Anular ligament of radius

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distal/Inferior radio-ulnar Joint

 

  • Synovial pivot joint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movement of proximal & distal radio-ulnar joint:

  • Supination- supinator, biceps brachii

  • Pronation- pronator teres, pronator quadratus

Wrist/Radiocarpal joint

 

  • Synovial condyloid joint (between forearm and hand)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Movement of wrist/radiocarpal joint:

  • Flexion- flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, palmaris longus

  • Extension- extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi ulnaris 

  • Abduction- flexor carpi radialis, extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis

  • Adduction- flexor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi ulnaris

  • Circumduction

Hand Joints

 

Hand joints include:

  • Carpometacarpal joints

  • Metacarpophalangeal joints

  • Interphalangeal joints

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carpometacarpal/CMC joints

 

  • Joints that lie between carpal bones and the 5 metacarpal bones

 

Movement of CMC joints:

  • Flexion

  • Extension

  • Abduction

  • Adduction

  • Opposition- mixture of abduction, flexion and medial rotation

 

 

Metacarpophalangeal/MP joints

 

  • Joint that lie between the 5 metacarpal bones and phalanges of all 5 digits

 

Movement of CMC joints:

  • Flexion

  • Extension

  • Abduction

  • Adduction

 

NOTE: No abduction or adduction at MP joint of thumb.

 

 

Interphalangeal/IP joints

 

  • There are 2 types of IP joints:

    • Proximal IP joints (PIPJs)- lie between proximal IP bone and middle IP bone

    • Distal IP joints (DIPJs)- lie between middle IP bone and distal IP bone

 

NOTE: The thumb only has one IP joint (called IP joint) as it only has two IP bones

 

Movement of IP joints in hand & thumb:

  • Flexion

  • Extension

 

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