THE BONES OF THE UPPER LIMB

(Ossa membri superioris)

The skeleton of the upper limb it composed of:
- the bones of the shoulder girdle formed by clavicle and scapula.
- the bones of the free part of upper limb, consisting of three segments:
- the skeleton of the arm(Humerus)
- the skeleton of the forearm(Ulna and Radius)
- the skeleton of the hand; composed of carpal bones, metacarpal bones, and phalanges
THE BONES OF THE PECTORAL GRIDLE
(Ossa cinguli membri superioris)
They serve to connect the bones of the free part of upper limb to the ribcage.
CLAVICLE
(Clavicula)
Position: It is situated in the anterior-superior part of the thorax; has the shape of the
letter “S”, transversely oriented between sternal manubrium and acromion.
Parts: It presents a body, two ends, and two curvatures.
Medial or sternal end (Extremitas sternalis) is voluminous, prismatic, triangular,and
has a sternal articular surface (Facies articularis sternalis).
The body (Corpus) “S” shaped, has a medial curvature (convex anteriorly, and larger),
and another lateral curvature(concave, and shorter); it has two surfaces and two borders:
Superior surface (Facies superior); it is smooth.
Inferior surface (Facies inferior) oriented toward the first rib and presents:
- Subclavian groove (Sulcus musculi subclavi); a longitudinal groove situated in the
middle of the body;
- Impression for costoclavicular ligament(Impressioligamenti
costoclavicularis);appears as a rough patch situated medially from the subclavian groove;
- Two rough prominences are found laterally from the subclavian groove: conoid
tubercle (tuberculum conoideum); round, and oriented posteriorly. The trapezoid line
(Linea trapezoidea); situated anterior-lateral from the tubercle.
Anterior border; it is convex in the medial third, and concave in the lateral third.
Posterior border; it is convex-concave opposite to the anterior border.
Lateral, or acromial end (Extremitas acromialis), is flattened from top to bottom,
presents an oval articular surface which is smooth (Facies articularis acromialis) which
articulates with the scapula.
SCAPULA
(Scapula)
Position: Scapula, or shoulder blade,is a flat bone, triangular with the base upwards,
situated in the posterior-superior part of the thorax.
Parts: It has two surfaces, three borders, and three angles.
Dorsal surface (Facies dorsalis) is oriented postero-laterally, and presents:
- Scapular spine (Spina scapulae); the bone blade;it is triangular, flattened from top
to bottom, and situated in the upper portion of the surface. It is oriented obliquely, in a
superior-lateral direction. It has a summit, two surfaces, and a border;
- The summit (Acromion) is the free terminal part of the scapular spine. It is flattened
from top to bottom, and orientedanteriorly. It has an oval articular face for the clavicle