showing the structure of one's human arm

1. ANTERIOR AND
POSTERIOR
COMPARTMENTS
OF THE ARM
PROF. ANYANWU GE
1

2. THE ARM
 The arm is the part of the
upper limb that extends from
the shoulder joint to the
elbow joint.
 The arm is divided into
anterior and posterior
compartments by extension
of deep fascia which are
called the medial and lateral
intermuscular septa.
2

3. THE ARM
 The arm is the part of the
upper limb that extends from
the shoulder joint to the
elbow joint.
 The arm is divided into
anterior and posterior
compartments by extension
of deep fascia which are
called the medial and lateral
intermuscular septa.
3

4. Fascial Compartments of the Upper Arm
• The upper arm is enclosed in a sheath of deep
fascia.
• Two fascial septa, one on the medial side and
one on the lateral side, extend from this sheath
and are attached to the medial and lateral
supracondylar ridges of the humerus,
respectively.

6. • By this means, the upper arm is divided into an
anterior and a posterior fascial compartment,
each having its muscles, nerves, and arteries.

7. Contents of the Anterior Fascial compartment of
the upper Arm
• Muscles: Biceps brachii, coracobrachialis, and
brachialis.
• Blood supply: Brachial artery.
• Nerve supply to the muscles: Musculocutaneous
nerve

8. Structures passing
through the compartment
1. Musculocutaneous nerve
2. Median nerve.
3. Ulnar nerve.
4. Brachial artery.
5. Basilic vein.

9. • Two types of movement
occur between the arm
and forearm at the elbow
joint:
• flexion-extension
and pronation-
supination.
• The skeletal support
for the arm is the
humerus

10. Muscles of the Arm
• The anterior
compartment of the
arm contains three
muscles-
 the coracobrachialis,
 brachialis,
 and biceps brachii
muscles-
• The posterior
compartment contains one
muscle-the triceps brachii
muscle.

12. Biceps Brachii

15. BICEPS BRACHI
• Origin
• –Long head:
Supraglenoid tubercle of
scapula
• –Short head: Coracoid
process of scapula
• Insertion
• –Tuberosity of radius
and bicipital aponeurosis
into deep fascia of
forearm

16. BICEPS BRACHI
• Origin
• –Long head:
Supraglenoid tubercle of
scapula
• –Short head: Coracoid
process of scapula
• Insertion
• –Tuberosity of radius
and bicipital aponeurosis
into deep fascia of
forearm

17. • Nerve supply
–Musculocutaneous nerve
• Action
–Flexor of elbow joint
–Weak flexor of shoulder joint
–Supinator of forearm

18. Coracobrachialis

21. • Origin
–Coracoid process of
scapula
• Insertion
–Medial aspect of
shaft of humerus

22. • Nerve supply
–Musculocutaneous nerve
• Action
–Flexes arm
–Weak adductor

23. Brachialis

26. • Origin
–Front of lower half
of humerus
• Insertion
–Coronoid process of ulna

27. • Nerve supply
–Musculocutaneous nerve
• Action
–Flexor of elbow joint

28. Posterior Compartment

29. Triceps

31. TRICEPS BRACHI
• ORIGIN
• Long head : Infraglenoid
tubercle of scapula
• Lateral head : Upper half of
posterior surface of shaft of
humerus.
• Medial head: Lower half of
posterior surface of shaft of
humerus
• Insertion
• Olecranon process of ulna

32. TRICEPS BRACHI
• ORIGIN
• Long head : Infraglenoid
tubercle of scapula
• Lateral head : Upper half of
posterior surface of shaft of
humerus.
• Medial head: Lower half of
posterior surface of shaft of
humerus
• Insertion
• Olecranon process of ulna

33. • Nerve supply
–Radial nerve
• Action
–Extensor of elbow joint

35. • The nerve, like the artery, is therefore
superficial, but at the elbow, it is crossed by
the bicipital aponeurosis.
• The median nerve has no branches in the upper
arm , except for a small vasomotor nerve to
the brachial artery.

36. Next Lecture
•Forearm….

37. Thanks