The document describes several muscles of the upper limb: 1) It outlines the anterior and posterior thoracic muscles including the pectoralis minor, serratus anterior, trapezius, levator scapulae, and rhomboid muscles. 2) It then discusses the muscles that move the humerus, including the deltoid, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis, and other muscles. 3) Finally, it examines the muscles of the forearm, wrist and hand such as the biceps brachii, brachialis, flexor digitorum profundus, and extensor digitor

1. Muscles of upper limb
Dr. Ameera A. Al-Humidi
MBBS USTY, MSc Human Anatomy UOG

2. Anterior Thoracic Muscles
 Pectoralis minor
 Serratus anterior
Posterior Thoracic Muscles
 Trapezius *
 Levator scapulae
 Rhomboid major *
 Rhomboid minor
* = know origin & insertion

3. Pectoralis minor
Origin:
Three upper ribs (can vary)
Insertion:
Coracoid process of
scapula
Action:
Depresses and pulls
scapula forward, rotates it
downward
Anterior

4. Serratus anterior
Origin:
Superior 8 or 9 ribs
Insertion:
Ventral surface of scapula
Action:
Pulls scapula anteriorly
and downward
Anterior

5. Trapezius *
Origin: Occipital bone
& spines of 7th cervical
and all thoracic
vertebrae
Insertion: Clavicle,
spine, and acromion
process of scapula
Action: Rotates scapula
can raise, pull medially,
pull upward or depress
scapula
Anterior
Posterior

6. Levator scapulae
Spine of
scapula
Origin: Transverse
processes of superior 4
or 5 cervical vertebrae
Insertion: Medial
border of scapula
Action: Elevates
scapula and rotates it
downward
Posterior

7. Rhomboideus major *
Origin: Spines of
upper thoracic
vertebrae
Insertion: Medial
margin of scapula
Action: Adducts,
elevates and
rotates scapula
Posterior

8. Fig. 9.27a
Fig. 9.27d
Rhomboideus minor
Origin: Spines of
lower cervical
vertebrae
Insertion: Medial
margin of scapula
Action: Adducts,
and elevates
scapula
Posterior

9. Originate on Axial Skeleton
• Pectoralis major *
• Latissimus dorsi
Originate on Scapula
• Deltoid *
• Suprascapularis
• Infrascapularis
• Teres minor
• Subscapularis
• Teres major
• Coracobrachialis
Rotator cuff
Muscles
2
7

10. Muscles that Move the Humerus (Arm)
Abductors
Deltoid
Supraspinatus
Rotators
Infraspinatus
Teres minor
Subscapularis
2 2
2
3
* The muscles that flex and
extend the humerus also
act as adductors

11. Pectoralis major *
Origin: Clavicle, sternum,
and costal cartilages of
upper ribs
Insertion: Intertubercular
groove of humerus
Action: Flexes, adducts and
rotates arm medially
Anterior

12. Coracobrachialis
Origin: Coracoid
process of the
scapula
Insertion: Shaft of
humerus medial
side
Action: Flexes and
adducts the arm
Anterior

13. Latissimus dorsi
Origin: spines of
vertebrae, iliac
crest and lower
ribs
Insertion:
Intertubercular
groove humerus
Action:Extends,
adducts and
rotates arm
medially
Posterior

14. Teres major
Origin: Lateral
border of
scapula
Insertion:
Intertubercular
groove of
humerus
Action:
Extends,
adducts and
rotates arm
medially
Posterior
Posterior

15. Deltoid *
Origin:
Spine and
acromion
of scapula, &
clavicle
Insertion:
Deltoid
tuberosity of
humerus
Action:
Abducts,
flexes, and
extends arm.
Anterior
Posterior

16. Supraspinatus
Origin: Posterior surface
of scapula above spine
Insertion: Greater tubercle
of humerus
Action: Abducts arm
Posterior

17. Infraspinatus
Origin: Posterior surface
of scapula below spine
Insertion: Greater
tubercle of humerus
Action: Rotates arm
laterally
Posterior

18. Teres minor
Origin: Lateral
border of scapula
Insertion:
Greater tubercle
of humerus
Action: Rotates
arm laterally
Posterior

19. Subscapularis
Origin: Anterior
surface of scapula
Insertion: Lesser
tubercle of humerus
Action: Rotates
arm medially
Anterior

20. S Supraspinatus
I Infraspinatus
T Teres minor
S Subscapularis
Assist the joint capsule, coracohumeral ligament,
glenohumeral ligament and transverse ligament in
stabilizing the shoulder joint

21. From: Anatomy & Physiology: Seeley, Stephens and Tate 6th Ed.
A B
S
I
T S
Anterior

22. Humerus
Coracobrachialis
Teres major
Latissimus dorsi
Serratus anterior
Pectoralis major
Deltoid

23. • Biceps brachii *
• Brachialis *
• Brachioradialis
• Triceps brachii *
• Supinator
• Pronator teres
• Pronator quadratus

24. 3 Flexors
Biceps brachii
Brachialis
Brachioradialis
“3” Extensors
Triceps brachii
3 Rotators
Supinator
Pronator teres
Pronator quadratus

25. Biceps brachii *
Short head
Long head
Origin: Short head - Coracoid
process
Long head - Tubercle above
glenoid cavity of scapula
Insertion: Radial tuberosity
and aponeurosis
Action: Flexes forearm at
elbow and rotates arm
laterally (supinates)
Anterior

26. Brachialis *
Origin: Anterior
shaft of humerus
Insertion: Coronoid
process of the ulna
Action: Flexes
forearm at the
elbow
Anterior

27. Brachioradialis
Origin: Lateral border
of the distal end of the
humerus
Insertion: Superior
to styloid process
of the radius
Action: Flexes forearm
at elbow
Anterior

28. Triceps brachii *
Origin: Tubercle below
glenoid cavity and lateral
and medial surfaces of the
humerus
Insertion: Olecranon
process of the ulna
Action: Extends elbow
Posterior

29. Supinator
Origin: Lateral
epicondyle
of humerus
and ridge near
the radial notch
of ulna
Insertion: Lateral
surface of proximal
third of radius
Action: Rotates
forearm laterally
(supinates hand)
Anterior

30. Pronator teres
Origin: Medial epicondyle
of humerus and coronoid
process of ulna
Insertion: Lateral surface
of radius
Action: Rotates forearm
medially (pronates
hand)
Anterior

31. Pronator quadratus
Origin: Anterior distal end
of ulna
Insertion: Anterior distal
end of radius
Action: Rotates forearm
medially (pronates
hand)
O
I
Anterior

32. Triceps brachii
Humerus
Long head of
biceps brachii
Short head of biceps brachii

33. • Flexor carpi radialis
• Palmaris longus
• Flexor carpi ulnaris
• Extensor carpi radialis longus
• Extensor carpi radialis brevis
• Extensor carpi ulnaris

34. 3 Flexors
Flexor carpi radialis
Palmaris longus
Flexor carpi ulnaris
3 Extensors
Extensor carpi radialis longus
Extensor carpi radialis brevis
Extensor carpi ulnaris

35. Flexor carpi radialis
Origin: Medial
epicondyle of humerus
Insertion: Base of
2nd and 3rd
metacarpals
Action: Flexes wrist
and abducts hand
Anterior

36. Palmaris longus
Origin: Medial epicondyle
of humerus
Insertion: Fascia of palm
Action: Flexes wrist
Anterior

37. Flexor carpi ulnaris
Origin: Medial epi-
condyle of humerus
and olecranon
process of the ulna
Insertion: Carpal &
metacarpal bones
Action: Flexes
wrist and adducts
hand
Post
Ant Ant

38. Extensor carpi ulnaris
Origin: Lateral epicondyle
of humerus
Insertion: Carpal and
metacarpal bones
Action: Extends and
adducts hand
Posterior

39. Extensor carpi radialis
longus
brevis
Origin: longus - distal end
of humerus
brevis - lateral epicondyle of
humerus
Insertion: longus - base of
2nd metacarpal
brevis - base of 2nd & 3rd
metacarpal
Action: Extends wrist &
abducts hand
Posterior

40.  Flexor digitorum superficialis
 Flexor digitorum profundus
 Extensor digitorum

41. 2 Flexors
Flexor digitorum superficialis
Flexor digitorum profundus
1 Extensor
Extensor digitorum

42. Origin: Medial epicondyle of
humerus, olecranon process
of ulna, and the radius
Insertion: Tendons of the
fingers
Action: Flexes the fingers
and wrist
Flexor digitorum superficialis
Anterior

43. Origin: Anterior surface of
ulna
Insertion: Bases of distal
phalanges 2 through 5
Action: Flexes the distal
joints of the fingers
Flexor digitorum profundus
Anterior

44. Origin: Lateral epicondyle
of the humerus
Insertion: Posterior
surfaces of phalanges
in fingers 2 through 5
Action: Extends fingers
and wrist
Extensor digitorum
Posterior

45. Abductor pollicis longus m.
Flexor pollicis longus m.
Radius
Pronator teres m.
Brachioradialis m.
Radial n.
Radial a.
Flexor carpi radialis m.
Extensor digitorum m.
Ulna
Ulnar n.
Ulnar a.
Flexor carpi ulnaris m.
Median n.
Palmaris longus m.
Anterior
Extensor carpi
radialis brevis m.
Extensor carpi
radialis longus m.
Extensor carpi
ulnaris m.
Extensor pollicis
longus m.
Flexor digitorum
profundus m.
Flexor digitorum
superficialis m.
p
p
p

46. Flexor retinaculum
Extensor retinaculum

50. results from compression on the ulnar nerve in the
Cubital tunnel behind the medial epicondyle
causing numbness
and tingling in the ring and little fingers.
The tunnel is formed by the medial epicondyle, ulnar
collateral ligament, and two heads of the flexor carpi
ulnaris muscle
transmits the ulnar nerve and
superior ulnar collateral or posterior ulnar recurrent
artery.

52. is caused by compression of the median nerve due to
the reduced size of the osseofibrous carpal tunnel, resulting
from inflammation of the flexor retinaculum, arthritic
changes in the carpal bones, or inflammation or thickening
of the synovial sheaths of the flexor tendons. It leads to
pain and paresthesia (tingling, burning, and
numbness) in the hand in the area supplied by the
median nerve and may also cause atrophy of the thenar
muscles in cases of severe compression. However, no
paresthesia occurs over the thenar eminence of skin
because this area is supplied by the palmar cutaneous
branch of the median nerve.

53. ■ Is a triangular interval bounded medially by the
tendon of the extensor pollicis longus muscle and
laterally by the tendons of the extensor pollicis brevis
and abductor pollicis longus muscles.
■ Is limited proximally by the styloid process of the
radius.
■ Has a floor formed by the scaphoid and trapezium
bones and crossed by the radial artery.