to download this presentation from this link. https://mohmmed-ink.blogspot.com/2020/12/joints-of-upper-limb.html anatomy of the upper limb joints. shoulder, elbow, wrist hand

1. Joints of upper limb
Done by : Mohammed A Qazzaz

2. Joints of clavicle (collarbone)
 1) Sternocalvicular joint ( medially)
 2) Acromioclavicular joiny ( laterally)

3. 1) Sternoclavicualr joint
 The sternoclavicular
articulation is
a synovial double-plane
joint composed of two portions
separated by an articular
disc which is made from
fibrocartilage.
 The sternoclavicular joint is a
saddle-type joint that allows
movement of the clavicle,
predominantly in
anteroposterior and vertical
planes, although some rotation
also occurs.

4. Cont.. Sternoclavicualr joint
Ligaments of sternoclavicular joint :
 The anterior and posterior stern
oclavicular ligaments are found
anterior and posterior to the joint.
 The interclavicular ligament links
the ends of the two clavicles to
each other and to
the superior surface of the
manubrium of the sternum.
 The costoclavicular ligament is
positioned laterally to the joint and
links the proximal end of the
clavicle to the first rib and related
costal cartilage.

5. 2) Acromioclavicular joint
 The AC joint is located at the tip
of the shoulder where the
acromion portion of scapula and
clavicle join together.
 The AC joint is not as mobile as
the large main shoulder joint and
only moves when the shoulder is
overhead or across the chest
(adducted).
 The joint is partly filled with a
thick pad of cartilage, known as
the meniscus, wich allows the
joint to move.
Synovial plane joint

6. Cont.. Acromioclavicualr joint
Ligaments of acromioclavicular joint :
 The acromioclavicular ligament,
which attaches the clavicle to
the acromion of the scapula.
 The coracoclavicular ligament,
which consists of two ligaments,
the conoid and the trapezoid
ligaments.

7. Glenohumeral joint (a.k.a. Shoulder joint
)
 The glenoid fossa of the scapula
is a depression on the head of
the scapula, between the
acromion and coracoid
processes. It joins with the head
of the humerus.
 The glenoid fossa is shallow and
contains the glenoid
labrum which deepens it and aids
in stability.
 The glenohumeral joint is a
multiaxial synovial ball and
socket joint.
 Due to the very limited interface
of the humerus and scapula, it is

8. Cont.. Glenohumeral joint
 The glenoid labrum is a
fibrocartilaginous rim attached
around the margin of the glenoid
cavity in the scapula.
 It deepens the articular cavity, and
protects the edges of the bone.
 It is continuous above with the
tendon of the long head of
the Biceps brachii.

9. Cont.. Glenohumeral joint
Capsule of acromioclavicular joint :
 Capsule surrounds the joint and is
attached medially to the margin of
the glenoid cavity outside the
labrum; laterally it is attached to
the anatomic neck of the humerus.
 The capsule is thin and lax,
allowing a wide range of
movement.
 It is strengthened by fibrous slips
from the tendons of the
subscapularis, supraspinatus,
infraspinatus, and teres minor
muscles (the rotator cuff muscles).

10. Cont.. Glenohumeral joint
Synovial membrane of acromioclavicular joint :
This lines the capsule and is attached to the margins of the cartilage covering the
articular surfaces. It forms a tubular sheath around the tendon of the long head of the
biceps brachii. It extends through the anterior wall of the capsule to form the
subscapularis bursa beneath the subscapularis muscle.

11. Cont.. Glenohumeral joint
Bursae of acromioclavicular joint :
 The bursa are formed by the
synovial membrane of the
joint capsule.
 A number of bursae in the
capsule aid mobility:
 Subacromial bursa (between
joint capsule and acromion
of scapula).
 Subscapular bursa (between
joint capsule and tendon
of subscapularis muscle,
also known as subtendinous
bursa of subscapularis
muscle).

12. Cont.. Glenohumeral joint
Bursae of acromioclavicular joint :

13. Cont.. Glenohumeral joint
Ligaments of glenohumeral joint :
 Three glenohumeral ligaments
exist:
(1) The superior glenohumeral
ligament (SGHL). This ligament
resists inferior translation of the
humeral head in the adducted
shoulder.
(2) The middle glenohumeral ligament
(MGHL). This ligament resists
inferior translation in the adducted
and externally rotated shoulder.
(3) The inferior glenohumeral ligamentThe glenohumeral ligaments are three
(IGHL). This resists humeral head weak bands of fibrous tissue that
anterior and posterior translation. strengthen the front of the capsule

14. Cont.. Glenohumeral joint
Ligaments of glenohumeral joint :
 The transverse humeral ligament
strengthens the capsule and
bridges the gap between the two
tuberosities.
 The coracohumeral ligament
strengthens the capsule above and
stretches from the root of the
coracoid process to the greater
tuberosity of the humerus.

15. The Elbow Joint
 The human elbow is the
summation of 3 articulations:
1) Humeroulnar joint: the synovial
hinge joint with articulation
between the trochlea of the
humeral condyle and the
trochlear notch of the ulna.
2) Humeroradial joint: the
articulation between the
capitulum of the humeral condyle
and the concavity on the superior
aspect of the head of the radius
3) Radioulnar joint: it is a pivottype synovial joint with
articulation between the head of
the radius and the radial notch of
These 3 articulations, forming 2 different
aspects, allow flexion and extension of the
elbow, as well as supination and pronation of
the forearm and wrist at the elbow.

16. Cont.. Elbow joint
Capsule of elbow joint :
 Anteriorly it is attached above to the humerus along the upper margins
of the coronoid and radial fossae to the margin of the coronoid process
of the ulna.
 Posteriorly it is attached above to the margins of the olecranon fossa of
the humerus and below to the upper margin and sides of the olecranon
process of the ulna.

17. Cont.. Elbow joint
Synovial membrane and bursae of elbow joint :
 The elbow joint has a synovial membrane-
lined joint capsule that is contiguous
between the hinge and radioulnar aspects
of the joint. The synovial lining covers the
internal surface of the fibrous joint capsule
and the nonarticular surfaces of the joint
that are located intracapsularly.
 The major bursa in the elbow joint is the
subcutaneous olecranon bursa, found in
the connective tissue over the olecranon.

18. Cont.. Elbow joint
Ligaments of elbow joint :
 Medially, the joint capsule thickens
to form the medial or ulnar collateral
ligament, which extends from the
medial epicondyle of the humerus to
the coronoid and olecranon of the
ulna.
 The ulnar collateral ligament is a
triangular thickening with 3 main
bands: the anterior or cordlike band,
the posterior fanlike band, and the
oblique band.
A
O
P

19. Cont.. Elbow joint
Ligaments of elbow joint :
 Laterally, the lateral or radial collateral
ligament extends from the lateral
humeral epicondyle and distally blends
into the anular ligament of the radius.
 The anular ligament of the radius
wraps around the head of the radius
and attaches to the ulna anteriorly and
posteriorly. The surface of the anular
ligament is lined with synovial
membrane and allows the head of the
radius to rotate inward during
supination and pronation, while
maintaining stability of the radial ulnar
joint.

20. The Radiocarbal joint (a.k.a. Wrist
joint )
 The wrist is a complex joint that
bridges the hand to the forearm.
It is actually a collection of
multiple bones and joints. The
bones comprising the wrist
include the distal ends of the
radius, 8 carpal bones, and the
proximal portions of the 5
metacarpal bones.
 All of these bones participate in
complex articulations that allow
variable mobility of the hand. The
hand is capable of 2 degrees of
freedom: (1) flexing and
extending, and (2) deviating
ulnarly or radially.

21. Cont.. Wrist joint
 Ulna is prevented from
articulating with the carpal bones
by a fibrocartilginous ligament,
called the articular disk.
 Together, the carpal bones form
a convex surface, which
articulates with the concave
surface of the radius and
articular disk.
 The wrist is an ellipsoid type
synovial joint, allowing for
movement along two axes. This
means that flexion, extension,
The ulna is not part of the wrist joint,
adduction and abduction can all it articulates with the radius, just proximal to
occur at the wrist joint.
the wrist joint, at the distal radioulnar joint.

22. Cont.. Wrist joint
Capsule of wrist joint :
 The fibrous outer layer attaches
to the radius, ulna and the
proximal row of the carpal bones.
The internal layer is comprised of
a synovial membrane, secreting
synovial fluid which lubricates the
joint.
 Synovial membrane lines the
capsule and is attached to the
margins of the articular surfaces.
The joint cavity does not
communicate with that of the
distal radioulnar joint or with the
joint cavities of the intercarpal

23. Cont.. Wrist joint
Ligaments of wrist joint :
 There are four ligaments in the wrist joint, one for each side of the joint:
 Palmar radiocarpal - It passes from the radius to both rows of carpal
bones. Its function, apart from increasing stability, is to ensure that the
hand follows the forearm during supination.
 Dorsal radiocarpal - It passes from the radius to both rows of carpal
bones. It contributes to the stability of the wrist, but also ensures that
the hand follows the forearm during pronation.
 Ulnar collateral - Runs from the ulnar styloid process to the triquetrum
and pisiform. Works in union with the other collateral ligament to
prevent excessive lateral joint displacement.
 Radial collateral - Runs from the radial styloid process to the scaphoid
and trapezium. Works in union with the other collateral ligament to
prevent excessive lateral joint displacement.

24. Cont.. Wrist joint
Ligaments of wrist joint :

25. Distal Radioulnar joint
 This is a pivot-joint formed
between the head of the ulna and
the ulnar notch on the lower end
of the radius.
 The synovial membrane of this
articulation is extremely loose,
and extends upward as a recess
between the radius and the ulna.
 The movements of pronation and
supination of the forearm involve
a rotary movement around a
vertical axis at the proximal and
distal radioulnar joints.

26. Cont.. Distal Radioulnar joint
Ligaments of distal radioulnar joint :
 Anterior radioulnar ligament: This ligament is a narrow band of fibers
extending from the anterior margin of the ulnar notch of the radius to the
front of the head of the ulna.
 Posterior radioulnar ligament: This ligament extends between
corresponding surfaces on the dorsal aspect of the articulation.

27. Cont.. Distal Radioulnar joint

28. Thank you