Appendicular Skeleton
The appendicular skeleton consists of the bones of
the upper and lower extremities.
UPPER EXTREMITY.-The upper extremity
consists of the bones of the shoulder, the arm, the
forearm, the wrist, and the hand (figs. 1-21
and 1-22). The bones that form the
framework for the upper extremities are
listed in table 1-1.
Clavicle.-The clavicle (commonly called the
collar bone) lies nearly horizontally above the first rib
and is shaped like a flat letter S. The
clavicle is a thin brace bone that
fractures easily. Its inner end is round
and attached to the sternum; its outer end is flattened
and fixed to the scapula. The clavicle forms
the anterior portion of the pectoral
girdle (fig. 1-21). The pectoral girdle
is composed of the two clavicles and
two scapulae (shoulder blades). It functions as a
support for the arms and serves as an
attachment for several muscles.
Scapula.-The scapula is a triangular bone that lies
in the upper part of the back on both sides,
between the second and seventh ribs,
forming the posterior portion of the
pectoral girdle. Its lateral corner forms part of the
shoulder joint, articulating with the humerus.
Humerus.-The humerus is the longest bone of
the upper extremity and is often called the arm bone
(fig. 1-22). It articulates with the
pectoral girdle to form the shoulder
joint, and with the bones of the
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Figure 1-20. 3/4 Anterior view of thorax,
Figure 1-21.-Pectoral girdle.
Table 1-1.-Bones of the Upper Extremities
forearm to form the elbow. Its anatomical portions
include a head (a rounded portion that fits into a recess
of the scapula) called the glenoid fossa;
the shaft, which is the main
part of the humerus; and the distal
end, which includes the prominence (called an
epicondyle) and the surfaces that
articulate with the bones of the
forearm.
Radius and Ulna.-When the arm is in the
anatomical position with the palm turned forward, the
radius is on the lateral (thumb) side
and the ulna is on the medial
(little finger) side of the forearm (fig. 1-22).
When the hand is pronated (with the palm turned
downward), the bones rotate on each other
and cross in the middle. This pronation
makes it possible to turn the wrist and
hand (as when opening doors). The ulna and
the radius articulate at their proximal ends with the
humerus, at their distal ends with some of
the carpal bones, and with each other
at both ends.
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