Surface anatomy of superior extremity

 Superior Extremity

Vein of upper limb

Median cubital vein

1^st point : 2.25 cm above from the medial epicondyle

2^nd point : 2.25 cm below from the lateral epicondyle

Join these points by an oblique line

Why median cubital vein choose for intravenous injection?

Ans : it is superficial and fixed on underlying fascia.

Related informations:

Name of the superficial vein of upper limb: cephalic vein, basilic vein, median cubital vein

Name of the deep vein of upper limb: axillary, brachial, ulna and radial vein

Arteries of upper limb

Brachial artery

1)     1^st point- at the junction of anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the lateral wall of the axilla

2)     2^nd point- 2.5 below and medial to the tendon of the biceps brachii.

Join the points by a straight line.

Related information:  brachial artery is the continuation of axillary artery.

Branches of brachial artery:

1. Profunda Brachii.
2. Superior Ulnar Collateral.
3. Inferior Ulnar Collateral
4. Nutrient
5. Muscular
6. Terminal branches: Radial and ulnar artery

Radial artery

1^st point- 2.5 below and medial to the tendon of the biceps brachii .

2^nd point- In front of the wrist between the tendon of the flexor carpi radialis medially and the lower part of the anterior border of the radius laterally.(Here, practically feel the pulsation of the artery and put the point over it).

   Join the points by a line with slight outwards convexity at the upper part.

Related information s:Branches radial artery : In the Forearm:

1.   Radial Recurrent artery,
2.   Muscular artery 
3.   Superficial Volar artery

 At the Wrist: Dorsal Carpal artery

    In the hand:

1. Princeps Pollicis.
2. Volaris Indicis Radialis.

Ulnar artery

1^st point- 2.5 below and medial to the tendon of the biceps brachii .

2^nd point-  At the junction of the upper 1/3 and the lower 2/3 of the medial border of the forearm.

3^rd point- Just lateral to the pisiform bone.

Join the 1^st with the 2^nd point by a line passing downwards & medially, then the line runs straight to the 3^rd point.

Related informations:

Branches of ulnar artery: In the Forearm   

•        Anterior Recurrent.

•        Posterior Recurrent.

•        Common Interosseous.

•        Muscular

In the Hand:   Superficial Volar Arch.

Superficial palmar arch

1^st point – just lateral to the pisiform bone

2^nd point – middle of the thenar eminence

Join these points by a convex line directed downwards

Related questions:

How superficial palmar arch is formed?

By terminal branch of ulnar artery and superficial palmar branch of the radial artery.

Nerves of upper limb

Median nerve

1^st point- at the junction of anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the lateral wall of the axilla

2^nd point- 2.5 below and medial to the tendon of the biceps brachii.

3^rd point: in front of wrist over the tendon of palmaris longus

Join these points by a straight line.

  (The line joining the 1^st & 2^nd points represents the Median nerve in the arm and the line joining the 2^nd & 3^rd points represents the Median nerve in the forearm.)

Related informations:

It arises from medial and lateral cord of brachial plexus

Root value: C5-8, T1

 Types of nerves: mixed (both sensory and motor)

It mainly supply muscles of the flexor compartment of forearm

Ulnar nerve

1^st point-. at the junction of anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the lateral wall of the axilla

2^nd point- at the medial epicondyle .

3^rd point- Just lateral to the pisiform bone.

The line joining the 1^st & 2^nd points represents the ulnar nerve in the arm and 2^nd and 3^rd represents ulnar nerve at the forearm       

Related informations:

It arises from medial cord of brachial plexus

Root value: C8, T1

Types of nerves: mixed (both sensory and motor)

It mainly supplies the hand muscles and few forearm muscle like flexor carpi ulnaris etc. 

Radial nerve (In the arms)

1^st point- at the junction of anterior 1/3 and posterior 2/3 of the lateral wall of the axilla

2^nd point- At the junction of the upper 1/3 and the lower 2/3 of a line joining the deltoid and lateral epicondyle

3^rd point- In front of the lateral epicondyle 1.25  lateral to the tendon of the Biceps brachii

4^th point – at the anatomical snuff box

1^st and 2^nd point are joined across the back of the arm,

2^nd and 3^rd point joined on the front of arm

 3^rd and 4^th points are joined along the lateral border of forearm.

Related informations:

It arises from posterior cord of brachial plexus

Root value: C5-8, T1

Types of nerves: mixed (both sensory and motor)

It mainly supplies posterior (extensor) compartment of arm and forearm muscles. 

List of living anatomy by a point

1. medial and lateral humeral epicondyle
2. styloid and olecranon process of ulna and
3. styloid process of radius
4. acromion and spinous process of scapula
5. inferior angle of scapula
6. Pulsation of brachial and radial artery