Joints and Ligaments of the Upper Limb - Listed Alphabetically |
| Joint or ligament |
Description |
Notes |
| acromioclavicular joint |
the joint between the distal end of the clavicle and the acromion of the scapula |
a plane synovial joint; the shape of the articulation encourages the acromion to slide inferior to the clavicle during dislocation (shoulder separation) a condition that occurs when the coracoclavicular ligament is torn; a small articular disk occurs within this joint capsule |
| annular ligament |
the ligament that encircles the head of the radius |
it forms 4/5 of a circle - the radial notch of the ulna forms the other 1/5; it attaches to the margins of the radial notch; it holds the head of the radius against the ulna and cups in distal to the head to provide restraint against distal dislocation of the radius |
| carpometacarpal joint, finger |
the articulation between the distal carpal bones and the proximal ends of the metacarpal bones of the hand |
a synovial plane joint; limited motion is permitted at the carpometacarpal joint; the carpometacarpal joint is reinforced by dorsal and palmar ligaments |
| carpometacarpal joint, thumb |
the articulation between the trapezium and the proximal end of the metacarpal bone of the thumb |
a synovial saddle (sellar) joint; this articulation permits two planes of motion: flexion/extension and abduction/adduction which may be combined to produce circumduction |
| coracoacromial ligament |
the ligament that connects the coracoid process to the acromion of the scapula |
it passes superior to both the head of the humerus and the supraspinatus tendon; it provides support for the head of the humerus that prevents superior dislocation |
| coracoclavicular joint |
the joint between the coracoid process of the scapula and the inferior surface of the lateral portion of the clavicle |
a syndesmosis; this joint provides stability to the acromioclavicular joint |
| coracoclavicular ligament |
the ligament that connects the upper surface of the coracoid process to the under surface of the clavicle |
it has two parts: conoid ligament (posteromedial part) and trapezoid ligament; tearing of the coracoclavicular ligament permits the acromion to move inferior to the distal end of the clavicle (shoulder separation), a condition which could result from a fall on the point of the shoulder |
| costoclavicular ligament |
a ligament that attaches the clavicle to the first rib |
it resists superior displacement of the proximal end of the clavicle; the combined effect of this ligament, the sternoclavicular ligament and the interclavicular ligament is to produce a very strong sternoclavicular joint that seldom dislocates |
| elbow joint |
the joint between the distal humerus and the proximal radius and ulna |
a synovial hinge joint; the elbow joint is a complex joint consisting of humeroradial, humeroulnar and proximal radioulnar articulations all within a common articular capsule; it is strengthened by the ulnar and radial collateral ligaments |
| glenohumeral ligament, inferior |
a ligament reinforcing the anterior wall of the capsule of the glenohumeral joint |
it connects the humerus to the scapula; a thickening of the anteroinferior shoulder joint capsule |
| glenohumeral ligament, middle |
a ligament reinforcing the anterior wall of the capsule of the glenohumeral joint |
it connects the humerus to the scapula; a thickening of the anterior shoulder joint capsule |
| glenohumeral ligament, superior |
a ligament reinforcing the anterior wall of the capsule of the glenohumeral joint |
it connects the humerus to the scapula; a thickening of the anterosuperior shoulder joint capsule |
| intercarpal ligaments, dorsal |
a series of short ligaments that connect adjacent carpal bones on their dorsal aspects |
intercarpal ligaments reinforce the articular capsule of the intercarpal joints; they prevent excessive movement of these synovial plane joints |
| intercarpal ligaments, palmar |
a series of short ligaments that connect adjacent carpal bones on their ventral aspects |
intercarpal ligaments reinforce the articular capsule of the intercarpal joints; they prevent excessive movement of these synovial plane joints |
| interclavicular ligament |
a ligament that reinforces the capsule of the sternoclavicular joint |
it spans the superior surface of the sternoclavicular joint and manubrium of the sternum; the combined effect of this ligament, the sternoclavicular ligament and the costoclavicular ligament is to produce a very strong sternoclavicular joint that seldom dislocates |
| intermetacarpal joint |
the articulation between the adjacent sides of the proximal ends of metacarpal bones 2-5 |
a synovial plane joint; limited motion is possible between at the carpometacarpal joints or between adjacent metacarpal bones |
| interosseous membrane, forearm |
a fibrous membrane that connects the interosseous borders located on the shafts of the radius and the ulna |
a syndesmosis; its fibers are oriented obliquely downward from the radius toward the ulna; the interosseous membrane is the classic example of a syndesmosis; proximally directed forces from the hand pass through the radius and are transferred to the ulna through the interosseous membrane; marked proximally by the oblique cord |
| interphalangeal joints |
the articulations between the proximal and middle phalanges (proximal interphalangeal joint, abbreviated PIP) or the middle and distal phalanges (distal interphalangeal joint, abbreviated DIP) |
a synovial hinge joint; these joints are strengthened by medial and lateral collateral ligaments |
| metacarpophalangeal joint |
the articulation between the head of a metacarpal and the base of a proximal phalanx |
a synovial condyloid (or ellipsoid) joint; it is strengthened by medial and lateral collateral ligaments; the joint has two planes of motion: flexion/extension and abduction/adduction which may be combined to yield circumduction |
| midcarpal joint |
the joint which connects the proximal and distal rows of carpal bones |
a series of synovial plane joints; small ranges of motion are permitted between carpal bones which take on an additive effect because there are several articulations in a proximodistal row (wrist, midcarpal and carpometacarpal joints); the midcarpal and intercarpal joints are reinforced by numerous ligaments |
| oblique cord |
a thickening of connective tissue fibers at the proximal end of the interosseous membrane |
it connects the proximal end of the shaft of the radius to the proximal end of the shaft of the ulna |
| radial collateral ligament, elbow |
a ligament spanning the lateral side of the elbow joint |
it connects the lateral epicondyle of the humerus with the radius and the annular ligament; it reinforces the lateral side of the elbow articular capsule; it is smaller and less distinct than the ulnar collateral ligament |
| radial collateral ligament, wrist |
it connects the styloid process of the radius with the scaphoid and trapezium |
it reinforces the articular capsule on the lateral side of the wrist |
| radiocarpal (wrist) joint |
synovial, ellipsoidal |
characterized by an intracapsular articular disk; radius articulates with the proximal row of carpals |
| radioulnar joint, distal |
the articulation between the head of the ulna and the ulnar notch of the radius |
a synovial pivot joint; this joint has a fibrocartilaginous articular disk that attaches to the styloid process of the ulna and the medial side of the distal radius |
| radioulnar joint, intermediate |
the articulation formed by the interosseous membrane |
a syndesmosis; it connects the interosseous border of the ulna to the interosseous border of the radius; proximally directed forces from the hand pass through the radius and are transferred to the ulna through the interosseous membrane |
| radioulnar joint, proximal |
the proximal articulation between the radius and ulna that is contained within the capsule of the elbow joint |
a synovial pivot joint; it is the articulation between the head of the radius and the radial notch of the ulna which is completed by the annular ligament |
| shoulder joint |
the articulation between the head of the humerus and the glenoid fossa of the scapula |
a synovial ball and socket joint; the glenoid labrum deepens the socket; glenohumeral ligaments reinforce the joint capsule anteriorly; the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii m. passes through the shoulder joint cavity; the shoulder joint is supported by the muscles of the rotator cuff group (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis); also known as the glenohumeral joint; it is frequently dislocated |
| sternoclavicular joint |
the joint what connects the clavicle with the sternum |
a synovial joint; its joint capsule is subdivided by a fibrous articular disk; it is strengthened by the sternoclavicular, interclavicular and costoclavicular ligaments; the sternoclavicular joint has the range of movement, but not the form, of a ball and socket joint |
| sternoclavicular ligament |
a ligament that reinforces the capsule of the sternoclavicular joint |
the sternoclavicular ligament has two parts: anterior and posterior; it is a very strong ligament; the combined effect of this ligament, the costoclavicular ligament and the interclavicular ligament is to produce a very strong sternoclavicular joint that seldom dislocates |
| transverse humeral ligament |
the ligament that spans the intertubercular sulcus of the humerus |
it connects the greater tubercle of the humerus to the lesser tubercle of the humerus and acts to retain the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii m. in the intertubercular sulcus |
| transverse metacarpal ligament, deep |
a ligament that connects the metacarpophalangeal joints 2-5 on their palmar surface |
limited motion is permitted between the distal ends of adjacent metacarpal bones due to the presence of the deep transverse metacarpal ligaments; the metacarpal bones are bound together to form a solid foundation for finger movements |
| transverse scapular ligament, superior |
a ligament that spans the suprascapular notch of the scapula |
it converts the suprascapular notch into a foramen; the suprascapular a. passes superior to the ligament and the suprascapular n. passes inferior to the ligament (Army over the bridge, Navy under the bridge) |
| ulnar collateral ligament, elbow |
a strong ligament spanning the medial side of the elbow joint |
it connects the medial epicondyle of the humerus with the ulna; it reinforces the medial side of the elbow articular capsule |
| ulnar collateral ligament, wrist |
it connects the styloid process of the ulna to the pisiform and triquetrum |
it reinforces the articular capsule on the medial side of the wrist |
| wrist joint |
the articulation between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones |
a synovial ellipsoid joint; two primary degrees of motion are permitted: abduction/adduction and flexion/extension - these motions are combined to produce circumduction; the radius actually articulates with the articular disk which in turn articulates with the proximal row of carpal bones (scaphoid, lunate and triquetrum) |
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