MUSCLES AND MOVEMENTS OF UPPER EXTREMITIES

Genisa A. Gumansing

ANTERIOR AXIOAPPENDICULAR MUSCLES

MUSCLE MAIN ACTION
Pectoralis major Adducts and medially rotates humerus; draws scapula anteriorly and inferiorly.
Pectoralis minor Stabilizes scapula by drawing it inferiorly and anteriorly against thoracic wall.
Subclavius Anchors and depresses clavicle
Serratus anterior Protracts scapula and holds it against thoracic wall; rotates scapula.

POSTERIOR AXIOAPPENDICULAR MUSCLES

MUSCLE MAIN ACTION
Superficial posterior axioappendicular (extrinsic shoulder)
Trapezius Descending part elevates; ascending part depresses; and middle part (or all parts
together) retracts scapula; descending and ascending parts act together to rotate
glenoid cavity superiorly
Lattisimus dorsi Extends, adducts, and medially rotates humerus; raises body toward arms during
climbing
Deep posterior axioappendicular (extrinsic shoulder) muscles
Levator scapulae Elevates scapula and tilts its glenoid cavity inferiorly by rotating scapula
Rhomboid minor and major Retract scapula and rotate it to depress glenoid cavity; fix scapula to thoracic wall

SCAPULOHUMERAL (INTRINSIC SHOULDER) MUSCLES

MUSCLE MAIN ACTION
Deltoid Clavicular (anterior) part: flexes and medially rotates arm
Acromial (middle) part: abducts arm
Spinal (posterior) part: extends and laterally rotates arm

Supraspinatus Initiates and assists deltoid in abduction of arm and acts with rotator cuff muscles
Infraspinatus Laterally rotates arm; and acts with rotator cuff muscles
Teres minor Laterally rotates arm; and acts with rotator cuff muscles
Teres major Adducts and medially rotates arm
Subscapularis Medially rotates arm; as part of rotator cuff, helps hold of humerus in glenoid
cavity.

MUSCLES OF ARM
MUSCLE MAIN ACTION
Biceps brachii Supinates forearm and, when it is supine, flexes forearm; short head resists
dislocation of shoulder.
Coracobrachialis Helps flex and adduct arm; resists dislocation of shoulder.
Brachialis Flexes forearm in all positions
Triceps brachii Chief extensor of forearm; long head resists dislocation of humerus; especially
important during adduction
Anconeus Assists triceps in extending forearm; stabilizes elbow joint; may abduct ulna
during pronation
 MUSCLES OF ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF FOREARM
MUSCLE MAIN ACTION
Superficial (first) layer
Pronator teres
Ulnar head Pronates and flexes forearm (at elbow)
Humeral head Pronates and flexes forearm (at elbow)
Flexor carpi radialis Flexes and abducts hand (at wrist)
Palmaris longus Flexes hand (at wrist) and tenses palmar aponeurosis
Flexor carpi ulnaris
Humeral head Flexes and adducts hand (at wrist)
Ulnar head Flexes and adducts hand (at wrist)
Intermediate (second) layer
Flexor digitorum superficialias
(FDS)
Humeroulnar head Flexes middle phalnages at proximal interphalangeal joints of middle 4 digits;
acting more strongly, it also flexes proximal phalanges at
metacarpophalangeal joints
Radial head Flexes middle phalnages at proximal interphalangeal joints of middle 4 digits;
acting more strongly, it also flexes proximal phalanges at
metacarpophalangeal joints
Deep (third) layer
Flexor digitorum profundus
(FDP)
Medial part Flexes distal phalanges 4 and 5 at distal interphalangeal joints
Lateral part Flexes distal phalanges 2 and 3 at distal interphalangeal joints
Flexor pollicis longus Flexes phalanges of 2st digit (thumb)
Pronator quadratus Pronates forearm; deep fibers bind radius and ulna together

MUSCLES OF POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF FOREARM

MUSCLE MAIN ACTION

Superficial layer
Brachioradialis Relatively weak flexion of forearm; maximal when forearm is in midpronated
position.
Extensor carpi radialis longus Extend and abduct hand at the wrist joint; ECRL active during fist clenching
(ECRL)
Extensor carpi radialis Brevis Extend and abduct hand at the wrist joint; ECRL active during fist clenching
(ECRB)
Extensor digitorum Extends medial 4 digits primarily at metacarphalangeal joints, secondarily at
interphalangeal joints.
Extensor digit minimi or Extends 5th digit primarily at metacarpophalangeal joint, secondarily at
(EDM) interphalangeal joint
Extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) Extends and adducts hand at wrist joint (also active during fist clenching)
Deep layer
Supinator Supinates forearm; rotates radius to turn palm anteriorly and superiorly (if
elbow is flexed)
Extensor indicis Extends second digit (enabling its independent extension); helps extend hand
at wrist
Outcropping muscles of deep layer
Abductor pollicis longus Abducts thumb and extends it at carpometacarpal joint
 (APL)
Extensor pollicis longus (EPL)
Extensor pollicis brevis (EPB)
Extends distal phalanx of thumb at interphalangeal joint; extends
metacarpophalangeal and carpometacarpal joints.
Extends proximal phalanx of thumb at metacarpophalangeal joint; exteds
carpometacarpal joint.

INTRINSIC MUSCLES OF HAND

MUSCLE MAIN ACTION

Thenar muscles
Opponens pollicis To oppose thumb it draws first metacarpal medially to center of palm and
rotates it medially
Abductor pollicis brevis Abducts thumb; helps oppose it
Flexor pollicis brevis
Superficial head Flexes thumb
Deep head
Adductor pollicis Adducts thumb toward lateral border of palm
Oblique head
Transverse head
Hypothenar muscles
Abductor digiti minimi Abducts 5th digit; assists in flexion of its proximal phalanx
Flexor digiti minimi brevis Flexes proximal phalanx of 5th digit
Opponens digiti Draws 5th metacarpal anterior and rotates it, bringing 5h digit into opposition
with thumb
Short muscles
Lumbricals
1st and 2nd Flex metacarpopahalangeal joints; extend interphalangeal joints of 2nd to 5th
3rd and 4th digits
Dorsal interossei, 1st to 4th Abduct 2nd to 4th digits from axial line; act with lumbricals in flexing
metacarpophalangeal joint and extending interphalangeal joints
Palmar interossei, 1st to 3rd Abduct 2nd, 4th, and 5th digits toward axial line; assist lumbricals in flexing
metacarpophalangeal joints and extending interphalangeal joints; extensor
expansions of 2nd-4th digits.