CONTENTS OF ARM OSSEOFASCIAL COMPARTMENTS

ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT

MUSCLES Biceps brachii Triceps brachii

Coracobrachialis
Brachialis

MOTOR NERVE SUPPLY Musculocutaneous nerve Radial nerve

BLOOD SUPPLY Brachial artery Profunda brachii artery

Ulnar collateral arteries

CONTENTS OF FOREARM OSSEOFASCIAL COMPARTMENTS

ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT LATERAL POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT

COMPARTMENT

MUSCLES Superficial Group: Pronator teres Brachioradialis Superficial group: Extensor carpi radialis brevis
Flexor carpi radialis Palmaris longus Extensor carpi radialis Extensor extensor digitorum
Flexor carpi ulnaris longus Extensor digiti minimi
Extensor carpi ulnaris
Intermediate Group: Flexor digitorum superficialis Anconeus

Deep Group: Flexor digitorum profundus Deep group: Supinator

Flexor pollicis longus Abductor pollicis longus
Pronator quadratus Extensor pollicis brevis
Extensor pollicis longus
Extensor indicis

MOTOR NERVE SUPPLY Median nerve (all muscles except the 1.5 supplied Radial nerve Radial nerve (deep branch)
by the ulnar nerve)
Ulnar nerve (flexor carpi ulnaris + medial half of
flexor digitorum profundus)

BLOOD SUPPLY Radial artery Brachial artery Ulnar artery (posterior interosseous artery)
Ulnar artery Radial artery

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 PECTORAL REGION MUSCLES

MUSCLES ORIGIN INSERTION NERVE SUPPLY NERVE ROOTS ACTION

Pectoralis major Clavicle, sternum, and Lateral lip of bicipital Medial and lateral C5, 6, 7, 8, T1 Adducts arm and
upper six costal groove of humerus pectoral nerves from rotates it medially,
cartilages brachial plexus clavicular fibers also
flex arm

Pectoralis minor Third, fourth, and fifth Coracoid process of Medial pectoral nerve C6, 7, 8 Depresses point of
rib scapula from brachial plexus shoulder; if the scapula
is fixed, it elevates the
ribs of origin

Subclavius First costal cartilage Clavicle Nerve to subclavius C5, 6 Depresses the clavicle
from upper trunk of and steadies this bone
brachial plexus during movements of
shoulder girdle

Serratus anterior Upper eight ribs Medial border and Long thoracic nerve C5, 6, 7 Draws the forward
inferior angle of scapula anterior around the
thoracic wall; rotates
the scapula

BACK SUPERFICIAL MUSCLES

MUSCLES ORIGIN INSERTION NERVE SUPPLY NERVE ROOTS ACTION

Trapezius Occipital bone, Upper fibers into lateral Spinal part of accessory XI cranial nerve (spinal Upper fibers elevate
ligamentum nuchae, third of clavicle; middle nerve (motor) and C3 part) the scapula; middle
spine of seventh and lower fibers into ad 4 (sensory) fibers pull scapula
cervical vertebra, acromion and spine of medially; lower fibers
spines of all thoracic scapula pull medial border of
vertebrae scapula downward

Latissimus dorsi Iliac crest, lumbar Floor of bicipital groove Thoracodorsal nerve C6, 7, * Extends, adducts, and
fascia, spines of lower of humerus medially rotates the
six thoracic vertebrae, arm
lower three or four ribs,

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 and inferior angle of
scapula

Levator scapulae Transverse processes of Medial border of C3 and 4 and dorsal C3, 4, 5 Raises medial border of
first four cervical scapula scapular nerve scapula
vertebrae

Rhomboid minor Ligamentum nuchae Medial border of Dorsal scapular nerve C4, 5 Raises medial border of
and spines of seventh scapula scapula upward and
cervical and first medially
thoracic vertebrae

Rhomboid major Second to fifth thoracic Medial border of Dorsal scapular nerve C4, 5 Raises medial border of
spines scapula scapula upward and
medially

SCAPULAR REGION MUSCLES

MUSCLES ORIGIN INSERTION NERVE SUPPLY NERVE ROOTS ACTION

Deltoid Lateral third of clavicle, Middle of lateral Axillary nerve C5, 6 Abducts arm; anterior
acromion, spine of surface of shaft of fibers flex and medially
scapula humerus rotate arm; posterior
fibers extend and
laterally rotate arm

Supraspinatus Supraspinous fossa of Greater tuberosity of Suprascapular nerve C4, 5, 6 Abducts arm and
scapula humerus; capsule of stabilizes shoulder joint
shoulder joint

Infraspinatus Infraspinous fossa of Greater tuberosity of Suprascapular nerve C4, 5, 6 Laterally rotates arm
scapula humerus; capsule of and stabilizes shoulder
shoulder joint joint

Teres major Lower third of lateral Medial lip of bicipital Lower subscapular C6, 7 Medially rotates and
border of scapula groove of humerus nerve adducts arm and
stabilizes shoulder joint

Teres minor Upper two thirds of Greater tuberosity of Axillary erve C4, 5, 6 Laterally rotates arm
lateral border of humerus; capsule of and stabilizes shoulder

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 scapula shoulder joint joint

Subscapularis Subscapular fossa Lesser tuberosity of Upper and lower C5, 6, 7 Medially rotates arm
humerus subscapular nerves and stabilizes shoulder
joint

ARM MUSCLES

MUSCLES ORIGIN INSERTION NERVE SUPPLY NERVE ROOTS ACTION

ANTERIOR COMPARTMENT

Biceps brachii

Long head Supraglenoid tubercle Tuberosity of radius Musculocutaneous C5, 6 Supinator of forearm
of scapula and bicipital nerve and flexor of elbow
aponeurosis into deep joint; weak flexor of
fascia of forearm shoulder joint

Short head Coracoid process of

scapula

Coracobrachialis Coracoid process of Medial aspect of shaft Musculocutaneous C5, 6, 7 Flexes arm and als
scapula of humerus nerve weak adductor

Brachialis Front of lower half of Coronoid process of Musculocutaneous C5, 6 Flexor of elbow joint
humerus ulna nerve

POSTERIOR COMPARTMENT

Triceps

Long head Infraglenoid tubercle of

scapula

Lateral head Upper half of posterior Olecranon process of Radial nerve C6, 7, 8 Extensor of elbow joint
surface of shaft of ulna
humerus

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Medial head Lower half of posterior
surface of shaft of
humerus

MUSCLES OF ANTERIOR FOREARM OSSEOFASCIAL COMPARTMENT

MUSCLES ORIGIN INSERTION NERVE SUPPLY NERVE ROOTS ACTION

Pronator Teres

Humeral head Medial epicondyle of Lateral aspect of shaft Median nerve C6, 7 Pronation and flexion
humerus of radius of forearm

Ulnar head Medial border of

coronoid process of
ulna

Flexor carpi radialis Medial epicondyle of Bases of second and Median nerve C6, 7 Flexes and abducts
humerus third metacarpal bones hand at wrist joint

Palmaris longus Medial epicondyle of Flexor retinaculum and Median nerve C7, 8 Flexes hand
humerus palmar aponeurosis

Flexor Carpi Ulnaris

Humeral head Medial epicondyle of Pisiform bone, hook of Ulnar nerve C8, T1 Flexes and adducts
humerus the hamate, base at hand at wrist joint
fifth metacarpal bone

Ulnar head Medial aspect of

olecranon process and
posterior border of ulna

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis

Humeroulnar head Medial epicondyle of Middle phalanx of Median nerve C7, 8, T1 Flexes middle phalanx
humerus, medial medial four fingers of fingers and assists in
border of coronoid flexing proximal
process of ulna phalanx and hand

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Radial head Oblique line on anterior C8, T1
surface of shaft of
radius

Flexor pollicis longus Anterior surface of Distal phalanx of thumb Anterior interosseous C8, T1 Flexes distal phalanx of
shaft of radius branch of median nerve thumb

Flexor digitorum Anteromedial surface Distal phalanges of Ulnar (medial half) and C8, T1 Flexes distal phalanx of
profundus of shaft of ulna medial four fingers medial (lateral half) fingers; then assists in
nerves flexion of middle and
proximal phalanges and
wrists

Pronator quadratus Anterior surface of Anterior surface of Anterior interosseous C8, T1 Pronates forearm
shaft of the ulna shaft of radius branch of median nerve

MUSCLE OF LATERAL FOREARM OSSEOFASCIAL COMPARTMENT

MUSCLES ORIGIN INSERTION NERVE SUPPLY NERVE ROOTS ACTION

Brachioradialis Lateral supracondylar Base of styloid process Radial nerve C5, 6, 7 Flexes forearm at elbow
ridge of humerus of radius joint; rotates forearm
to the midprone
position

Extensor carpi radialis Lateral supracondylar Posterior surface of Radial nerve C6, 7 Extends and abducts
longus ridge of humerus base of second hand at wrist joint
metacarpal bone

MUSCLES OF POSTERIOR FOREARM OSSEOFASCIAL COMPARTMENT

MUSCLES ORIGIN INSERTION NERVE SUPPLY NERVE ROOTS ACTION

Extensor carpi radialis Lateral epicondyle of Posterior surface of Deep branch of radial C7, 8 Extends and abducts
brevis humerus base of third nerve hand at wrist joint
metacarpal bone

Extensor digitorum Lateral epicondyle of Middle and distal Deep branch of radial C7, 8 Extends fingers and
humerus phalanges of medial nerve hand

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 four fingers

Extensor digiti minimi Lateral epicondyle of Extensor expansion of Deep branch of radial C7, 8 Extends metacarpal
humerus little finger nerve phalangeal joint of little
finger

Extensor carpi ulnaris Lateral epicondyle of Base of fifth metacarpal Deep branch of radial C7, 8 Extends and adducts
humerus bone nerve hand at wrist joint

Anconeus Lateral epicondyle of Lateral surface of Radial nerve C7, 8, T1 Extends elbow joint
humerus olecranon process of
ulna

Supinator Lateral epicondyle of Neck and shaft of Deep branch of radial C5, 6 Supination of forearm
humerus, anular radius nerve
ligament of proximal
radioulnar joint, and
ulna

Abductor pollicis longus Posterior surface of Base of first metacarpal Deep branch of radial C7, 8 Abducts and extends
shafts of radius and bone nerve thumb
ulna

Extensor pollicis brevis Posterior surface of Base of proximal Deep branch of radial C7, 8 Extends
shaft of radius phalanx of thumb nerve metacarpophalangeal
joints of thumb

Extensor pollicis longus Posterior surface of Base of distal phalanx Deep branch of radial C7, 8 Extends distal phalanx
shaft of ulna of thumb nerve of thumb

Extensor indicis Posterior surface of Extensor expansion of Deep branch of radial C7, 8 Extends
shaft of ulna index finger nerve metacarpophalangeal
joints of index finger

SUMMARY OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS BRANCHES AND DISTRIBUTION

BRANCHES DISTRIBUTION

Roots

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Dorsal scapular nerve (C5) Rhomboid minor, rhomboid major, levator scapulae muscles

Long thoracic nerve (C5, 6, 7) Serratus anterior muscle

Upper trunk

Suprascapular nerve (C5, 6) Supraspintatus and infraspinatus muscles

Nerve to subclavius (C5,6) Subclavius

Lateral Cord

Lateral pectoral nerve (C5, 6, 7) Pectoralis major muscle

Musculocutaneous nerve (C5, 6, 7) Coracobrachialis, biceps brachii, brachialis muscles; supplies skin along lateral
border of forearm when it becomes the lateral cutaneous nerve of forearm

Lateral root of median nerve (C5, 6, 7) See medial root of median nerve

Posterior Cord

Upper subscapular nerve (C5, 6, 7) Subscapularis muscle

Thoracodorsal nerve (C6, 7, 8) Latissimus dorsi muscle

Lower subscapular nerve (C5, 6) Subscapularis and teres major muscles

Axillary nerve (C5, 6) Deltoid and teres minor muscles; upper lateral cutaneous nerve of arm
supplies skin over lower half of deltoid muscles

Medial cord

Medial pectoral nerve (C8; T1) Pectoralis major and minor muscles

Medial cutaneous nerve of arm joined by intercostal brachial nerve from Skin of medial side of arm
second intercostal nerve (C8; T1, 2)

Medial cutaneous nerve of forearm (C8, T1) Skin of medial side of forearm

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