Upper and Lower Limb Anatomy: Muscles, Arteries, and Nerves

Upper Limb Anatomy

Superficial Posterior Muscles

  • Trapezius
  • Deltoids
  • Biceps brachii
  • Triceps brachii
  • Brachioradialis
  • Flexor carpi ulnaris
  • Anconeus
  • Extensor carpi ulnaris
  • Extensor digitorum

Anterior Muscles

  • Trapezius
  • Deltoids
  • Biceps brachii
  • Triceps brachii
  • Pectoralis major
  • Brachialis
  • Brachioradialis
  • Pronator teres
  • Flexor carpi radialis

Deeper Muscles (Back)

  • Levator scapulae
  • Rhomboid minor
  • Rhomboid major
  • Supraspinatus
  • Infraspinatus
  • Teres minor
  • Teres major
  • Latissimus dorsi

Anterior Ligaments

  • Coracoacromial ligament
  • Superior transverse scapular ligament
  • Costocoracoid ligament
  • Costoclavicular ligament of the axilla

Arteries Above

  • Subscapularis (medial to)
  • Circumflex (out of the subscapularis)
  • Thoracodorsal (below the subscapularis)
  • Anterior humeral circumflex

Posterior Arteries

  • Suprascapular artery
  • Brachial artery (under the arm)
  • Dorsal scapular artery
  • Posterior humeral circumflex artery

Armpit Muscles

  • Deltoid
  • Biceps brachii
  • Coracobrachialis
  • Triceps brachii
  • Teres major
  • Latissimus dorsi
  • Serratus anterior

Veins

  • Cephalic vein (above)
  • Basilic vein (below)
  • Medial brachial vein (medial, back of the basilic vein)

Axillary Artery Branches

  • Axillary artery
  • Brachial artery
  • Deep brachial artery
  • Thoracodorsal artery
  • Thoracic artery

Nerves

  • Phrenic nerve (neck, under the omohyoid muscle)
  • Musculocutaneous nerve (medial to the anterior axilla)
  • Axillary nerve
  • Radial nerve
  • Ulnar nerve
  • Lower subscapular nerve
  • Intercostobrachial nerve
  • Median nerve

Arm Nerves

  • Median nerve
  • Brachial artery
  • Medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve
  • Ulnar nerve (medial, lateral to all)

Forearm Muscles (Deep)

  • Supinator
  • Pronator quadratus
  • Anconeus
  • Brachioradialis
  • Extensor carpi radialis longus
  • Extensor carpi radialis brevis
  • Flexor carpi ulnaris
  • Extensor pollicis longus
  • Abductor pollicis longus
  • Abductor pollicis brevis

Forearm Muscles (Superficial)

  • Extensor carpi radialis longus
  • Extensor carpi radialis brevis
  • Extensor carpi ulnaris
  • Extensor digitorum
  • Abductor pollicis longus
  • Abductor pollicis brevis

More Superficial Forearm Muscles

  • Extensor digitorum
  • Extensor digiti minimi
  • Extensor indicis

Lateral Superficial Muscles

  • Triceps brachii
  • Brachioradialis
  • Extensor carpi radialis longus
  • Extensor carpi radialis brevis
  • Extensor digitorum
  • Extensor digiti minimi (more medial)
  • Adductor longus

Superficial Medial Muscles

  • Anconeus
  • Flexor carpi ulnaris
  • Extensor carpi ulnaris

Hand Anatomy (Cross-Section)

A cross-section of the hand reveals:

  • Hypothenar muscles
  • Lumbrical muscles
  • Tendons
  • Digital arteries and nerves
  • Adductor pollicis muscle
  • Palmar interosseous fascia
  • Interosseous palmar muscles
  • Interosseous dorsal muscles
  • Extensor tendons

Lower Limb Anatomy

Anterior Muscles

  • Iliacus muscle
  • Psoas major muscle
  • Gluteus medius muscle
  • Iliopsoas muscle
  • Tensor fascia lata
  • Pectineus muscle
  • Adductor longus muscle
  • Gracilis muscle
  • Sartorius muscle
  • Rectus femoris muscle
  • Vastus lateralis muscle
  • Vastus medialis muscle

Medial Thigh Muscles (Anterior and Deep)

  • Pectineus muscle
  • Adductor longus muscle
  • Adductor brevis muscle
  • Gracilis muscle
  • Obturator externus muscle
  • Quadratus femoris muscle
  • Adductor magnus muscle

Muscles (Side View)

  • Iliopsoas
  • Pectineus
  • Adductor brevis
  • Vastus intermedius
  • Adductor longus
  • Vastus medialis
  • Vastus lateralis

Muscles (Medial to Lateral, Posterior Superior)

  • Gluteus maximus
  • Gracilis
  • Adductor magnus
  • Semitendinosus
  • Biceps femoris
  • Iliotibial band
  • Semimembranosus
  • Gastrocnemius
  • Popliteus
  • Soleus

Deeper Muscles

  • Gluteus medius
  • Gluteus minimus
  • Piriformis
  • Superior gemellus
  • Inferior gemellus
  • Obturator internus
  • Quadratus femoris
  • Semitendinosus
  • Adductor magnus
  • Semimembranosus

Nerves

The femoral nerve becomes the saphenous nerve in the mid-thigh.

Arteries and Veins (Medial Thigh)

  • External iliac artery and vein
  • Femoral artery and vein
  • Deep femoral artery
  • Descending genicular artery

Arteries (Side View)

  • Deep iliac circumflex artery
  • Lateral femoral circumflex artery
  • Medial femoral circumflex artery
  • Deep femoral artery

Nerves

  • Superior gluteal artery and nerve
  • Superior cluneal nerves
  • Medial cluneal nerves
  • Inferior gluteal artery and nerve
  • Pudendal nerve
  • Ischial nerve
  • Patellar nerve
  • Sural nerve
  • Popliteal nerve
  • Posterior femoral cutaneous nerve