Upper limb

Upper limb
Front of right upper extremity.
Back of right upper extremity.
Latin	membrum superius
Gray's	subject #289 1325

In human anatomy, the upper limb (also upper extremity) refers to the region distal to the deltoid.^[1]

In formal usage, the term "arm" only refers to the structures from the shoulder to the elbow, explicitly excluding the forearm, and thus "upper limb" and "arm" are not synonymous. However, in casual usage, the terms are often used interchangeably. The term "upper arm" is redundant in anatomy, but in informal usage is used to distinguish between the two terms.

General structures

The upper limb includes the following structures:

• Shoulder
• Arm (proper) - in anatomy, the region between the shoulder and the elbow
• Elbow
• Forearm
• Wrist
• Hand

Note that anatomists use the term arm to denote only the region between the shoulder and the elbow. This is in contrast to the proper English definition.^{[citation needed]} Anatomists also use the term leg to refer to the region between the knee and the ankle. This, however, is the proper and traditional usage of the word, even though popular modern usage tends to include the thigh and foot in the definition.

Bones

The following bones are considered to be part of the upper limb:

• Clavicle - the only bone that directly articulates with the trunk
• Scapula
• Humerus
• Radius
• Ulna
• Carpal bones
• Metacarpals
• Phalanges

References

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