A comprehensive guide to Appendicular Skeleton
The appendicular skeleton is composed of the bones that form the upper and lower extremities of the body, as well as the girdles that connect them to the axial skeleton. The upper extremity consists of the shoulder girdle, arm, forearm, wrist, and hand. The lower extremity consists of the pelvic girdle, thigh, leg, ankle, and foot. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss the anatomy, function, and clinical significance of the appendicular skeleton.
Anatomy:
Shoulder Girdle:
The shoulder girdle is composed of the clavicle and scapula bones, which connect the upper extremity to the axial skeleton. The clavicle is an S-shaped bone that connects the sternum to the scapula, and its function is to provide stability and support to the shoulder joint. The scapula is a flat, triangular bone that sits on the posterior aspect of the ribcage and provides attachment points for several muscles of the upper extremity.
Arm:
The arm is composed of a single bone, the humerus, which extends from the shoulder to the elbow. The humerus is the largest bone in the upper extremity and serves as the attachment site for several muscles that move the arm and forearm.
Forearm:
The forearm is composed of two bones, the radius and ulna, which extend from the elbow to the wrist. The radius is located on the lateral aspect of the forearm and allows for rotational movement of the forearm, while the ulna is located on the medial aspect of the forearm and provides stability and support to the wrist.
Wrist:
The wrist is composed of eight small bones known as carpal bones, which are arranged in two rows. The carpal bones articulate with the radius and ulna to provide flexibility and stability to the wrist joint.
Hand:
The hand is composed of five metacarpal bones that form the palm of the hand and 14 phalanges that form the fingers. The metacarpal bones articulate with the carpal bones to form the wrist joint, while the phalanges allow for movement of the fingers.
Pelvic Girdle:
The pelvic girdle is composed of two hip bones, which connect the lower extremity to the axial skeleton. The hip bones are large, irregularly shaped bones that articulate with the sacrum to form the pelvic region.
Thigh:
The thigh is composed of a single bone, the femur, which extends from the hip to the knee. The femur is the largest and strongest bone in the body and serves as the attachment site for several muscles that move the leg and foot.
Leg:
The leg is composed of two bones, the tibia and fibula, which extend from the knee to the ankle. The tibia is the larger of the two bones and provides support and stability to the leg, while the fibula is located on the lateral aspect of the leg and serves as the attachment site for several muscles of the leg and foot.
Ankle:
The ankle is composed of seven tarsal bones that articulate with the tibia and fibula to form the ankle joint. The ankle joint allows for dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the foot.
Foot:
The foot is composed of five metatarsal bones that form the sole of the foot and 14 phalanges that form the toes. The metatarsal bones articulate with the tarsal bones to form the ankle joint, while the phalanges allow for movement of the toes.
Function:
The appendicular skeleton serves several important functions in the body. It allows for movement and locomotion, supports the body’s weight, and protects vital organs. The shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle provide stability and support to the upper and lower
Some academic References
Moore, K.L., & Dalley, A.F. (2018). Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. https://www.amazon.com/Clinically-Oriented-Anatomy-Keith-Moore/dp/1496347219
Standring, S. (Ed.). (2016). Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Elsevier. https://www.elsevier.com/books/grays-anatomy/standring/978-0-7020-6851-5
Tortora, G.J., & Derrickson, B. (2017). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. John Wiley & Sons. https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Principles+of+Anatomy+and+Physiology%2C+15th+Edition-p-9781119238226
Marieb, E.N. (2018). Human Anatomy & Physiology. Pearson. https://www.pearson.com/us/higher-education/program/Marieb-Human-Anatomy-and-Physiology-11th-Edition/PGM325288.html
Netter, F.H. (2014). Atlas of Human Anatomy. Elsevier. https://www.elsevier.com/books/atlas-of-human-anatomy/netter/978-1-4557-0418-7
Snell, R.S. (2018). Clinical Anatomy by Regions. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. https://www.amazon.com/Clinical-Anatomy-Regions-Richard-Snell/dp/149634564X
Agur, A.M.R., & Dalley, A.F. (2017). Grant’s Atlas of Anatomy. Wolters Kluwer. https://www.wklegaledu.com/aguatlas
Moore, K.L., & Agur, A.M.R. (2018). Essential Clinical Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Clinical-Anatomy-Keith-Moore/dp/1496369675
Ross, L.M., & Pawlina, W. (2019). Histology: A Text and Atlas. Wolters Kluwer. https://www.lww.com/Products/Ross-s-Histology-Text-and-Atlas
Standring, S. (Ed.). (2019). Gray’s Anatomy Review. Elsevier. https://www.elsevier.com/books/grays-anatomy-review/standring/978-0-7020-7199-7
Wiki Hyphen Website | Updates 9th March 2023 | Link: https://www-wiki.com/Appendicular-Skeleton