Upper Limb Muscles

The upper limb refers to the entire upper extremity in the human body, including shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers. So, all the muscles in this region are grouped as the upper limb or upper extremity muscles.

There are over 40 distinct muscles in the upper limb on each side, divided into the following groups:

• Shoulder Muscles
• Upper Arm Muscles
• Forearm Muscles
  
• Hand Muscles

These muscles are responsible for all movements of the upper extremity in the human body, from the smallest quiver of a finger to the biggest actions of the arm, like weightlifting.

Name, Location, and Anatomy of the Upper Limb Muscles

Name	Origin	Insertion	Function	Innervation	Artery
Shoulder Muscles (6)
Deltoid	— Anterior: Lateral end of clavicle — Lateral: The upper surface and lateral margin of the acromion — Posterior: Lateral one-third of the scapular spine	The deltoid tuberosity of the humerus	Flexion, rotation,  abduction, and extension of the arm	Axillary nerve (C5-C6)	Thoracoacromial artery, subscapular artery, deep brachial artery, and the circumflex humeral arteries
Teres major	The inferior angle of the scapula	The bicipital groove of the humerus	Extension, adduction, and medial rotation of the arm at the shoulder	Lower subscapular nerve (C5-C7)	Subscapular artery and posterior circumflex humeral artery
— Rotator Cuff Muscles (4)
— Supraspinatus	Supraspinous fossa of scapula	Superior aspect of the greater tubercle of humerus	Abduction of the arm (at 0-15°), stabilizing the shoulder joint	Suprascapular nerve (C5-C6)	Suprascapular artery
— Infraspinatus	Infraspinous fossa of scapula	The greater tubercle of humerus	Lateral rotation of the arm	Suprascapular nerve (C5-C6)	Suprascapular artery and circumflex scapular artery
— Teres minor	Upper 2/3rd of the lateral border of the scapula	Inferior aspect of the greater tubercle of humerus	Lateral rotation of the arm	Axillary nerve (C5-C6)	Subscapular, circumflex scapular, and posterior circumflex humeral arteries
— Subscapularis	Subscapular fossa of the scapula	Lesser tubercle of the humerus	Medial rotation of the arm	Upper and lower subscapular nerves (C5-C6)	Suprascapular, axillary, and subscapular arteries
Arm Muscles (Upper Arm Muscles) (5)
Anterior Compartment (3)
Coracobrachialis	Coracoid process of the scapula	Medial aspect of the body of humerus	Flexion and adduction of the arm at the shoulder	Musculocutaneous nerve (C5-C7)	Brachial artery
Biceps brachii	— Short head: Coracoid process (tip) of scapula — Long head: Supraglenoid tubercle of scapula	Radial tuberosity and forearm’s deep fascia	Flexion and supination of the forearm	Musculocutaneous nerve (C5-C6)	Brachial artery
Brachialis	Anterior aspect of the distal humerus	Ulnar tuberosity and anterior aspect of ulna’s coronoid process	Flexion of the forearm	Musculocutaneous nerve (C5-C6)	Brachial and radial recurrent arteries
Posterior Compartment (2)
Triceps brachii	— Long head: Infraglenoid tubercle of scapula — Lateral head: Posterior aspect of humerus, above the radial groove— Medial head: below the radial groove	Olecranon of the ulna	Extension of the forearm at the elbow joint	Radial nerve (C6-C8)	Recurrent interosseous, and deep brachial arteries
Anconeus	Dorsal aspect of the lateral epicondyle of humerus	Olecranon and the posterior dorsal aspect of ulna	Extension of the forearm	Radial nerve (C6-C8)	Recurrent interosseous, and deep brachial arteries
Forearm Muscles (19)
Anterior Compartment (8)
Superficial Anterior Forearm Muscles (5)
Pronator teres	— Humeral head: Medial supracondylar ridge of humerus — Ulnar head: Coronoid process of ulna	Lateral aspect of radius	Pronation of the forearm	Median nerve (C6-C7)	Ulnar, radial, and brachial arteries
Flexor carpi radialis	The common flexor tendon	The base of the 2nd and 3rd metacarpals	Flexion and abduction of the hand at the wrist	Median nerve (C6-C7)	Ulnar artery
Palmaris longus	The common flexor tendon	The flexor retinaculum, and palmar aponeurosis	Flexion of the wrist, and tightening the palmar aponeurosis	Median nerve (C7-C8)	Ulnar artery
Flexor carpi ulnaris	— Humeral head: The common flexor tendon— Ulnar head: Olecranon of ulna	Pisiform, hook of hamate, 5th metacarpal base	Flexion and adduction of the hand at the wrist	Ulnar nerve (C7-T1)	Ulnar artery
Flexor digitorum superficialis	— Humeroulnar head: The common flexor tendon,  coronoid process of ulna, and ulnar collateral ligament — Radial head: Upper anterior border of the radius	The base of 2nd to 5th middle phalanges	Flexion of the 2nd to 5th proximal interphalangeal and metacarpophalangeal joints	Median nerve (C7-T1)	Ulnar artery
Deep Anterior Forearm Muscles (3)
Pronator quadratus	Anterior side of the distal ulna	Anterior side of the distal radius	Pronation of the forearm	Anterior interosseous nerve (C8-T1)	Anterior interosseous artery
Flexor digitorum profundus	Proximal 3/4 of the ulna and adjacent interosseous membrane	Base of the 2nd to 5th distal phalanges	Flexion of the 2nd-5th distal and proximal interphalangeal, and metacarpophalangeal joints	Anterior interosseous nerve (C8-T1) and ulnar nerve (C8-T1)	Ulnar artery
Flexor pollicis longus	Anterior aspect of the radius and adjacent interosseous membrane	The palmar surface of the thumb’s distal phalangeal base	Flexion of the 1st interphalangeal joint (thumb)	Anterior interosseous nerve (C8-T1)	Anterior interosseous artery
Posterior Compartment (11)
Superficial Posterior Forearm Muscles (6)
Extensor digitorum	The common extensor tendon (lateral epicondyle of humerus)	The extensor expansion of 2nd-5th digits	Extension of the 2nd-5th distal and proximal interphalangeal, and metacarpophalangeal joints	Posterior interosseous nerve (C7-C8)	Posterior interosseous, anterior interosseous, and radial recurrent arteries
Extensor digiti minimi	The common extensor tendon (lateral epicondyle of humerus)	The extensor expansion of the 5th digit	Extension of the 5th distal and proximal interphalangeal, and metacarpophalangeal joints	Posterior interosseous nerve (C7-C8)	Posterior interosseous artery
Extensor carpi ulnaris	The common extensor tendon (lateral epicondyle of humerus), and posterior ulna	Dorsal aspect of the 5th metacarpal’s base	Extension and adduction of the wrist	Posterior interosseous nerve (C7-C8)	Ulnar artery and posterior interosseous artery
— Mobile Wad Muscles (3)
— Brachio-radialis	Lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus	Styloid process on distal radius	Flexion and pronation of the forearm	Radial nerve (C5-C6)	Radial recurrent artery
— Extensor carpi radialis longus	Distal 1/3rd of the lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus	Dorsal aspect of the 2nd metacarpal’s base	Extension and abduction of the wrist	Radial nerve (C6-C7)	Radial artery
— Extensor carpi radialis brevis	The common extensor tendon (lateral epicondyle of humerus)	Posterior aspect of the 3rd metacarpal’s base	Extension and abduction of the wrist	Deep radial nerve (C7-C8)	Radial artery
Deep Posterior Forearm Muscles (5)
Supinator	Lateral epicondyle of humerus, supinator crest of ulna	Posterior aspect of the radius	Supination of the forearm	Posterior interosseous nerve (C7-C8)	Radial recurrent artery and posterior interosseous artery
Extensor indicis	Posterior aspect of distal ulna	Extensor hood of the 2nd digit (index finger)	Extension of the 2nd digit	Posterior interosseous nerve (C7-C8)	Posterior interosseous artery
Abductor pollicis longus	Posterior aspects of the ulna and radius, along with the adjacent interosseous membrane	Base of the 1st metacarpal (thumb)	Extension and abduction of the 1st carpometacarpal joint	Posterior interosseous nerve (C7-C8)	Posterior interosseous artery
Extensor pollicis brevis	Posterior aspect of the distal end of radius	Posterior aspect of the 1st proximal phalangeal base	Extension of the 1st carpometacarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints	Posterior interosseous nerve (C7-C8)	Posterior interosseous artery
Extensor pollicis longus	Posterior aspect of ulna, and the adjacent interosseus membrane	Posterior aspect of the 1st distal phalangeal base	Extension of the metacarpophalangeal and  interphalangeal joints of the 1st digit (thumb)	Posterior interosseous nerve (C7-C8)	Posterior and anterior interosseous arteries
Hand Muscles (11)
Lateral Volar Muscles (4)
— Thenar Muscles (3)
— Opponens pollicis	The tubercle of trapezium and attached flexor retinaculum	Radial aspect of the 1st metacarpal	Assisting in thumb opposition	Recurrent branch of median nerve (C8-T1)	Superficial palmar branch of radial artery
— Flexor pollicis brevis	— Superficial head: Tubercle of trapezium and adjascent flexor retinaculum— Deep head (if present): Trapezoid and capitate	Radial aspect of the 1st proximal phalangeal base	Flexion of the 1st metacarpophalangeal joint (thumb)	Recurrent branch of the median nerve (C8-T1) and Deep branch of ulnar nerve	Superficial palmar branch of radial artery
— Abductor pollicis brevis	The flexor retinaculum, and the scaphoid and trapezium bones	Lateral aspect of the 1st proximal phalangeal base	Abduction of the 1st carpometacarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints (thumb)	Recurrent branch of the median nerve (C8-T1)	Superficial palmar branch of radial artery
Adductor pollicis	— Oblique head: 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bases and the capitate bone— Transverse head: Palmar side on the shaft of 3rd metacarpal	1st proximal phalangeal base	Adduction of the 1st carpometacarpal joint (thumb)	Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8-T1)	Deep palmar arch
Medial Volar Muscles (4)
— Hypothenar Muscles (3)
— Abductor digiti minimi	Pisiform bone	Ulnar aspect of the 5th proximal phalangeal base	Abduction of the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint (little finger)	Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8-T1)	Ulnar artery
— Flexor digiti minimi brevis	Hook of hamate and the adjacent flexor retinaculum	Ulnar aspect of the 5th proximal phalangeal base	Flexion of the 5th metacarpophalangeal joint (little finger)	Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8-T1)	Deep palmar branch of ulnar artery
— Opponens digiti minimi	Hook of hamate and the adjacent flexor retinaculum	Ulnar aspect of the 5th proximal phalanx	Opposition and rotation of the  5th carpometacarpal joint (little finger)	Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8-T1)	Deep palmar branch of ulnar artery
Palmaris brevis	Flexor retinaculum and palmar aponeurosis	The skin covering the ulnar side of the palm	Strengthening the palmar grip	Superficial branch of ulnar nerve (C8-T1)	Superficial palmar arch
Intermediate Volar Muscles (3)
Lumbricals	Flexor digitorum profundus muscle	Extensor expansion of 2nd to 5th digits	Flexion of the 2nd to 5th metacarpophalangeal joints, and extension of the same interphalangeal joints	Digital branches of median nerve (C8-T1), and deep branches of ulnar nerve (C8-T1)	Dorsal metacarpal, dorsal digital, and common palmar digital arteries
Dorsal interossei	— Medial head: Base of the 1st-4th metacarpals— Lateral head: Radial border of the 2nd-5th metacarpal	Base of the 1st-3rd proximal phalanges and the adjacent extensor expansion	Abduction and flexion of the 2nd-5th metacarpophalangeal joint and extension of the  2nd-5th interphalangeal joints	Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8-T1)	Dorsal, and palmar metacarpal arteries
Palmar interossei	1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th metacarpals	Base of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th proximal phalanges the adjacent extensor expansion	Adduction and flexion of the 2nd-5th metacarpophalangeal joints, and extension of the 2nd-5th interphalangeal joints	Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8-T1)	Palmar metacarpal arteries

In addition to the above, the muscles in the chest or pectoral region play a vital role in connecting the upper limbs to the torso. These mainly include the pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, serratus anterior, and subclavius. Despite being included in the group of chest muscles, these are essential for the proper movement and functioning of many upper limb muscles.

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