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Anth 300 Forensic Anthropology
Dr. Darlene Applegate
Spring 2008
LAB 5:  UPPER LIMB

INTRODUCTION

This is the fifth of six labs in which you will learn the bones of the human body.  This lab focuses on the bones of the upper limbs.  The bones you will learn are humerus, ulna, radius, carpus, metacarpus, and phalanges.

One of the best ways to learn the bones is to draw them and label the landmarks.  Using the textbook and lab manual as well as reference books available in the lab (e.g., White's Human Osteology and Bass' Human Osteology), you will draw and label the upper limb bones.
 

OBJECTIVES


READINGS


TERMS

In addition to the bones and features you will label on your drawings, you should understand the meanings of the following terms.

You also need to know how many carpus (n=8), proximal phalanges (n=5), medial phalanges (n=4), and distal phalanges (n=5) there are in each hand.
 

INSTRUCTIONS

Closely examine the limb bones laid out in the lab, being sure to handle the bones gently and to keep the bones with their labels. 

You will draw and label the bones and features to the best of your ability. 

Use the textbook, lab manual, and other reference books to assist in identifying and labeling your drawings.

Clearly indicate the bone name, the view, and the side for each drawing.  For example, RIGHT HUMERUS, ANTERIOR VIEW. 

Remember to put the proximal end of the bone at the top of your page, make large drawings of the bones, show adequate detail, and put the drawings in order.

Draw the two views of the humerus on separate pieces of paper.

Draw the ulna and radius on separate pieces of paper.

Label each phalanx separately and appropriately.

On the drawings, use one color to label the bone features (terms and arrows) and another color to label the directional terms (terms only, no arrows needed).

Note that the head of the ulna is at the distal end and the head of the radius is at the proximal end!

UPPER LIMB BONES AND FEATURES
 

BONE VIEW FEATURES
one color
 DIRECTIONAL TERMS
second color
humerus anterior
  • head
  • diaphysis
  • greater tubercle
  • lesser tubercle
  • deltoid tuberosity
  • nutrient foramen
  • coronoid fossa or foramen
  • medial epicondyle
  • lateral epicondyle
  • trochlea
  • capitulum
    • medial side
    • lateral side
    • proximal end
    • distal end





    humerus




    posterior
    • head
    • diaphysis
    • greater tubercle
    • olecranon fossa or foramen*
    • medial epicondyle
    • lateral epicondyle
    • trochlea
    • capitulum

        * some bones have a depression
           (fossa) while others have a hole
           (foramen); draw and label your
           specimen appropriately
    • medial side
    • lateral side
    • proximal end
    • distal end
    ulna  anterior
  • olecranon process
  • lunate surface
  • coronoid process
  • radial notch
  • ulnar tuberosity
  • diaphysis
  • nutrient foramen
  • head
  • styloid process
    		•
    • medial side
    • lateral side
    • proximal end
    • distal end
    radius anterior
  • head
  • diaphysis
  • radial tuberosity
  • nutrient foramen
  • ulnar notch
  • styloid process
    		•
    • medial side
    • lateral side
    • proximal end
    • distal end
    hand palmar
  • carpus
  • navicular
  • lunate
  • triquetral
  • pisiform
  • greater multangular
  • lesser multangular
  • capitate
  • hamate
  • metacarpus
  • MC1, MC2, MC3, MC4, MC5
  • proximal phalanges (label each!)
  • medial phalanges (label each!)
  • distal phalanges (label each!)
    		•
    • medial side
    • lateral side

     
    TIPS FOR SIDING ARM BONES
     

    BONE TIPS FOR SIDING
    humerus
  • the head is proximal
  • most of the head is posterior
  • the head points to medial side
  • the nutrient foramen is on the anterior surface and points down (distal)
  • the coronoid fossa is anterior
  • the olecranon fossa is posterior
  • the deltoid tuberosity points to lateral side
    		•
    ulna
  • the larger end is proximal
  • the smaller end is distal
  • the articular surfaces for the humerus (proximal end) face anterior
  • the nutrient foramen is anterior and points up (proximal)
  • the radial notch is on the lateral side
    		•
    radius
  • the smaller rounded end is proximal
  • the larger end is distal
  • the nutrient foramen is anterior
  • the radial tuberosity is on the medial side
  • the styloid process is on the lateral side
    		•
     
     
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    Last updated on January 21, 2008
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