74 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 



the elbow and knee are hinge-joints, as are also the wrist and 

 ankle; but whereas in the wrist extension is limited, in the ankle 

 it is so free as to bend the top of the foot almost against the leg, 

 becoming dorsal flexion, and is actually called flexion of the ankle- 

 joint, the term extension being used to signify the act of straighten- 

 ing the foot in a line with the leg. 



The back of the hand and the top of the foot are both called 

 the dorsum; the face of the hand is the palm or volar surface, and 

 the sole of the foot is the plantar surface. The thumb is free; the 

 great toe is bound with the others. 



The following table of articular nerves is inserted in this place 

 for convenient reference, when, in the care of painful joint affec- 

 tions, the nurse may be interested to know the names of the par- 

 ticular nerves involved. 



NERVE SUPPLY TO THE PRINCIPAL JOINTS 



Temporo-mandibular. . . Fifth cranial or trifacial. 



Shoulder Suprascapular, subscapular, axillary. 



Elbow Musculo-cutaneous (principally). 



Wrist and hand Ulnar, median, deep branch of radial. 



Joints of spinal column. Spinal nerves. 



Hip Femoral, obturators, sciatic. 



Knee Femoral, obturator, tibial, peroneal. 



Ankle and foot Deep branch of peroneal, two plantar nerves. 



