Home

braccio

Braccio is the Italian noun for arm, the upper limb from the shoulder to the hand. In everyday use it denotes the upper limb of humans and many animals; in anatomy the term refers to the section between the shoulder and elbow, with the forearm called avambraccio and the wrist and hand forming the distal parts. The upper arm contains the humerus, the main bone, and upper-arm muscles such as the bicipiti brachiali and tricipiti brachiali, aided by the deltoid muscle at the shoulder. Nerve supply comes from the brachial plexus, and arterial supply from branches of the axillary and brachial arteries. The joints—the shoulder and the elbow—allow a wide range of movements, including flexion and extension at the elbow, rotation of the forearm, and various movements at the shoulder. Common injuries include fractures of the humerus, dislocations, and soft-tissue strains.

The term derives from Latin brachium (arm) and is cognate with medical terms such as brachial. In

Italian,
braccio
appears
in
expressions
and
terminology
such
as
braccio
di
ferro
(arm
wrestling)
and
braccio
meccanico
or
manipulator
arm
in
technical
contexts.
The
word
also
features
in
descriptive
phrases
like
braccio
destro
(right-hand
man)
to
denote
a
trusted
assistant.
Related
terms
include
avambraccio
(forearm)
and
braccia
(arms,
plural).