GROSS ANATOMY OF THE

FOREARM
A CAL package
designed byPratik Sinha
Revision Guide for second year
Medical Students

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Main Menu
Bones of the forearm.
Superficial muscles of the anterior compartment.
Deep muscles of the anterior compartment.
Arteries and nerves of the anterior compartment.
Superficial muscles of the posterior compartment.
Deep muscles of the posterior compartment.
Arteries and nerves of the posterior compartment.
Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements
Supervision

Dr John Humpherson

Anatomy Dissection Pictures

Gosling , Harris, Humpherson, Whitmore, Willan

Atlas of Human Anatomy, Gower Publishing, 1985

Anatomy Drawings

Richard Neave & Medical Illustration

Technical Help

Tony Bentley, Mike Mahon

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Bones of the forearm

Humerus
Head

Tuberosity
of radius
Ulna

Interosseous
membrane
Radius

Head

The radius proximally articulates

with the humerus at the elbow
joint. Distally it articulates with
the scaphoid and lunate bones of
the carpus, and with the ulna at
the distal radioulnar joint.
The ulna is the more medial of the
two bones. Its proximal end
articulates with the humerus at
the elbow joint. Distally it
articulates with the radius. It is
excluded from the wrist joint by
the articular disc.
The interosseous membrane bind
the radius and the ulna together.

Fig 1. Anterior view of bones of the forearm.

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Superficial muscles of the anterior

compartment. Title page.
The superficial muscles of the anterior
compartment include pronator teres,
flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, and
flexor carpi ulnaris. Also included in this
group is flexor digitorum superficialis. The
superficial group of muscles all have the
same origin, which is attached to the
medial epicondyle of the humerus.

1
2
Brachio-

radialis

FOR FURTHER DETAILS CLICK ON EACH INDIVIDUAL

MUSCLE BELOW.

1.

Pronator teres

2.

Flexor carpi radialis

3.

Flexor carpi ulnaris

4.

Flexor digitorum superficialis

Palmaris longus (not included in the diagram).

Fig 2. Showing superficial muscles of the

posterior compartment.

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Pronator Teres
The pronator teres has two heads, the humeral
head and the ulnar head. The median
nerve enters the forearm between the two
heads.
Origin :Humeral head- Medial epicondyle of the
humerus.
Ulnar head- Medial border of the
coronoid process of the ulna.

Pronator
teres

Radius

Insertion :Lateral aspect of the shaft of the radius.

Nerve supply :- Median nerve, C6 and C7.
Action :- Pronation of the forearm.
Flexion of the forearm.

Fig 3. Pronator teres.

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ge

Flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, and flexor

carpi ulnaris

Palmaris
longus
Pronator
teres
Flexor
carpi
ulnaris
Flexor
carpi
radialis

Fig 4. Flexor carpi radialis and ulnaris and palmaris longus

Flexor carpi radialis

Origin:- Medial epicondyle of the humerus.
Insertion:- Base of the second and third metacarpal bones.
Nerve supply:- Median nerve, C6 and C7.
Action:- Flexes the hand at the wrist joint.
Abducts the hand at the wrist joint.
Palmaris longus
Origin:- Medial epicondyle of the humerus.
Insertion:- Flexor retinaculum and palmar aponeurosis.
Nerve supply:- Median nerve, C7 and C8
Action:- Flexes the hand at wrist joint.
Flexor carpi ulnaris.
Origin:Humeral head- Medial epicondyle of the humerus.
Ulnar head- Medial aspect of the olecranon process of the
ulna and the posterior border of the ulna.
Insertion:- Pisiform bone, hook of the hamate, and base
of the fifth metacarpal bone.
Nerve supply:- The ulnar nerve, C7, C8, and T1.
Action:- Flexes the hand at wrist joint.
Adducts the hand at wrist joint

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Flexor digitorum superficialis.

Origin:Humeroulnar head: Medial epicondyle of the humerus and
the medial margin of the coronoid process of the
ulna.
Radial head: Rising from the oblique line on the anterior
surface of the shaft of the radius.
Flexor
digitorum
superficialis.

Insertion:- The muscle belly gives rise to four tendons

distally. Each of the tendon attaches to the sides of
the middle phalanx of the four medial finger.
Nerve supply:- Median nerve, C8 and T1.
Action:- Flexes the middle phalanx of fingers.
Flexes the proximal phalanx of fingers (weak).
Flexes the wrist.

Fig 5. Flexor digitorum superficialis.

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Deep Muscles of the anterior compartment.

Title page
Brachioradialis
(cut)

The deep muscles of the forearm comprise

of the flexor pollicis longus, flexor
digitorum profundus and pronator
quadratus.
1
2 1

For further details click on each of the individual

muscles.
Tendon of
carpi flexor
radialis (cut)

1. Flexor digitorum profundus.

2. Flexor pollicis longus.
Pronator quadratus not shown.
Fig 6. Deep muscles of the anterior
compartment.

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Flexor digitorum profundus and flexor pollicis

longus

Flexor
digitorum
profundus

Flexor
pollicis
longus

Flexor pollicis longus

Origin:- Middle of the anterior surface of the shaft of the
radius and from the adjoining part of the interosseous
membrane.
Insertion:- The tendon passes distally through the carpal
tunnel and attaches to the distal phalanx of the
thumb.
Nerve supply:- The anterior interosseous branch of the
median nerve.
Action:- Flexes the phalanges of the thumb.
Flexor digitorum profundus
Origin:- Upper three-quarters of the anteriomedial shaft of
the ulna.
Insertion:- The muscle divides into four tendons just prior
to traversing the carpal tunnel. They attach to the
distal phalanx of the four fingers.
Nerve supply:- The medial part is supplied by the ulnar
nerve, the lateral portion is supplied by the anterior
interosseous branch of the median nerve, C8 and T1.
Action:- Flexes the finger. Exclusive flexor of the distal
phalanx. Weak flexor of the wrist.

Pronator
quadratus

Fig 7. Flexor digitorum profundus and flexor

pollicis longus.

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Pronator Quadratus

Flexor
pollicis
longus

Flexor digitorum
profundus

Pronator
quadratus

Flexor
carpi
radialis
(cut)
Flexor
carpi
ulnaris
(cut)

Origin:- Lower quarter of the

anterior surface of the shaft of
the ulna.
Insertion:- Lower quarter of the
anterior surface of the shaft of
the radius.
Nerve supply:- The anterior
interosseous branch of the
median nerve.
Action:- Pronates the forearm.

Fig 8. Pronator quadratus.

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to title page

Arteries and Nerves of the anterior compartment.

Title page

Brachial
artery

Median
nerve

Ulnar
nerve
Radial
nerve
Ulnar
artery

Fig 9. Arteries and nerves of the

anterior compartment.

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Ulnar artery:- Larger than the radial artery. It passes

between the arch formed by the radial and ulnar
attachment of the flexor digitorum superficialis
and descends through the anterior
compartment. It enters the palm of the hand in
front of the flexor retinaculum, and promptly
divides in superficial and deep palmer
branches.
BranchesMuscular branches- to the muscles of the anterior
compartment.
Recurrent branches- to the anastomosis around the
wrist joint
Branches to the anastomosis around the wrist joint
Common interosseous artery- arises in the upper part
of the ulnar artery and then divides in the
anterior and posterior interosseous arteries.
Anterior interosseous artery:- arises from the
common interosseous artery and descends in
the anterior compartment to eventually join the
anastomosis around the wrist joint. It supplies
the deep flexor muscles, and gives off nutrient
branches to the the radius and ulna.

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Arteries and Nerves of the anterior compartment.

Radial
nerve

Brachial
artery
Median
nerve

Superficial
radial nerve

Ulnar
nerve
Ulnar
artery

Radial
artery

Median
nerve

Fig 10. Arteries and nerves of the

anterior compartment.

Posterior interosseous artery- arises from the

common interosseous artery and and enters the
posterior compartment.

Radial artery:- It begins in the cubital fossa when the

brachial artery divides into the radial and ulna artery.
It passes distally, travels under the brachioradialis,
resting on the deep flexor muscles. The artery briefly
travels on the lateral side of the radius, before
travelling over the anterior surface of the radius. The
artery then winds around the lateral aspect of the
wrist, before entering the palm of the hand to form
the deep palmer arch.
BranchesMuscular branches: to the neighbouring muscles.
Branches to the anastomosis around the wrist and elbow
joint.
Superficial palmer joint: arises just above the wrist,
frequently joins the ulnar artery to give rise to the
superficial palmer arch.

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Nerves of the anterior compartment

Median Nerve (fig 9, fig 10)

The median nerve leaves the cubital fossa in between the two heads of the pronator teres. It descends between the superficial and
deep flexor muscles. At the wrist it lies superficially, before entering the palm behind the flexor retinaculum.
Branches:Muscular branch:- all the superficial muscles of the anterior compartment except flexor carpi ulnaris.
Articular branches: to the elbow joint
Anterior interosseous nerve: arises from the median nerve as it emerges from the two heads of the pronator teres. (see below)
Palmer cutaneous Branch: Distributed to the skin over the lateral part of the palm.
Anterior interosseous nerve
It arises from the median nerve (see above) and then descends down the anterior surface of the interosseous membrane.
BranchesMuscular branches: all the muscles of deep flexion in the anterior compartment except the medial part of digitorum profundus.
Articular branches: to the wrist joint, the distal radioulnar joint, and the joints of the carpus.
Ulnar Nerve(fig9, fig 10)
The ulnar nerve passes behind the medial epicondyle and enters the forearm between the two heads of flexor carpi ulnaris. It
descends between the flexor carpi ulnaris and the flexor digitorum profundus. The ulnar nerve becomes superficial at the wrist,
before entering the palm in front of the flexor retinaculum.
BranchesMuscular branches: to the flexor carpi ulnaris and to the medial half of the flexor digitorum profundus.
Articular branches: to the elbow joint.
Palmar cutaneous branch: arises in the middle of the forearm, Supplies skin over the thenar eminence.
Dorsal cutaneous branch: arises in the distal third of the of the forearm, and passes medially to the dorsum of the hand.

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Superficial muscles of the posterior compartment.

Title page
Anconeus
3

The superficial muscles of the anterior compartment are mainly

concerned with the extension at wrist joint and of the digit. The
muscles in this group comprise of the Extensor carpi radialis brevis,
extensor digitorum, extensor digiti minimi, extensor carpi ulnaris,
and the two more lateral lying brachioradialis and extensor carpi
radialis longus.
NB- The anconeus also lies in the posterior compartment but is functionally
very different to the rest of the muscles in this group. Its action are
to aid the triceps in extension at the elbow joint.

Click below on each of the muscles for further detail

about each of the individual muscles.

1. Extensor carpi radialis longus

2. Extensor digitorum
3. Extensor carpi ulnaris
4. Extensor digiti minimi
Brachioradialis and extensor carpi brevis are not

included in the figure.

Fig 11. Superficial muscles of the posterior

compartment.

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Extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, and

extensor carpi ulnaris

Extensor carpi
radialis longus
Extensor carpi
radialis brevis
Extensor
carpi ulnaris

Fig 12. Extensor carpi radialis brevis and

longus and extensor carpi ulnaris.

Extensor carpi radialis longus

Origin:- From the lower third of the lateral supracondylar ridge of the
humerus.
Insertion:- Posterior surface of the base of the second metacarpal
bone.
Nerve supply:- Radial nerve, C6 and C7.
Action:- Extends and abducts the hand at the wrist joint.
Extensor carpi radialis brevis
Origin:- From the common tendon attached to the lateral epicondyle
of the humerus.
Insertion:- Posterior surface of the base of the third metacarpal bone.
Nerve supply:- Posterior interosseous nerve, C7 and C8.
Action:- Extends and abducts the hand at the wrist joint.
Extensor carpi ulnaris
Origin:- From the common tendon attached to the lateral epicondyle
of the humerus.
Insertion:- Posterior surface of the base of the fifth metacarpal bone.
Nerve supply:- Posterior interosseous nerve, C7 and C8
Action:- Extends and adducts the hand at wrist joint.

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age

Extensor digitorum and extensor digiti minimi

Extensor
digitorum

Extensor
digiti
minimi

Fig 13. Extensor digitorum and extensor

digiti minimi.

Extensor digitorum
Origin:- From the common tendon attached to the lateral
epicondyle of the humerus.
Insertion:- The muscle divides into four tendons which pass to
the fingers and form the dorsal expansion. On the dorsum
of the hand these are interconnected by fibrous tissue.
Near the proximal interphalangeal joint of each finger the
expansions divide into the central part, which inserts into
base of the middle phalanx, and the two lateral parts,
which insert into the base of the distal phalanx.
Nerve supply:- Posterior interosseous nerve, C7 and C8
Action:- Mainly it extends the metacarpophalangeal joint, but it
also assists in extending the proximal and distal
interphalangeal joint and the arm.
Extensor digiti minimi
Origin:- From the common tendon attached to the lateral
epicondyle of the humerus.
Insertion:- Via two tendons to the dorsal expansion for the little
finger.
Nerve supply:- Posterior interosseous nerve, C7 and C8
Action:- Assists in the extension of the little finger.

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Brachioradialis
Flexor carpi
radialis

Origin:- From the upper twp thirds of

the lateral supracondylar ridge of the
humerus.

Brachioradialis

Insertion:- Base of the styloid process of

the radius.

Extensor carpi
radialis longus

Nerve supply:- Radial nerve, C5 and

C6.

Extensor carpi
radialis brevis

Fig 14 Brachioradialis (lateral

view).

Action:- It flexes the forearm (despite

being being served by an extensor
nerve), assists in rotating or restoring
the arm into midprone position,
depending on the initial position.
Fig 15. Brachioradialis (anterior
view).

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Deep muscles in the posterior compartment. Title

page
1

The deep muscles of the fore arm consist of

three muscles that act on the thumb, the
extensor indicis and supinator. Except for
the supinator they all originate from only
the forearm bones.

3
5

For further details on each of the bones click on

the individual muscles.
1.

Supinator.
2. Abductor pollicis longus.
3. Extensor pollicis longus.
4. Extensor indicis.
5. Extensor pollicis brevis.
Fig 16. Deep muscles of the posterior compartment.

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Extensor pollicis longus and brevis, and abductor

pollicis longus
Abductor pollicis longus
Origin:- Middle of the posterior surface of the shaft of the ulna and
radius.
Insertion:- Posterior surface of the base of the first metacarpal
bone.
Nerve supply:- The posterior interosseous nerve, C7 and C8.
Action:- Abducts and extends the thumb.

Abductor pollicis
longus.
Extensor
pollicis longus
Extensor pollicis
brevis

Fig 17. Abductor pollicis longus, extensor

pollicis longus and brevis.

Extensor pollicis longus

Origin:- From the posterior surface of the ulna.
Insertion:- Posterior surface of the base of the distal phalanx of the
thumb.
Nerve supply:- The posterior interosseous nerve, C7 and C8.
Action:- Extends the thumb.
Extensor pollicis brevis
Origin:- Posterior surface of the radius.
Insertion:- Posterior surface of the proximal phalanx of the thumb
Nerve supply:- The posterior interosseous nerve, C7 and C8.
Action:- Extends the thumb.
Anatomical snuff box: medial boundary is the the tendon of the
extensor pollicis longus and the lateral boundary is the tendon
of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis.

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Supinator
Supinator
The supinator consists of oblique and a
transverse head.
Origin:Oblique head: From the lateral
epicondyle of the humerus and
collateral ligament of the elbow
joint.
Transverse head: Supinator crest of the
ulna.
Insertion:- Both heads wind laterally
around the proximal part of the
radius, attaching to the anterior
aspect of the radius.
Nerve supply:- Posterior interosseous
nerve, C6 and C7.

Transverse head

Oblique head

Action:- Supinates the forearm (mainly

assists as the biceps brachii is main
supinator of the forearm).

Fig 18. Supinator muscle

(anterior view).

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Extensor indicis
Origin:- Posterior surface of the
ulna.
Insertion:- Dorsal expansion of
the index finger
Nerve supply:- Posterior
interosseous nerve, C7 and
C8.

Extensor indicis

Action:- Extends the index

finger.

Fig 19. Extensor

pollicis

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e

Arteries and nerves in the posterior

compartment. Title page
Arteries

Oblique head

Posterior
interosseous
nerve

of supinator (cut)

Posterior
interosseous
artery

Extensor carpi
radialis brevis

Extensor
carpi ulnaris

Posterior interosseous artery:As discussed previously, in the cubital fossa,

the common interosseous artery divides in
the anterior and posterior interosseous
muscle. The posterior interosseous artery
lies between the superficial and deep
extensor muscles. It terminates by
anastomosing with the anterior interosseous
muscle and taking part in the anastomosis
around the wrist joint.
Branches:
Muscular branch- to the neighbouring muscles.
Recurrent branch- takes part in the anastomosis
around the wrist joint.
Anterior interosseous artery (discussed
earlier):Enters the posterior compartment in the
distal third of the forearm. Supplies branches
to neighbouring muscles.
Radial artery (discussed earlier)
Has branches that supply the muscles in the
lateral aspect of compartment.

Next

Fig 19. Posterior interosseous

artery and nerve.

Arteries and nerves in the posterior

compartment
Nerves
The posterior compartment of the arm is
supplied by branches of the radial nerve.
Posterior interosseous nerve (Deep
branch):
It arises from the radial nerve just in front of
the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. It
enters the posterior compartment in
between the two heads of the supinator.
Posteror
Branches:
interosseous Muscular branches: To most of the muscles of
nerve
the posterior compartment (see individual
muscles for detail).
Articular branches: To the elbow, wrist and
carpal joints.

Posteror
interosseous
artery

Radial nerve:
Branches:
Muscular branches: supply the brachioradialis
and the extensor carpi radialis longus.
Articular branches: To the elbow joint.

Fig 20. Posteror interosseous

artery and nerve

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