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Anterior Forearm Muscles Anatomy
Anterior Forearm Muscles Anatomy
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The anterior compartment of the forearm contains muscles mainly responsible for flexing the wrist and fingers, and for pronating the forearm (turning the palm down).
These muscles are organized into three layers:
Superficial layer: pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris
Intermediate layer: flexor digitorum superficialis
Deep layer: flexor digitorum profundus, flexor pollicis longus, pronator quadratus
Most of these muscles are supplied by the median nerve, except for the flexor carpi ulnaris and the medial half of flexor digitorum profundus, which are innervated by the ulnar nerve. Blood supply comes mainly from the ulnar and radial arteries.
Superficial Layer
Superficial Layer
The superficial layer of the anterior forearm is made up of four main muscles: the pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, and flexor carpi ulnaris. These muscles are closest to the surface and are mainly responsible for flexing the wrist and helping with forearm and hand movements.
Flexor Carpi Ulnaris
The flexor carpi ulnaris flexes and adducts (ulnar deviation) the wrist.
Origin: Medial epicondyle (humeral head) and olecranon (ulnar head).
Insertion: Pisiform, hook of hamate, base of 5th metacarpal.
Innervation: Ulnar nerve.
Palmaris Longus
The palmaris longus flexes the wrist and helps tighten the palmar fascia. It's absent in about 15% of people.
Origin: Medial epicondyle.
Insertion: Flexor retinaculum and palmar aponeurosis.
Innervation: Median nerve.
Flexor Carpi Radialis
The flexor carpi radialis flexes and abducts (radial deviation) the wrist.
Origin: Medial epicondyle.
Insertion: Bases of the 2nd and 3rd metacarpals.
Innervation: Median nerve.
Pronator teres
The pronator teres pronates the forearm and assists in elbow flexion.
Origin: Medial epicondyle and coronoid process of the ulna.
Insertion: Lateral surface of the radius.
Innervation: Median nerve.
Intermediate Layer
Intermediate Layer
The intermediate layer of the forearm contains only one muscle: flexor digitorum superficialis
The flexor digitorum superficialis flexes fingers at the proximal and metacarpophalangeal joints, and flexes the wrist.
Origin: Medial epicondyle (humeroulnar head) and radius (radial head).
Insertion: Middle phalanges of digits 2β5 (via four tendons).
Innervation: Median nerve.
Quick Reference Table: Muscle Name, Origin, Insertion & Innervation
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Deep Layer
Deep Layer
The deep layer of the anterior forearm contains three muscles: the flexor digitorum profundus, flexor pollicis longus, and pronator quadratus. These muscles lie beneath the superficial and intermediate layers and are mainly responsible for flexing the fingers and thumb, as well as pronating the forearm.
Flexor Digitorum Profundus
The flexor digitorum profundus flexes the distal finger joints and flexes the wrist.
Origin: Ulna and interosseous membrane.
Insertion: Distal phalanges of digits 2β5.
Innervation: Medial half (4th & 5th fingers): Ulnar nerve. Lateral half (2nd & 3rd fingers): Median nerve (AIN).
Flexor Pollicis Longus
The flexor pollicis longus flexes the thumb at both joints.
Origin: Anterior radius and interosseous membrane.
Insertion: Base of the distal phalanx of the thumb.
Innervation: Median nerve (AIN).
Pronator Quadratus
The pronator quadratus pronates the forearm.
Origin: Anterior ulna.
Insertion: Anterior radius.
Innervation: Median nerve (AIN).
Need a recap? Take a look at the Anterior Forearm Muscles anatomy notes here.
Need a recap? Take a look at the Anterior Forearm Muscles anatomy notes here.
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References
References
Gray, H. (2009). Anatomy of the human body, part 2 (LibriVox Volunteers, Narr.) [Audiobook]. LibriVox. https://librivox.org/anatomy-of-the-human-body-part-2-by-henry-gray/ (Original work published 1858)
J Gordon Betts, Desaix, P., Johnson, E., Johnson, J. E., Korol, O., Kruse, D., Poe, B., Wise, J., Womble, M. D., & Young, K. A. (2013). Anatomy & physiology. Openstax College, Rice University. https://openstax.org/details/books/anatomy-and-physiology
Based on OpenStax, Anatomy and Physiology (2013), licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology/pages/1-introduction.
Content paraphrased; adaptations were made.
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