Anatomy of the Forearm

Bones of the Forearm

• ULNA
• stabilizing bone
• medial and longer
• tapers from above
• short styloid process

• RADIUS
• lateral and shorter
• wider below than above
• long styloid process
Flexor and Extensor Muscles of
the Forearm
 Contents of the Anterior Fascial
Compartment of the Forearm
■ Muscles:
• superficial group: pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis,
palmaris longus, and the flexor carpi ulnaris
• intermediate group: flexor digitorum superficialis
• deep group: flexor pollicis longus, flexor digitorum
profundus and pronator quadratus
■ Blood supply to the muscles: Ulnar and radial arteries
■ Nerve supply to the muscles: Median nerve and Ulnar nerve
 Contents of the Lateral Fascial
Compartment of the Forearm

■ Muscles: Brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis longus

■ Blood supply: Radial and brachial arteries
■ Nerve supply: Radial Nerve
Contents of the Posterior Fascial Compartment
of the Forearm

■ Muscles:
superficial group: extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor
digitorum, extensor digiti minimi, extensor carpi ulnaris, and
anconeus.
Common attachment: lateral epicondyle of the humerus.
deep group: supinator, abductor pollicis longus, extensor
pollicis brevis, extensor pollicis longus and extensor indicis.
■ Blood supply: Posterior and anterior interosseous arteries
■ Nerve supply to the muscles: Deep branch of the radial
nerve
ULNAR ARTERY

• Pulsations of the ulnar artery can be palpated on the lat-

eral side of the FCU tendon, where it lies anterior to the
ulnar head. The ulnar nerve is on the medial side of the
ulnar artery.
• Branches of the ulnar artery arising in the forearm
participate in the peri-articular anastomoses of the elbow
and supply muscles of the medial and central forearm, the
common flexor sheath, and the ulnar and median nerves.
RADIAL ARTERY

• The pulsations of the radial artery can be felt throughout the

forearm, making it useful as an anterolateral demarcation of
the flexor and extensor compartments of the forearm.
• It lies on muscle until it reaches the distal part of the
forearm. Here it lies on the anterior surface of the radius and
is covered by only skin and fascia, making this an ideal
location for checking the radial pulse.
MEDIAN NERVE IN FOREARM

• The median nerve is the principal nerve of the anterior

compartment of the forearm.
• It supplies muscular branches directly to the muscles of the
superficial and intermediate layers of forearm flexors (except
the FCU), and deep muscles (except for the medial [ulnar]
half of the FDP) via its branch.
ULNAR NERVE IN FOREARM
• It supplies only one and a half muscles, the FCU (as it enters
the forearm and the ulnar part of the FDP, which sends
tendons to the 4th and 5th digits.
• The ulnar nerve and artery emerge from beneath the FCU
tendon and become superficial just proximal to the wrist.
They pass superficial to the flexor retinaculum and enter the
hand by passing through a groove between the pisiform and
the hook of the hamate.
RADIAL NERVE IN FOREARM

• It serves motor and sensory functions in both the arm and

the forearm (but only sensory functions in the hand).
• It divides into these terminal branches as it appears in the
cubital fossa, anterior to the lateral epicondyle of the
humerus, between the brachialis and the brachioradialis.