Forearm
Upper limb, forearm pronated. The forearm is the part of the upper limb between the elbow and the wrist. In Human anatomy, the upper limb (also upper extremity) refers to what in common English is known as the arm, that is the region of the shoulder The elbow is the region surrounding the elbow-joint&mdashthe ginglymus or Hinge joint in the middle of the Arm. In Human anatomy, the wrist is the flexible and narrower connection between the Forearm and the palm.
Latin	antebrachium
MeSH	Forearm
Dorlands/Elsevier	a_45/12138967

The forearm is the structure on the upper limb, between the elbow and the wrist. In Human anatomy, the upper limb (also upper extremity) refers to what in common English is known as the arm, that is the region of the shoulder The elbow is the region surrounding the elbow-joint&mdashthe ginglymus or Hinge joint in the middle of the Arm. In Human anatomy, the wrist is the flexible and narrower connection between the Forearm and the palm. ^[1]. This term is used in anatomy to distinguish it from the arm (or upper arm). Anatomy (from the Greek anatomia, from ana separate apart from and temnein, to cut up cut open is a branch of Biology that is the consideration

The human forearm

The forearm contains two long bones, the radius and the ulna, forming the radioulnar joint. Bones are rigid organs that form part of the Endoskeleton of Vertebrates They function to move support and protect the various organs of the body produce The radius is the Bone of the Forearm that extends from the lateral side of the elbow to the Thumb side of the Wrist. The ulna ( elbow bone) is a long bone prismatic in form placed at the medial side of the Forearm, parallel with the radius. The interosseous membrane connects these bones. An interosseous membrane is a broad and thin plane of fibrous tissue that separates many of the Bones of the body Ultimately, the forearm is covered by skin, the anterior surface usually being less hairy than the posterior surface.

The forearm contains many muscles, including the flexors and extensors of the digits, a flexor of the elbow (brachioradialis), and pronators and supinators that turn the hand to face down or upwards, respectively. Brachioradialis is a Muscle of the Forearm that acts to flex the forearm at the Elbow. In cross-section the forearm can be divided into two fascial compartments. On the Human body, the limbs can be divided into segments such as the Arm and the Forearm of the Upper limb, and the Thigh and the The posterior compartment contains the extensors of the hands, which are supplied by the radial nerve. The radial nerve is a Nerve in the human body that supplies the Triceps brachii muscle of the arm as well as all 12 muscles in the Posterior osteofascial compartment The anterior compartment contains the flexors, and is mainly supplied by the median nerve. The median nerve is a Nerve that runs down the Arm and Forearm. The ulnar nerve also runs the length of the forearm. In Human anatomy, the ulnar nerve is a nerve which runs near the Ulna bone

The radial and ulnar arteries, and their branches, supply the blood to the forearm. In Human anatomy, the radial artery is the main Blood vessel, with oxygenated Blood, of the lateral aspect of the Forearm. The ulnar artery is the main Blood vessel, with oxygenated Blood, of the Medial aspect of the Forearm. These usually run on the anterior face of the radius and ulna down the whole forearm. The main superficial veins of the forearm are the cephalic, median antebrachial and the basilic vein. In Human anatomy, the cephalic vein is a Superficial vein of the Upper limb. The median antebrachial vein drains the Venous plexus on the volar surface of the Hand. In Human anatomy, the basilic vein is a large Superficial vein of the Upper limb that helps drain parts of hand and Forearm. These veins can be used for cannularisation or venipuncture, although the cubital fossa is a preferred site for getting blood. In medicine venipuncture or venepuncture (also known as phlebotomy, venesection, blood draw, drawing blood or taking blood The cubital fossa is the triangular area on the anterior view of the Elbow joint of the Arm.

Anatomy

Bones

• radius
• ulna

Joints

• proximal to forearm
  • elbow
• in the forearm
  • proximal radioulnar joint
  • distal radioulnar joint
• distal to forearm
  • wrist

Muscles

See also: Muscle_table#Forearm

• "E/I" refers to "extrinsic" or "intrinsic". The radius is the Bone of the Forearm that extends from the lateral side of the elbow to the Thumb side of the Wrist. The ulna ( elbow bone) is a long bone prismatic in form placed at the medial side of the Forearm, parallel with the radius. The elbow is the region surrounding the elbow-joint&mdashthe ginglymus or Hinge joint in the middle of the Arm. The proximal radioulnar articulation (superior radioulnar joint is a trochoid or Pivot joint between the circumference of the Head of the radius and the ring formed The Distal Radioulnar Articulation ( inferior radioulnar joint) is a Pivot-joint formed between the head of the Ulna and the Ulnar notch on the In Human anatomy, the wrist is the flexible and narrower connection between the Forearm and the palm. This is a table of Muscles of the Human anatomy. There are approximately 640 Skeletal muscles within the typical human and almost every muscle constitutes one In Anatomy, flexor carpi radialis is a Muscle of the human Forearm that acts to flex and abduct the Hand. The palmaris longus is seen as a small tendon between the Flexor carpi radialis and the Flexor carpi ulnaris, although it is not always present The flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (FCU is a muscle of the human forearm that acts to flex and adduct the hand The pronator teres is a Muscle of the Human body (located mainly in the Forearm) that along with the Pronator quadratus, serves to pronate Flexor digitorum superficialis ( flexor digitorum sublimis) is an extrinsic flexor Muscle of the Fingers at the Proximal interphalangeal joints In Human anatomy, the flexor digitorum profundus is a Muscle in the Forearm that flexes the Fingers It is considered to be an Extrinsic The flexor pollicis longus is a muscle in the Forearm and Hand that flexes the thumb Pronator quadratus is a square shaped muscle on the distal Forearm that acts to Pronate (turn so the palm faces downwards the Hand. Brachioradialis is a Muscle of the Forearm that acts to flex the forearm at the Elbow. Extensor carpi radialis longus is one of the five main Muscles that control movement at the Wrist. The Extensor carpi radialis brevis is shorter and thicker than the longus, beneath which it is placed The Extensor digitorum ( Extensor digitorum communis) arises from the lateral epicondyle of the Humerus, by the common tendon from the intermuscular septa The extensor minimi digiti ( extensor digiti quinti proprius) is a slender muscle of the Forearm, placed on the ulnar side of the Extensor digitorum communis Extensor carpi ulnaris is a Muscle located in the human Forearm that acts to extend and adduct the Wrist. The Abductor pollicis longus lies immediately below the Supinator and is sometimes united with it The Extensor pollicis brevis lies on the medial side of and is closely connected with the Abductor pollicis longus. The Extensor pollicis longus is much larger than the Extensor pollicis brevis muscle the origin of which it partly covers The extensor indicis proprius (Extensor indicis is a narrow elongated muscle placed medial to and parallel with the Extensor pollicis longus. The supinator is a broad muscle curved around the upper third of the radius. The anconeus muscle is a small Muscle on the posterior aspect of the elbow joint In most cases, the extrinsic anterior muscles are flexors of the hand and wrist. The extrinsic muscles of the forearm act upon the hand and wrist. In most cases, the extrinsic anterior muscles are flexors, while the extrinsic posterior muscles are extensors.

• The Brachioradialis, flexor of the forearm, is unusual in that it is located in the posterior compartment, but it is actually in the anterior portion of the forearm.

Nerves

(See separate nerve articles for details on divisions proximal to the elbow and distal to the wrist; see Brachial plexus for the origins of the median, radial and ulnar nerves)

• Median nerve - principle nerve of the anterior compartment (PT, FCR, PL, FDS). The brachial Plexus is an arrangement of nerve fibers running from the spine formed by the Ventral rami of the lower cervical and upper thoracic nerve roots specifically The median nerve is a Nerve that runs down the Arm and Forearm. The pronator teres is a Muscle of the Human body (located mainly in the Forearm) that along with the Pronator quadratus, serves to pronate In Anatomy, flexor carpi radialis is a Muscle of the human Forearm that acts to flex and abduct the Hand. The palmaris longus is seen as a small tendon between the Flexor carpi radialis and the Flexor carpi ulnaris, although it is not always present Flexor digitorum superficialis ( flexor digitorum sublimis) is an extrinsic flexor Muscle of the Fingers at the Proximal interphalangeal joints
  • anterior interosseous nerve (supplies FPL, lat. The anterior interosseous nerve ( volar interosseous nerve) is a branch of the Median nerve that supplies the deep muscles on the front of the Forearm, except The flexor pollicis longus is a muscle in the Forearm and Hand that flexes the thumb 1/2 of FDP, PQ). In Human anatomy, the flexor digitorum profundus is a Muscle in the Forearm that flexes the Fingers It is considered to be an Extrinsic Pronator quadratus is a square shaped muscle on the distal Forearm that acts to Pronate (turn so the palm faces downwards the Hand.
• Radial nerve - supplies muscles of the posterior compartment (ECRL, ECRB). The radial nerve is a Nerve in the human body that supplies the Triceps brachii muscle of the arm as well as all 12 muscles in the Posterior osteofascial compartment Extensor carpi radialis longus is one of the five main Muscles that control movement at the Wrist. The Extensor carpi radialis brevis is shorter and thicker than the longus, beneath which it is placed
  • Superficial branch of radial nerve
  • Deep branch of radial nerve, becomes Posterior interosseus nerve and supplies muscles of the posterior compartment (ED, EDM, ECU, APL, EPB, EPL, EI). The superficial branch of the Radial nerve passes along the front of the radial side of the Forearm to the commencement of its lower third The deep branch of the Radial nerve winds to the back of the Forearm around the lateral side of the radius between the two planes of fibers of the Supinator The posterior interosseous nerve (or dorsal interosseous nerve) is a Nerve in the foream The Extensor digitorum ( Extensor digitorum communis) arises from the lateral epicondyle of the Humerus, by the common tendon from the intermuscular septa The extensor minimi digiti ( extensor digiti quinti proprius) is a slender muscle of the Forearm, placed on the ulnar side of the Extensor digitorum communis Extensor carpi ulnaris is a Muscle located in the human Forearm that acts to extend and adduct the Wrist. The Abductor pollicis longus lies immediately below the Supinator and is sometimes united with it The Extensor pollicis brevis lies on the medial side of and is closely connected with the Abductor pollicis longus. The Extensor pollicis longus is much larger than the Extensor pollicis brevis muscle the origin of which it partly covers The extensor indicis proprius (Extensor indicis is a narrow elongated muscle placed medial to and parallel with the Extensor pollicis longus.
• Ulnar nerve - supplies some medial muscles (FCU, med. In Human anatomy, the ulnar nerve is a nerve which runs near the Ulna bone The flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (FCU is a muscle of the human forearm that acts to flex and adduct the hand 1/2 of FDP). In Human anatomy, the flexor digitorum profundus is a Muscle in the Forearm that flexes the Fingers It is considered to be an Extrinsic

Vessels

Main article: Arterial tree of subclavian artery

• brachial artery
  • radial artery
    • radial recurrent artery
  • ulnar artery
    • pulmonary artery
    • anterior ulnar recurrent artery and posterior ulnar recurrent artery
    • common interosseous artery
      • posterior interosseous artery
      • anterior interosseous artery

Other structures

• interosseous membrane of the forearm
• annular ligament of ulna

Additional images

Superficial muscles of the forearm

Deep muscles of the forearm

Cross-section through the middle of the forearm. In Anatomy, arterial tree is used to refer to all Arteries and/or the branching pattern of the arteries The brachial artery is the major Blood vessel of the upper arm In Human anatomy, the radial artery is the main Blood vessel, with oxygenated Blood, of the lateral aspect of the Forearm. The radial recurrent artery arises from the Radial artery immediately below the elbow. The ulnar artery is the main Blood vessel, with oxygenated Blood, of the Medial aspect of the Forearm. The pulmonary arteries carry Blood from the Heart to the Lungs. The anterior ulnar recurrent artery arises immediately below the Elbow-joint, runs upward between the Brachialis and Pronator teres, supplies twigs to those The posterior ulnar recurrent artery is much larger than the Anterior ulnar recurrent artery, and arises somewhat lower than it The common interosseous artery, about 1 cm in length arises immediately below the Tuberosity of the radius. The posterior interosseous artery ( dorsal interosseous artery) is an Artery of the Forearm. The anterior interosseous artery ( volar interosseous artery) is an Artery of the arm The interosseous membrane of the forearm is a fibrous sheet that connects the Radius and the Ulna. The Annular Ligament ( orbicular ligament) is a strong band of fibers which encircles the head of the Radius, and retains it in contact with the Radial notch

References

1. ^ Forearm at eMedicine Dictionary

External links

• Forearm fractures