Deep extensors of the forearm
The deep extensors of the forearm consist of five muscles located at the posterior side of the forearm. These muscles are: the supinator muscle, abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis, extensor pollicis longus and extensor indicis muscle.
They act on interphalangeal joints causing certain fingers to extend, but also act on the wrist joint causing its dorsal flexion. They are all innervated by the radial nerve, which is the branch of the brachial plexus. Their muscle bellies and tendons form the surface of the distal forearm and the wrist where they can be easily palpated.
This article will discuss the anatomy of the deep extensors of the forearm.
Deep extensors of the forearm |
Supinator Abductor pollicis longus Extensor pollicis brevis Extensor pollicis longus Extensor indicis |
Innervation | All are innervated by the radial nerve. |
Functions | Except for the supinator muscle that supinates the forearm, all the other muscles move the joints of the hand and fingers. |
Anatomy and supply
The following muscles are known to be the deep extensors.
Supinator muscle
The supinator muscle has a complex origin tendon arising from the lateral epicondyle of the humerus (superficial part) and the proximal ulna (deep part). Furthermore, it also attaches to the radial collateral ligament and radial annular ligament.
From there, the muscle curls dorsally around the neck of the radius and inserts at the anterior side between the radial tuberosity and the insertion of the pronator teres.
Origins | Lateral epicondyle of the humerus, crest of the ulna, supinator fossa, radial collateral and anular ligaments |
Insertions | Surface of the proximal third of the radial shaft |
Innervation | Deep branch of the radial nerve |
Function | Forearm supination |
Abductor pollicis longus muscle
This muscle originates at the posterior side of both the radius and ulna and the interosseous membrane and inserts at the base of the metacarpal bone of the thumb. Often the insertion tendon splits into two and additionally attaches to the trapezium.
Origins | posterior side of the proximal halves of the radius and ulna; interosseous membrane |
Insertions | base of the first metacarpal |
Innervation | posterior interosseous nerve |
Function | thumb abduction and extension at the carpometacarpal joint |
Extensor pollicis brevis muscle
The EPB begins more distally at the posterior side of the radius and the interosseous membrane and courses to the proximal phalanx of the thumb.
Origins | Posterior side of the distal third of the radius; interosseous membrane |
Insertions | Dorsal surface of the base of the proximal phalanx of the thumb |
Innervation | Posterior interosseous nerve |
Function | Extension of the proximal phalanx of the thumb at the metacarpophalangeal joint; extension of the carpometacarpal joint |
Extensor pollicis longus muscle
The EPL arises more medially at the posterior side of the ulna and the interosseous membrane and inserts at the base of the distal phalanx of the thumb. There, it forms the dorsal aponeurosis covering the thumb medially, laterally and dorsally. This sheet-like tendinous expansion serves mainly as an insertion point for muscles and ligaments (similar to the dorsal aponeurosis of the extensor digitorum).
Origins | Posterior side of the middle third of the ulna; interosseous membrane |
Insertions | Dorsal surface of the base of the distal phalanx of the thumb |
Innervation | Posterior interosseous nerve |
Function | Extension of the distal phalanx of the thumb at the interphalangeal joint; extension of the carpometacarpal and carpophalangeal joints |
Extensor indicis muscle
The extensor indicis originates at the posterior side of the ulna and the interosseous membrane near the wrist and inserts at the dorsal aponeurosis of the index finger.
Origins | Posterior side of the distal third of the ulnar shaft; interosseous membrane |
Insertions | Extensor expansion of the 2nd digit |
Innervation | Posterior interosseous nerve |
Function | Extension of the 2nd digit |
Innervation of the deep extensors
Like all extensors of the forearm, these five muscles are innervated by the radial nerve (C6-C8).
Radial nerve - ventral view
The radial nerve divides into a superficial branch and deep branch at the level of the radial head. While the superficial branch runs along the brachioradialis, the deep branch continues between the two layers of the supinator. Thereupon, it penetrates the supinator muscle and branches off as the posterior interosseous nerve (C7-C8), which is responsible for the innervation of almost all deep extensors.
The supinator is the only deep extensor that receives supply directly from motor branches of the radial nerve.
The anatomical 'snuffbox'
A triangular depression lies at the radial side of the dorsum of the hand, which becomes even more prominent during hand extension. It is commonly referred to as the anatomical snuff box (tabatière anatomique) or radial fossa. The depression is framed by the radius (proximal) and both the tendons of the extensor pollicis longus (dorsal), and of the extensor pollicis brevis (palmar); its base is formed by the trapezium and scaphoid bone. The radial artery courses through the anatomical snuff box and, thus, can be easily felt here.
Functions
The main function of the deep extensors is to move the joints of the hand and fingers (except for the supinator muscle).
- The abductor pollicis longus pulls the thumb forward (abduction) at the 'saddle-like' caprometacarpal joint of the thumb. It also contributes to a lateral movement of the radius at the wrist joint (radial abduction).
- The extensor pollicis brevis extends the thumb at the caprometacarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints of the thumb. It too is involved in radial abduction at the wrist.
- Its 'big brother', the extensor pollicis longus, can additionally extend the thumb in the interphalangeal joint of the thrumb due to its more distal attachment. Its contraction causes also a dorsal extension of the hand.
- The extensor indicis pulls the index finger straight by fulfilling extension at the metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joints. This leads to an extension of the hand at the wrist as well.
- In contrast, the function of the supinator is to pull the radius, causing a lateral rotation at the radioulnar joints (supination).
Clinical note
The narrow course of the deep branch of the radial nerve between the two layers of the supinator muscle carries a high risk of entrapment, this is a condition referred to as supinator syndrome.
A predilection site for this condition is a tendinous arch located at the superficial part of the supinator - arcade of Frohse, whereas rare causes include muscle hypertrophy or space-occupying lesions.
The guiding symptom is pain at the proximal forearm, which increases during turning movements and can radiate to the wrist. Since the deep branch of the radial nerve supplies the extensors of the forearm, the affected patients additionally exhibit a weakened ability to extend the hand, fingers and thumb.