Anterior compartment of the forearm: want to learn more about it?
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Anterior compartment of the forearm
Learning objectives
This comprehensive study unit will help you to:
- Identify the muscles of the anterior compartment of the forearm and how they are arranged into groups.
- Learn the attachments and innervation of these muscles.
- Become familiar with the function of each muscle.
Watch video
The forearm is divided into anterior and posterior compartments. The muscles of the anterior compartment, also known as the flexor-pronator muscles, are divided into two groups:
-
Superficial group: Pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, palmaris longus and flexor digitorum superficialis muscles.
- Deep group: Flexor digitorum profundus, flexor pollicis longus and pronator quadratus muscles.
These muscles act on different joints of the upper limb, enabling movements of the forearm, hand and fingers. Most of the anterior muscles are innervated by the branches of the median nerve. The exceptions are the flexor carpi ulnaris, which is supplied by the ulnar nerve, and the flexor digitorum profundus, which is innervated by branches of both the median and the ulnar nerves.
The following video tutorials will help you learn the anatomy of the anterior muscles of the forearm.
Take a quiz
Now that you have watched the video about the anterior muscles of the forearm, test your knowledge by taking our quiz.
Or check out this fully customizable quiz for a broader overview of the elbow and the forearm region:
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/253/EbSgbtSfLFUdccIX9rSQ_forearm-flexor-muscles_english.jpg){kind=logo}
Review each anterior muscle of the forearm individually by browsing through our atlas gallery:
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-flexor-carpi-radialis/xqFs6PJoZQPYdIXhH1IQ_p6puWBDYAH_M._flexor_carpi_radialis_1.png "Flexor carpi radialis muscle (Musculus flexor carpi radialis); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-flexor-carpi-ulnaris/COsYmrOPIj1inQhGQPbVkQ_jnjpjF1kp5_M._flexor_carpi_ulnaris_1.png "Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (Musculus flexor carpi ulnaris); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-flexor-digitorum-profundus/XS9ewg6a9vKUfpAQjNdHQ_EYLtTszwCH_M._flexor_digitorum_profundus_1.png "Flexor digitorum profundus muscle (Musculus flexor digitorum profundus); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-flexor-digitorum-superficialis/oPfDTi6kvpzPwPe9KFKdFg_Flexor_digitorum_superficialis_2.png "Flexor digitorum superficialis muscle (Musculus flexor digitorum superficialis); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-flexor-pollicis-longus/2FBzxYsOqDwTCQHHhY6Iag_5ZnDxecqyq_M._flexor_pollicis_longus_1.png "Flexor pollicis longus muscle (Musculus flexor pollicis longus); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-palmaris-longus/WVIUiW3dOxD0Lt6c6Paw8w_U7ZZMWG3P9_M._palmaris_longus_1.png "Palmaris longus muscle (Musculus palmaris longus); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-pronator-quadratus/HWuLeIfWvHK7YAOIsdgsg_vTpJSC6LJ9_M._pronator_quadratus_1.png "Pronator quadratus muscle (Musculus pronator quadratus); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/musculus-pronator-teres/THwhYo2jzJRpQrouoLw3hA_pp5Pfy4TfU_M._pronator_teres_1.png "Pronator teres muscle (Musculus pronator teres); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Superficial group | Pronator teres muscle Flexor carpi radialis muscle Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle Palmaris longus muscle Flexor digitorum superficialis muscle |
| Deep group | Flexor digitorum profundus muscle Flexor pollicis longus muscle Pronator quadratus muscle |
| Innervation | Median nerve (except for flexor carpi ulnaris and the ulnar half of flexor digitorum profundus which are supplied by the ulnar nerve) |
| Function | Movements (flexion, abduction, adduction, pronation) of the forearm, hand and fingers |
Well done!
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Continue your learning
Now that you are familiar with the anterior muscles of the forearm, you can continue your learning by taking a look at the posterior muscles of the forearm and the neurovasculature of the forearm:
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:format(jpeg)/images/study_unit/forearm-nerves-vessels/NIFcn2tuSxNonUB5YocA_Neurovasculature_of_the_elbow_and_forearm.png)