Flexors of the forearm: want to learn more about it?
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Flexors of the forearm
Learning objectives:
This comprehensive study unit will help you to:
- Identify the flexors 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
Flexors of the forearm occupy the anterior compartment of this region. Based on their location in the compartment, they are divided into two groups:
-
Superficial flexors of the forearm
- Deep flexors of the forearm
These muscles act on different joints of the upper limb, enabling movements of the forearm, hand and fingers. All muscles are innervated by the branches of the brachial plexus, mainly 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 flexors of the forearm.
Take a quiz
Now that you have watched the video about the anterior forearm muscles, 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:
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Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/atlas_overview_image/253/EbSgbtSfLFUdccIX9rSQ_forearm-flexor-muscles_english.jpg "The flexors of the forearm are divided into two groups - superficial and deep. The superficial group is shown on the left, while the deep flexors are on the right. Also visible are the bones of the arm, forearm and hand, which provide the attachments for the muscles. Note that the brachioradialis muscle is the exception to the rule. Functionally it is a flexor, however, based on its location, it belongs to the superficial group of the extensors of the forearm and is covered in the corresponding study unit."){kind=logo}
Review each flexor 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)"){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)"){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)"){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)"){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)"){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)"){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)"){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)"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Superficial flexors of the forearm | Pronator teres muscle Flexor carpi radialis muscle Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle Palmaris longus muscle Flexor digitorum superficialis muscle |
| Deep flexors of the forearm | Flexor digitorum profundus muscle Flexor pollicis longus muscle Pronator quadratus muscle |
| Innervation |
Superficial groups: Median and ulnar nerve Deep group: Anterior interosseous and 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 flexors of the forearm, you can continue your learning by taking look extensor muscles and neurovasculature of the forearm:
:format(jpeg)/images/study_unit/forearm-extensor-muscles/CWH7rSuycHQNR0TXK1M0Aw_Extensors_of_forearm.png)
:format(jpeg)/images/study_unit/forearm-nerves-vessels/NIFcn2tuSxNonUB5YocA_Neurovasculature_of_the_elbow_and_forearm.png)