Anterior Forearm Muscles: Superficial Group

Anterior Compartment of the Forearm: Superficial Group of Muscles

• Pronator teres has proximal attachments at the medial epicondyle, supra-epicondylar ridge, and the medial side of the coronoid process.
• Pronator teres has a distal attachment at the lateral midshaft of the radius.
• Pronator teres pronates and flexes the forearm and is innervated by the median nerve.
• Flexor carpi radialis has a proximal attachment at the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
• Flexor carpi radialis has a distal attachment at the base of metacarpals 2-3.
• Flexor carpi radialis flexes and abducts the wrist.
• Palmaris longus has a proximal attachment at the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
• Palmaris longus has a distal attachment at the palmar aponeurosis.
• Palmaris longus flexes the wrist.
• Flexor carpi ulnaris has a proximal attachment at the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
• Flexor carpi ulnaris has a distal attachment at the pisiform bone and the base of the fifth metacarpal.
• Flexor carpi ulnaris flexes and adducts the wrist and is innervated by the ulnar nerve.

Anterior Compartment of the Forearm: Intermediate Group of Muscles

• Flexor digitorum superficialis has a proximal attachment at the medial epicondyle of the humerus and the oblique line of the radius.
• Flexor digitorum superficialis has a distal attachment at the middle phalanges of digits 2-5.
• Flexor digitorum superficialis flexes the PIP joints of digits 2-5 and is innervated by the median nerve.

Anterior Compartment of the Forearm: Deep Group of Muscles

• Flexor digitorum profundus has proximal attachments at the anterior and medial surface of the ulna and the interosseous membrane.
• Flexor digitorum profundus has distal attachments at the distal phalanges of digits 2-5.
• Flexor digitorum profundus flexes the DIP joints of digits 2-5.
• The lateral half of flexor digitorum profundus is innervated by the anterior interosseous nerve, and the medial half is innervated by the ulnar nerve.
• Flexor pollicis longus has proximal attachments to the anterior surface of the radius and the interosseous membrane.
• Flexor pollicis longus has distal attachment to the base of the distal phalanx of the thumb.
• Flexor pollicis longus flexes the IP joint of the thumb and is innervated by the anterior interosseous branch of the median nerve.
• Pronator quadratus has a proximal attachment at the distal radius.
• Pronator quadratus has a distal attachment at the distal ulna.
• Pronator quadratus pronates the forearm and is innervated by the anterior interosseous branch of the median nerve.

Overview of the superficial muscles in the anterior compartment of the forearm, including pronator teres, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, and flexor carpi ulnaris. Details their attachments, actions, and innervation.