Contents
Anatomy
General information
- This section is strictly limited to anatomy, you might be looking for clinical relevant information which is found under the clinical chapters -- muscles section, click here to go to that page
- A part of the lower arms radial muscle group
- Is the biggest muscle within this group
Position
- Superficial
Origin
- Lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus, proximal 2/3
Insertion
- Lateral side of the processus styloideus radius
Main function
- Elbow
- Flexion
Secondary function
- Elbow
- Supination
- Pronation
Nerve innervation
- Segmental
- C5-C6
- Peripheral
- Nervus radialis
Arterial supply
- Brachial artery
- Radial artery
Palpation
- Patient position
- Sitting or supine
- Ask the patient to maintain a 90° flexion of the elbow while keeping the elbow in a neutral position between supination and pronation
- Place your hand at the lateral aspect of the lower arm
- Press the forearm in a direction of extension of the elbow while the patient gives force towards flexion of the elbow, feel for contraction in the muscle
Strength test
- Patient position
- Sitting or supine
- Fixate the patient's arm by holding a hand under the elbow
- Ask the patient to hold the elbow in flexion and neutral position between pronation and supination
- Press towards the lower forearm in an extension direction, so that the patient is giving force towards flexion of the elbow
- The patient maintains the position throughout the testing