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Pronator teres

Contents

Anatomy

 

Pronator teres - anterior view
Pronator teres - anteromedial view
Pronator teres - lateral view

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

Position

  • Proximally
    • Superficial
  • Distally
    • Deep

Origin

  • Humeral head
    • Medial epicondyle humerus
  • Common flexor tendon distally on humerus
  • Processus coronoideus ulna

Insertion

  • Lateral radius
    • Middle 1/3

Main function

  • Elbow
    • Flexion
    • Pronation

Nerve innervation

  • Segmental
    • C6-C7
  • Peripheral
    • Median nerve

Arterial supply

  • Ulnar artery
  • Radial artery

Palpation

  • Patient position
    • Sitting
  • Place the patient's elbow so that it is partly flexed, while the arm is held in a neutral position between pronation and supination
  • Palpate the proximal anterior surfae of the patient's lower arm
  • Ask the patient to flex or pronate the elbow, while you feel for the contraction
    • It should be possible to palpate the it on the entire humeral head

Strength test for pronator teres and pronator quadratus

  • Patient position
    • Sitting or supine
  • Stabilize the patient's elbow to avoid abduction movement of the shoulder
  • Ask the patient to hold the arm in pronation and somewhat flexion of the elbow
  • Give resistance towards the lower part of the lower arm just proximal to the wrist in the direction of supination, so that the patient is giving force towards pronation
  • The patient maintains the arms position against resistance throughout the testing