Supinator

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

• Deep

Origin

• Medial epicondyle humerus
• Radial collateral ligament
• Ligament anulari radii
  • Dorsal side
• Crista musculi supinatoris ulnae

Insertion

• Proximal 1/3 of radius
  • Posterior, lateral and anterior aspect

Main function

• Elbow
  • Supination

Nerve innervation

• Segmental
  • C5-C7
• Peripheral
  • Radial nerve

Arterial supply

• Radial artery
• Posterior interosseus artery

• Patient position
  • Sitting
• Ask the patient to rest the arm in their lap with the elbow joint in flexion and pronation
• Grab the brachioradialis, extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis between the thumb and index finger
• Palpate deeper towards the radius between these muscles and the extensor digitorum to localize the supinator
• Ask the patient to supinate the elbow while you feel for contraction

• Patient position
  • Sitting
• Stand behind the patient and place both the patient's shoulders and elbows in extension
• Fixate the patient's elbow with your one hand while you place the other hand just proxmial to the wrist dorsoradially
  • Give resistance towards pronation so that the patient is giving force towards supination