1. FRONT OF FOREARM
Dr. Ahmed Fathalla Ibrahim

2. MUSCLES OF FRONT OF FOREARM
SUPERFICIAL GROUP (5)
From lateral to medial:
Pronator teres (PT)
Flexor carpi radialis (FCR)
Palmaris longus (PL) (may be absent)
Flexor digitorum superficialis FDS)
Flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU)
DEEP GROUP (3)
Flexor pollicis longus (FPL)
Flexor digitorum profundus (FDP
Pronator quadratus (PQ)

3. SUPERFICIAL GROUP ORIGINS:
All 5 muscles have a HUMERAL HEAD (arising from the front of medial epicondyle of humerus: (common flexor origin). IN ADDITION:
3 out of 5 muscles have an ULNAR HEAD:
PT & FDS: arise from medial border of coronoid process of ulna
FCU: arises from medial surface of olecranon process & posterior border of shaft of ulna
One muscle has a RADIAL HEAD:
FDS: arises from oblique line & anterior border of shaft of radius

4. SUPERFICIAL GROUP ACTIONS & INSERTIONS:
One pronator of radioulnar joints (PT): produces powerful pronation
Any muscle acting on radioulnar joint must be inserted into radius
Insertion: middle of lateral surface of shaft of radius (point of maximum curvature)

5. SUPERFICIAL GROUP ACTIONS & INSERTIONS:
3 flexors of wrist joint (FCR, FCU, PL)
Any “carpi” is inserted into metacarpal bone
FCR (flexion + abduction of wrist joint): inserted into 2nd & 3rd metacarpal bones
FCU (flexion + adduction of wrist joint): inserted into 5th metacarpal bone (+ pisiform & hamate)
PL (flexion of wrist joint): inserted into palmar aponeurosis

6. SUPERFICIAL GROUP ACTIONS & INSERTIONS:
One flexor of medial 4 fingers (FDS): produces flexion of proximal interphalangeal & metacarpophalangeal joints of medial 4 fingers
Insertion: by 4 tendons into the middle phalanges of medial 4 fingers

7. SUPERFICIAL GROUP

8. SUPERFICIAL GROUP

9. DEEP GROUP
ALL MUSCLES ARE ATTACHED TO ANTERIOR SURFACE OF SHAFT OF RADIUS AND/OR ULNA

10. DEEP GROUP

11. Flexor pollicis longus
ORIGIN: Middle of anterior surface of shaft of radius (+ interosseous membrane)
INSERTION: distal phalanx of thumb
ACTION: flexion of interphalangeal & metacarpophalangeal joints of thumb

12. FLEXOR DIGITORUM PROFUNDUS
ORIGIN: Upper ¾ of anterior surface of shaft of ulna (+ interosseous membrane)
INSERTION: by 4 tendons into the distal phalanges of medial 4 fingers
ACTION: flexion of distal & proximal interphalangeal + metacarpophalangeal joints of medial 4 fingers

13. PRONATOR QUADRATUS
ORIGIN: Lower ¼ of anterior surface of shaft of ulna
INSERTION: Lower ¼ of anterior surface of shaft of radius
ACTION: main pronator of radioulnar joints

14. DEEP GROUP

15. DEEP GROUP

16. NERVE SUPPLY
ALL MUSCLES OF FRONT OF FOREARM ARE SUPPLIED BY MEDIAN NERVE EXCEPT:
FCU ULNAR
MEDIAL HALF OF FDP NERVE