Brachioradialis muscle

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 16 Jan 2021

Brachioradialis muscle is a flexor at the elbow and works with biceps brachii and brachialis muscles. It is located in the superficial layer of the posterior compartment of the forearm and is particularly useful in elbow stabilization.

Despite the bulk of the muscle being visible from the anterior surface of the forearm, it is a posterior compartment muscle and thus, its innervation derives from the posterior compartment. It is one of the three muscles forming the mobile wad of Henry.

Summary

  • origin: proximal 2/3 of lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus
  • insertion: lateral surface of the distal radius just proximal to the styloid process
  • innervation: radial nerve (C5, C6)
  • action: flexor of the elbow with particular use in stabilization

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Cases and figures

  • Figure 1: anterior arm anatomy (Gray's illustration)
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  • Figure 2: anterior forearm deep anatomy (Gray's illustration)
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  • Figure 3: anterior forearm anatomy (Gray's illustration)
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