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Superficial radial nerve

Last revised by Craig Hacking ◉ on 2 Aug 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Ariyasinghe C, Hacking C, Luijkx T, et al. Superficial radial nerve. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 16 Jan 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-37778

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-37778

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/37778

rID:

37778

Article created:

24 Jun 2015, Chamath Ariyasinghe

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Chamath Ariyasinghe had no recorded disclosures.

View Chamath Ariyasinghe's current disclosures

Last revised:

2 Aug 2021, Craig Hacking ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.

View Craig Hacking's current disclosures

Revisions:

6 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Anatomy

Synonyms:

Superficial branch of the radial nerve

The superficial radial nerve, also known as the superficial branch of the radial nerve, is a sensory cutaneous nerve that arises from the radial nerve. It supplies the skin on the dorsum of the hand as well as providing articular branches to joints in the hand.

Gross anatomy

Origin

As a branch of the radial nerve the superficial radial nerve receives fibers from all roots of the brachial plexus (C5-T1). It branches under the proximal tendon of the brachioradialis muscle in the upper to middle third of the forearm.

Course

The superficial branch of the radial nerve travels in the posterior compartment of the forearm descending in a plane between the pronator teres and brachioradialis muscles. The nerve emerges from beneath the brachioradialis muscle to arborise over the roof of the anatomical snuffbox providing a medial and lateral terminal branch.

Branches and supply

the medial branch is the larger of the terminal branches of the superficial radial nerve and innervates the ulnar aspect of the dorsum of the thumb, the dorsum of the index and middle fingers and the radial aspect of the fourth finger; note that this excludes supply to the subungual region which is supplied by the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve
the lateral branch of the superficial radial nerve provides sensation to the radial aspect of the thumb as well as the dorsal surface of the base of the thumb

Relations

The superficial radial nerve is lateral to the radial artery in the forearm.

References

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