ArticlesAnatomyUpper limbElbow and forearmDeep anterior forearm muscles

ArticlesAnatomyUpper limbElbow and forearmDeep anterior forearm muscles

Deep anterior forearm muscles

Author: Achudhan Karunaharamoorthy, MD • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios, MD, PhD
Last reviewed: October 30, 2023
Reading time: 7 minutes

You perhaps know a lot about your forearm already - you know that it allows you to perform your daily activities, give high fives or even have a go at some arm wrestling every once in a while. Therefore, it is quite important. However, have you ever wondered what lies underneath the skin that allows you to perform all those movements?

An important group of anatomical structures are the deep anterior forearm muscles. Lying at the ventral aspect of the forearm, deep to the flexor digitorum superficialis, they flex your wrist and finger joints. The impulse for those actions are given via the median nerve.

Key facts about the deep anterior forearm muscles
Flexor digitorum profundus	Origins: proximal half of anterior surface of ulna, interosseous membrane Insertions: palmar surfaces of distal phalanges of digits 2-5 Innervation: digits 2-3: Anterior interosseous nerve (from median nerve C8, T1); Digits 4-5: Ulnar nerve (C8, T1) Function: metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints 2-5: Finger flexion
Flexor pollicis longus	Origins: anterior surface of the radius and interosseous membrane Insertions: base (palmar side) of the distal phalanx of the thumb Innervation: anterior interosseous nerve (from median nerve C7, C8) Function: metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joint 1: Thumb flexion,
Pronator quadratus	Origins: distal end of anterior surface of the ulna Insertions: distal end of anterior surface of the radius Innervation: anterior interosseous nerve (from median nerve C7, C8) Function: pronation of the forearm

This article will describe all the deep anterior forearm muscles in detail, their origins, insertions, innervations, and functions. At the end you will also find out some clinical relevant information about them, putting the learned knowledge into perspective.

Contents

Anatomy and supply
Functions
Clinical note
Sources

+ Show all

Anatomy and supply

The deep anterior forearm muscles are three muscles lying at the ventral/anterior forearm. They run deep to the flexor digitorum superficialis, very closely to the radius and ulna, and for that reason they are difficult to palpate. In detail they are:

Flexor digitorum profundus muscle

The flexor digitorum profundus originates at the proximal half of the anterior ulna and the interosseous membrane. Its four tendons run through the carpal tunnel and between the split end tendons of the flexor digitorum superficialis at the height of the middle phalanges. Distally, they insert at the palmar surface of the distal phalanges of the second to fifth fingers.

It is innervated by the anterior interosseus nerve, a branch of the median nerve (second and third finger, root values C8-T1) and ulnar nerve (fourth and fifth finger, root values C8-T1).

Flexor pollicis longus muscle

The flexor pollicis longus has its origin at the anterior surface of the radius and the interosseous membrane of the forearm. Its tendon runs also through the carpal tunnel and inserts at the palmar surface of the distal phalanx of the thumb.

It is innervated by the anterior interosseus nerve, a branch of the median nerve (root values C7- C8).

Pronator quadratus muscle

The pronator quadratus arises from the distal anterior surface of the ulna and extends horizontally to the distal anterior surface of the radius giving the muscle a square-shaped appearance. It is the deepest muscle in the anterior forearm.

It, too, is innervated by the anterior interosseus nerve, a branch of the median nerve (C7-C8).

Innervation of the deep anterior forearm muscles

As outlined above, as with (almost) all deep anterior forearm muscles, these three muscles are supplied by the median nerve. The specific innervating branch, the anterior interosseous nerve, arises approximately 5 cm underneath the medial epicondyle of the humerus from the median nerve.

Median nerve (anterior view)

From there, it courses between the flexor digitorum profundus and flexor pollicis longus along the interosseous membrane and ends distally at the pronator quadratus.

As an exception, the flexor digitorum profundus receives a double innervation through both the median and ulnar nerves.

At the wrist, the tendons of the flexor digitorum profondus and flexor pollicis longus run through the carpal tunnel, a passage formed by the carpal bones dorsally and a tight densification of the antebrachial fascia (flexor retinaculum) anteriorly. Along with these tendons, the carpal tunnel contains the median nerve as well as the four tendons of the flexor digitorum superficialis.

Functions

The deep anterior forearm muscles are mainly responsible for flexion of the wrist and finger joints.

The contraction of the flexor digitorum profundus leads to flexion of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and distal interphalangeal joints (DIP) of the second to fifth fingers. As this muscle is permanently tensed, the fingers are always slightly bent while at rest.
The flexor pollicis longus is responsible for flexion of the thumb at the metacarpophalangeal joint and interphalangeal joint of the first digit. Some sources also state that it may assist in opposition of the thumb, occuring primarily at the 'saddle-like' carpometacarpal joint and metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb. Furthermore, it may assist in flexion and radial abduction the wrist joint.
The pronator quadratus causes pronation of the forearm, acting upon the radioulnar joints. Remember, pronation of the forearm results in the palm of the hand facing backwards or downwards.

Clinical note

The deep anterior forearm muscles can be paralyzed through a lesion of the anterior interosseous nerve (anterior interosseous syndrome or Kiloh-Nevin syndrome).

Common causes are an entrapment by the superficial anterior forearm muscles (e.g. through hypertrophy) and accessory muscles, or more rarely, following a trauma to the arm/forearm (e.g. a fracture or elbow dislocation).

The affected patients complain about pain in the forearm and hand weakness. The most characteristic sign though is the inability of forming the “okay” sign with the fingers (pinch sign). This happens due to the fact that the flexor digitorum profundus and flexor pollicis longus are the only muscles which are able to bend the fingers at their distal interphalangeal joints.

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.

References:

M. Schünke/E. Schulte/U. Schumacher: Prometheus – LernAtlas der Anatomie – Allgemeine Anatomie und Bewegungssystem, 2nd edition, Thieme Verlag (2007), p. 308-309
J. E. Muscolino: The muscular system manual – The skeletal muscles of the human body, 2nd edition, Elsevier Mosby (2005), p. 592-600
R. H. Whitaker/N. R. Borley: Anatomiekompass, 2nd edition, Thieme Verlag (2003), p. 132
J. Heisel: Neurologische Differenzialdiagnostik, Thieme Verlag (2007), p. 131-132
S. Standring/N. Anand/R. Tunstall: Gray's anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice, 42nd edition, Elsevier (2021).

Illustrators:

Median nerve (ventral view) - Begoña Rodriguez

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