Muscles of the anterior compartment of the forearm

Question 1

What are the three categories of muscle in the anterior compartment of the forearm?

Answer 1

Superficial, intermediate and deep

Question 2

What is the general action of muscles in the anterior compartment of the forearm?

Answer 2

Flexion at the wrist and fingers and pronation

Question 3

What are the superficial muscles in the anterior compartment of the forearm?

Answer 3

Flexor carpi ulnaris, palmaris longus, flexor carpi radialis and pronator teres.

Question 4

Where does the common tendon of the superifical muscles of the anterior compartment of the arm origionate from?

Answer 4

Medial epicondyle of the humerus

Question 5

Flexor carpi ulnaris attachments

Answer 5

Origionates from the medial epicondyle with the other superficial flexors. It also has a long origin from the ulna. It passes into the wrist, and attaches to the pisiform carpal bone.

Question 6

Flexor carpi ulnaris actions

Answer 6

Flexion and adduction at the wrist

Question 7

Flexor carpi ulnaris innervatioin

Answer 7

Ulnar nerve

Question 8

Palmaris longus attachments

Answer 8

Origionates from the medial epicondyle, attaches to the flexor retinaculum of the wrist.

Question 9

Palmaris longus actions

Answer 9

Flexion at the wrist

Question 10

Palmaris longus innervation

Answer 10

Median nerve

Question 11

Flexor carpi radialis attachments

Answer 11

Origionate from the medial epicondyle, attaches to the base of metacarpals II and III.

Question 12

Flexor carpi radialis actions

Answer 12

Flexion and abduction at the wrist

Question 13

Flexor carpi radialis innervation

Answer 13

Median nerve

Question 14

Pronator teres attachments

Answer 14

Two origins, one from the medial epicondyle, and the other from the coronoid process of the ulna. It attaches laterally to the midshaft of the radius.

Question 15

Pronator teres actions

Answer 15

Pronation of the forearm

Question 16

Pronator teres innervation

Answer 16

Median nerve

Question 17

Which muscle lies in the intermediate compartment of the antierior forearm?

Answer 17

Flexor digitorum superficialis

Question 18

Why is the flexor digitorum superficialis a good anatomical landmark in the forearm?

Answer 18

The median nerve and ulnar artery pass between its two heads, and then travel posteriorly.

Question 19

Flexor digitorum superficialis attachments

Answer 19

It has two heads, one origionates from the medial epicondyle of the humerus, the other from the radius. The muscle splits into four tendons at the wrist, which travel through the carpel tunnel, and attaches to the middle phalanges of the four fingers.

Question 20

Flexor digitorum superficialis actions

Answer 20

Flexes the metacarpal phalangeal joints and proximal interphalangeal joints at the four fingers.

Question 21

Flexor digitorum superficialis innervation

Answer 21

Median nerve

Question 22

What are the three muscles in the deep compartment of the anterior forearm?

Answer 22

Flexor digitorum profundus, flexor pollicus longus and pronator quadratus

Question 23

Flexor digitorum profundus attachments

Answer 23

Origionates from the ulna and associated interosseous membrane. At the wrist, it splits into four tendons, that pass through the carpal tunnel and attach to the distal phalanges of the four fingers.

Question 24

Flexor digitorum pofundus actions

Answer 24

It is the only muscle that can flex the distal interphalangeal joints of the fingers. It also flexes at metacarpophalangeal joints and at the wrist.

Question 25

Flexor digitorum profundus innervation

Answer 25

The medial half (acts on the little and ring fingers) is innervated by the ulnar nerve. The lateral half (acts on the middle and index fingers) is innervated by the anterior interosseous branch of the median nerve.

Question 26

Flexor pollicus longus attachments

Answer 26

Origionates from the anterior surface of the radius, and surrounding interosseus membrane. Attaches to the base of the distal phalanx of the thumb.

Question 27

Flexor pollicus longus actions

Answer 27

Flexes the interphalangeal joint and metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb.

Question 28

Flexor pollicus longus innervation

Answer 28

Anterior interosseous branch of the median neve

Question 29

Pronator quadratus attachments

Answer 29

Origionates from the anterior surface of the ulna, and attaches to the anterior surface of the radius.

Question 30

Pronator quadratus actions

Answer 30

Pronates the forearm

Question 31

Pronator quadratus innervation

Answer 31

Anterior interosseous branch of the median nerve