Brachioradialis Muscle – Attachments, Action & Innervation

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

Brachioradialis is one of the muscles that comprise the posterior compartment of the forearm muscles. It is the most superficial muscle of the radial side of the forearm, forming the lateral wall of the cubital fossa.

image descriptionBrachioradialis Muscle

An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the associated muscles muscles. The visible, labelled muscles are as follows: Biceps Brachii, Brachialis, Pronator Teres, Brachioradialis (highlighted in green), Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus, Palmaris Longus, Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis, Flexor Carpi Radialis, Flexor Carpi Ulnaris, Flexor Digitorum Superficialis and a transverse carpal ligament at the wrist - Flexor Retinaculum - going over the tendons of most forearm muscles.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible, labelled muscles are as follows: Pronator Teres, Brachioradialis, Palmaris Longus, Flexor Carpi Radialis, Flexor Carpi Ulnaris, Flexor Digitorum Superficialis and a transverse carpal ligament at the wrist - Flexor Retinaculum - going over the tendons of most forearm muscles.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible, labelled muscles are as follows: Pronator Teres, Brachioradialis, Flexor Digitorum Superficialis and a transverse carpal ligament at the wrist - Flexor Retinaculum - going over the tendons of Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and isolated Brachioradialis muscle.
1
2
3
4

image descriptionAttachments of Brachioradialis Muscle: Origin and Insertion

Origin (proximal attachment):
a. Lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus.

Insertion (distal attachment):
a. Styloid process of radius.

Learn brachioradialis muscle anatomy even faster thanks to this upper limb muscle anatomy reference chart. 

 

An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the associated muscles muscles. The visible, labelled muscles are as follows: Biceps Brachii, Brachialis, Pronator Teres, Brachioradialis (highlighted in green), Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus, Palmaris Longus, Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis, Flexor Carpi Radialis, Flexor Carpi Ulnaris, Flexor Digitorum Superficialis and a transverse carpal ligament at the wrist - Flexor Retinaculum - going over the tendons of most forearm muscles.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and isolated Brachioradialis muscle.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the attachment of Brachioradialis at the lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus is marked by a red line and the insertion at the styloid process of the radius is marked by a blue oval. Transparent Brachioradialis muscle connects the two attachment sites.
1
2
3

Actions of Brachioradialis on the forearm (radius/ulna):

a.  image descriptionFlexes forearm at elbow.

Nerve to Brachioradialis muscle and its spinal segment:

a. Radial nerve (C5, C6).

An Overview of the Forearm Muscles

Muscles That Act On The Anterior Forearm

A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the associated soft structures. The visible structures of the forearm are labelled 1-11 and the answers in the box below are concealed.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-11. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Biceps Brachii 2. Brachialis 3. Pronator Teres 4. Brachioradialis 5. Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus 6. Palmaris Longus 7. Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis 8. Flexor Carpi Radialis 9. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 10. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 11. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-10. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Brachialis 2. Pronator Teres 3. Brachioradialis 4. Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus 5. Palmaris Longus 6. Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis 7. Flexor Carpi Radialis 8. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 9. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 10. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-9. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Pronator Teres 2. Brachioradialis 3. Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus 4. Palmaris Longus 5. Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis 6. Flexor Carpi Radialis 7. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 8. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 9. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-8. The answers in the box below are as follows: 1. Pronator Teres 2. Brachioradialis 3. Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus 4. Palmaris Longus 5. Flexor Carpi Radialis 6. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 7. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 8. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-7. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Pronator Teres 2. Brachioradialis 3. Palmaris Longus 4. Flexor Carpi Radialis 5. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 6. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 7. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-6. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Pronator Teres 2. Brachioradialis 3. Palmaris Longus 4. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 5. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 6. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-5. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Pronator Teres 2. Brachioradialis 3. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 4. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 5. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-4. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Pronator Teres 2. Brachioradialis 3. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 4. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-3. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Pronator Teres 2. Brachioradialis 3. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-2. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Brachioradialis 2. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the isolated Brachioradialis muscle numbered 1.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the attachment of Brachioradialis. Origin at the lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus is marked by a red line and the insertion at the styloid process of the radius is marked by a blue oval. Transparent Brachioradialis muscle connects the two attachment sites.
Test yourself while observing the Brachioradialis muscle
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Related Articles
Featured image showing 3 images of the anterior forearm bony muscles and associated structures. The image on the left shows all forearm muscles, middle image shows isolated Pronator Teres muscle and right image shows the attachments of the two heads of Pronator Teres.
Pronator Teres – Attachments, Action & Innervation

Pronator teres is one of the muscles of the superficial flexor group of the anterior forearm compartment. Arising with two heads from the humerus and ulna to finally insert on the lateral surface of the radius body.
Featured image showing three images of the anterior forearm. The image on the left shows the bony elements and the muscles of the anterior forearm, the middle image shows the bony elements and isolated Palmaris Longus muscle, and the image on the right shows the attachments of the Palmaris Longus muscle connected by a transparent muscle itself.
Palmaris Longus Muscle

A tutorial on the position, actions, attachments and innervation of the Palmaris Longus muscle with the aid of detailed anatomical illustrations and a quiz.
Featured image showing three images of the anterior forearm. The image on the left shows the bony elements and the muscles of the anterior forearm, the middle image shows the bony elements and isolated Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle, and the image on the right shows the attachments of the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle connected by a transparent muscle itself.
Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Muscle

A tutorial on the position, actions, attachments and innervation of the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle with the aid of anatomical illustrations.