Pronator Teres – Attachments, Action & Innervation

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

Pronator teres is one of the muscles of the superficial flexor group of the anterior forearm compartment.

image descriptionPronator Teres 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 (highlighted in green), Brachioradialis, 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 (highlighted in green), 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 (highlighted in green), Palmaris Longus, Flexor Carpi Ulnaris, 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 Pronator Teres muscle.
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image descriptionAttachments of Pronator Teres Muscle: Origin and Insertion

Origin (proximal attachments):
a. Humoral head – medial epicondyle of humerus & distal supracondylar ridge
b. Ulnar head – medial side of coronoid process of ulna.

Insertion (distal attachment):
a. Middle of lateral surface of radius.

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 (highlighted in green), Brachioradialis, 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 Pronator Teres muscle.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the attachment of the Pronator Teres muscle. Origin of the humeral head at the medial epicondyle of the humerus and the distal supracondylar ridge and of the ulnar head at the medial side of coronoid process of ulna are marked by red ovals. The insertion at the middle of lateral surface of the radius is marked by a blue oval. Transparent Pronator Teres muscle connects the two attachment sites.
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Actions of Pronator Teres Muscle

a.  image descriptionPronates the forearm at the elbow.

Learn the anatomy of the pronator teres muscle in half the time with this muscle anatomy reference guide. 

b. image descriptionFlexes the forearm at the elbow.

Nerve to Pronator Teres muscle and its spinal segment:

a. Median nerve (C6, C7).

An Overview of the Anterior 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. Palmaris Longus 3. Flexor Carpi Radialis 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. Palmaris Longus 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. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 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. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 3. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the isolated Pronator Teres muscle numbered 1.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the attachment of the Pronator Teres muscle. Origin of the humeral head at the medial epicondyle of the humerus and the distal supracondylar ridge and of the ulnar head at the medial side of coronoid process of ulna are marked by red ovals. The insertion at the middle of lateral surface of the radius is marked by a blue oval. Transparent Pronator Teres muscle connects the two attachment sites.
Test yourself while observing the Pronator Teres muscle.
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