Flexor Carpi Radialis

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

The flexor carpi radialis muscle is a forearm muscle that helps bend and abduct the hand at the wrist.

image descriptionFlexor Carpi Radialis

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, Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus, Palmaris Longus, Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis, Flexor Carpi Radialis (highlighted in green), 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, Palmaris Longus, Flexor Carpi Radialis (highlighted in green), 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 Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle.
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image descriptionAttachments of Flexor Carpi Radialis Muscle: Origin and Insertion

Origin (proximal attachment)
a. Medial epicondyle of humerus.

Insertion (distal attachment)
a. Bases of second and third metacarpals.

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, Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus, Palmaris Longus, Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis, Flexor Carpi Radialis (highlighted in green), 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 Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the attachment of the Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle. Origin at the medial epicondyle of humerus is marked by a red oval. The insertions at the bases of second and third metacarpals are marked by blue circles. Transparent Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle connects the two attachment sites.
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Actions of Flexor Carpi Radialis Muscle:

a.  image descriptionFlexes the hand at wrist.

Learn the muscles of the upper limb faster and more efficiently thanks to this upper limb muscle anatomy reference chart.

image descriptionRadial deviates (abducts) the hand at the wrist.

Nerve to the Flexor Carpi Radialis Muscle and its Spinal Segment:

a. Median nerve (C6, C7).

An overview of the posterior forearm muscles

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 1-4. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Palmaris Longus 2. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 3. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 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. Palmaris Longus 2. Flexor Carpi Radialis 3. 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 1-2. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Flexor Carpi Radialis 2. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the isolated Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle numbered 1.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the attachment of the Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle. Origin at the medial epicondyle of humerus is marked by a red oval. The insertions at the bases of second and third metacarpals are marked by blue circles. Transparent Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle connects the two attachment sites.
Test yourself while observing the Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle
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