The Area of a Bone Where the Nutrient Foramen Passes Forms What Kind of Bone Marking?
Radius and ulna
Author: Alexandra Sieroslawska MD • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios MD, PhD
Last reviewed: October 28, 2021
Reading time: 12 minutes
The radius and the ulna constitute as the bones of the forearm. The antebrachial region, as it is clinically known, spans the length of the region which extends roughly from elbow to wrist. The radius is the lateral of the two bones, which makes the ulna the medial bone of the forearm.
These bones are specially designed in order to enable the movements that are unique for the upper limb, such are supination and pronation. With all of the 20 muscles of the forearm they support, these bones are essential for the functioning of the upper extremity.
| Proximal end of the radius | Head (upper surface for the joint with the capitulum of the humerus; the circumference for the joint with the radial notch of the ulna), n eck (gives support to the radial head),r adial tuberosity |
| Shaft of the radius | Borders: anterior border, interosseus border, posterior border Surfaces:anterior surface, posterior surface , lateral surface |
| Distal end of the radius | Articular surfaces: carpal surface for the joint with scaphoid and lunate bones, ulnar notch for the joint with the head of the ulna Non-articular surfaces:anterior, posterior, lateral |
| Muscles | Biceps brachii - insertion - radial tuberosity Supinator - origin and insertion - proximal third of the shaft Flexor digitorum superficialis - origin - medial surface Flexor pollicis longus - origin - medial surface Pronator teres - insertion - lateral surface Pronator quadratus - insertion - medial surface Abductor pollicis longus - origin - posterior surface |
| Proximal end of the ulna | Two curved processes - olecranon (received into the olecranon fossa of the humerus during extension) and the coronoid process (received into the coronoid fossa of the humerus during flexion); two concave articular cavities - semilunar notch (articulates with the trochlea of the humerus) and radial notch (articulates with the circumference of the head of the radius) |
| Shaft of the ulna | Borders:anterior border, posterior border, interosseous border Surfaces:anterior surface, posterior surface, medial surface |
| Distal end of the ulna | Head - articular surface that joints with the triangular articular disc and the ulnar notch of the radius Styloid process - attachment to the ulnar collateral ligament of the wrist joint |
| Muscles | Triceps brachii - insertion - olecranon process Anconeus - insertion - olecranon process Brachialis - insertion - coronoid process Pronator teres - origin - coronoid process Flexor carpi ulnaris - origin - olecranon process and posterior surface Flexor digitorum superficialis - origin - anterior and medial surface Flexor digitorum profundus - origin - anterior and medial surface Pronator quadratus - origin - anterior surface (distal part) Extensor carpi ulnaris - origin - posterior border Supinator - origin - proximal end Abductor pollicis longus - origin - posterior surface Extensor pollicis longus - origin - posterior surface Extensor indicis - origin - posterior surface (distal part) |
This article will focus upon the bones themselves, with special attention paid to their individual characteristics and surrounding attachments. A brief overview of the potential pathological conditions that may affect either of these bones will follow.
Contents
- Radius bone markings
- Proximal radius (head, neck and tuberosity)
- Radial shaft
- Distal radius
- Ulna bone markings
- Proximal ulna
- Ulnar shaft
- Distal ulna
- Interosseous membrane
- Fractures of radius and ulna
- Sources
+ Show all
Radius bone markings
The radius is the shorter of the two bones of the forearm and is comprised of a shaft, along with a proximal and a distal extremity.
Proximal radius (head, neck and tuberosity)
The head can be found proximally and is known as the caput radii, which articulates with the capitulum of the humerus as part of the compound joint of the elbow and is concave to look at. The radius also communicates with the head of the ulna by articulating with the ulna's radial notch via its own circumference.
The neck is the area of the bone that narrows in between the head and the radial or bicipital tuberosity. Just below the head and neck of the radius is the radial tuberosity, which is an oval-shaped convexity upon which the biceps brachii inserts.
Radial shaft
The shaft of the radial bone is the long, wide column of bone that is convex on its lateral side but enlarges towards the wrist. It has three borders (anterior, posterior and interosseous) and three surfaces (anterior, posterior and lateral). There are several anatomical landmarks upon its surfaces, which allows for the origin and insertion of tendons.
Laterally we can find the attachment of two muscles:
- Supinator muscle (radial head) attaches to the lateral aspect of the radius, covering a large area of it.
- Pronator teres muscle also adheres to the radial shaft (below the supinator's attachment) and inserts on the pronator tuberosity, which is a well-demarcated, rough area.
Medially, in between the invagination created by the two laterally attaching muscles, we can see the origins of another two muscles, as follows:
- Flexor digitorum superficialis.
- Flexor pollicis longus (just inferior to the origin of Flexor digitorum superficialis).
The larger of the two muscular attachments that cover the distal end of the shaft on its medial surface is that of pronator quadratus muscle. Slightly inferior to it on the opposite side sits the insertion of the brachioradialis muscle, which is just above the styloid process - an extrusion of the suprastyloid crest. This is a projection of the lateral aspect of the distal end of the radial bone that margins the carpal articular surface superiorly. Meanwhile Theposterior surface of the radius is the origin of two more muscles:
- Abductor pollicis longus which originates just below the posterior margin of the attachment of the supinator muscle.
- Extensor pollicis longus which can be found distally still.
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Distal radius
The last two landmarks of note are not, however, muscle attachments, but bony developments. The dorsal tubercle protrudes on the posterior aspect of the distal head of the radius and is seated between the grooves for the tendons of the extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis as well as the tendon of the extensor pollicis longus. The ulnar notch of the radius is a medial concavity upon the distal head of the bone which directly contacts the distal ulna at the same level.
Ulna bone markings
Proximal ulna
The ulna is a long bone that helps stabilize the antebrachial region from the medial side of the forearm. Its proximal end consists of the following processes (2) and notches (2):
- Olecranon: A hook-shaped process, located on the posterior aspect of the proximal ulnar end,
- Trochlear notch: A C-shaped notch, located anterior to the olecranon. It articulates with the trochlea of the humerus at the elbow joint.
- Coronoid process
- Radial notch: The articular facet of the radioulnar joint which can be found on the lateral aspect of its head.
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Ulnar shaft
The shaft of the ulna is tapered distally and thicker around the neck and proximal portion. Its lateral side is sharp and gives rise to the interosseous membrane between the two bones of the forearm, hence the name - interosseous border.
From a posterior aspect, the ulna is rounded and smooth and can be palpated subcutaneously for the entire length of the antebrachial region. Just below the coronoid process at the highest point of the shaft, the ulnar tuberosity forms the muscular attachment of the brachialis muscle.
On the lateral side and inferior to the radial notch, the supinator fossa is a concavity that is limited by the supinator crest and holds the originating fibers of the supinator muscle. Just below this muscle attachment, a second, smaller one can be found for the flexor pollicis longus.
Anteriorly, midway down the ulnar bony shaft, there exists a nutrient foramen, which governs bone growth from the time of the seventh intrauterine week up until the eleventh year of life. This is covered by the flexor digitorum profundus muscle which spans the majority of the ulnar shaft.
Posteriorly, on the distal side of the olecranon, the anconeus muscle finds its distal attachment or insertion. The origin for the flexor carpi ulnaris muscles and ulnar head of the supinator muscle are also located on the proximal posterior surface.
Three consecutive muscle attachments can be seen in descending order just below the attachment of the interosseous membrane as it travels down the shaft and they are:
- The abductor pollicis longus muscle,
- The extensor pollicis longus muscle and
- The extensor indicis muscle.
Learn everything about the anatomy of radius and ulna with our articles, video tutorials, labeled diagrams, and quizzes.
Distal ulna
The distal head of the ulna is comprised of the articular circumference which articulates with the wrist bones and posteriorly, a bony projection known as the styloid process. Just above it on the medial aspect of the bone, the attachment of the pronator quadratus which runs between the radius and the ulna is positioned.
Interosseous membrane
Despite having many adjacent structures, the radius and ulna are directly connected via a syndesmosis called the radioulnar fibrous joint. It is an interosseous membrane that runs between the medial aspects of the bones and sections off the region of the forearm into anterior and posterior compartments.
Proximally it contains a single oblique cord which runs proximally, creating a triangle shape between it, the distal surface of the ulna and the membrane (whose fibers generally run distally, towards the wrist).
Distally, a single aperture can be seen at the level of attachment of the pronator quadratus muscle. This is known as the aperture for the anterior interosseous artery.
Test yourself on radius and ulna anatomy with the quiz below:
Fractures of radius and ulna
The most common pathological alterations that directly affect the radius or the ulna bones are fractures. Examples of these fractures include:
- Monteggia fractureoccurs when the upper portion of the ulna fractures and is accompanied by the dislocation of the proximal radial head.
- Galeazzi's fractureis a fracture that directly affects the radius. It consists of a radial fracture along with the dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint and
- Barton's fractureis an intraarticular fracture of the distal radius that is accompanied by the dislocation of the radiocarpal joint.
Sources
References:
- John T. Hansen, Netter's Clinical Anatomy, 2nd Edition, Saunders Elsevier, Chapter 7 Upper Limb, Subchapter 6. Forearm, Pages 313 to 315.
- Werner Platzer, Color Atlas of Human Anatomy Vol.1 Locomotor System, 6th Edition, Thieme Basic Sciences Flexibook, Chapter 3 Upper Limb: Bones, Ligaments, Joints - Bones of the Forearm, Page 118 to 119.
- Richard S. Snell, Clinical Anatomy for Medical Students, 5th Edition, Little and Brown, Chapter 9 - The Upper Limb, Bones of the Forearm, Page 421 to 423.
- Frank H. Netter, MD, Atlas of Human Anatomy, 5th Edition, Saunders Elsevier, Chapter 6 Upper Limb, Subchapter 46. Elbow and Forearm, Guide: Upper Limb - Elbow and Forearm, Pages 224 to 225.
- Heinz Feneis and Wolfgang Dauber, Pocket Atlas of Human Anatomy based on the International Nomenclature, 4th Edition - fully revised, Thieme Flexibook, Chapter 1 Bones, Pages 38 to 39.
- Kyung Won Chung and Harold M. Chung, Board Review Series Gross Anatomy, 6th Edition, Wolters Kluwer - Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Chapter 2 Upper Limb, Bones and Joints, I. Bones, D. Radius, Page 22 and E. Ulna, Page 23.
- Putigna F: Monteggia Fracture. WebMD LLC. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1231438-overview.
Illustrators:
- Elbow joint (cadaver dissection) - Prof. Carlos Suárez-Quian
- Styloid process of radius (anterior view) - Yousun Koh
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The Area of a Bone Where the Nutrient Foramen Passes Forms What Kind of Bone Marking?
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