Supination and Pronation in forearm | Anatomy
Pronation Palm facing downwards
Supination Palm facing upwards
Mnemonic
'Beggars- Supinate'
'Kings -Pronate'
(or)
'Supinate to the Sun and Pronate to the Plants'
(Supinate: palm towards the sun, Pronate: palm towards the plants)
Involved joints Proximal radioulnar joint - between the head of the radius and the radial notch of the ulna
Distal radioulnar joint - between the head of the ulna and the ulnar notch of the radius
Acting muscles Pronator teres muscle - enables pronation
origin: medial supracondylar ridge of humerus (humeral head), coronoid process of ulna (ulnar head)
insertion: lateral surface of radius
Pronator quadratus muscle - enables pronation
origin: distal anterior surface of ulna
insertion: distal anterior surface of radius
Supinator muscle - enables supination
origin: lateral epicondyle of humerus, radial collateral ligament, anular ligament, supinator crest of ulna
insertion: lateral, posterior, and anterior surfaces of proximal third of radius
Biceps brachii muscle - assists supination (primary function is elbow flexion)
origin: supraglenoid tubercle of scapula (long head), coracoid process of scapula (short head)
insertion: radial tuberosity
Brachioradialis - assists pronation (primary function is elbow flexion)
origin: lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus, lateral intermuscular septum of arm
insertion: (proximal to) styloid process of radius
Clinical relations Anterior interosseous nerve syndrome, Erb's palsy, musculocutaneous nerve palsy, Monteggia fracture, Galeazzi fracture