
Why is the radius called the radius?
The radius is named so because the radius (bone) acts like the radius (of a circle). It rotates around the ulna and the far end (where it joins to the bones of the hand), known as the styloid process of the radius, is the distance from the ulna (center of the circle) to the edge of the radius (the circle).
Where is the radius bone located?
The radius (shown in red) is a bone in the forearm. The radius or radial bone is one of the two large bones of the forearm, the other being the ulna. It extends from the lateral side of the elbow to the thumb side of the wrist and runs parallel to the ulna. The ulna is usually slightly longer than the radius, but the radius is thicker.
What is the anatomical position of the radius?
Fig 1.0 – The anatomical position of the radius. The radius is a long bone in the forearm. It lies laterally and parallel to ulna, the second of the forearm bones. The radius pivots around the ulna to produce movement at the proximal and distal radio-ulnar joints.
What is the radial bone?
The radius or radial bone is one of the two large bones of the forearm, the other being the ulna. It extends from the lateral side of the elbow to the thumb side of the wrist and runs parallel to the ulna.

What is the radius bone called?
The radius is one of the two bones that make up the forearm, the other being the ulna. It forms the radio-carpel joint at the wrist and the radio-ulnar joint at the elbow. It is in the lateral forearm when in the anatomical position. It is the smaller of the two bones.
What is the ulna and radius called?
The forearm is made up of two bones, the ulna and the radius.
What does radius and ulna mean?
The radius and ulna are long bones that make up the forearm, extending from the elbow to the wrist. In the anatomical position, the radius is found in the lateral forearm, while the ulna is found in the medial forearm.
Which bones protect the brain?
The skull protects the brain and forms the shape of the face. The spinal cord, a pathway for messages between the brain and the body, is protected by the backbone, or spinal column.
How do you remember the radius and ulna?
0:001:10How to Remember the Radius and Ulna - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIs super rad. And everything okay ready rad put your thumb. Up next to the wreath. So when you sayMoreIs super rad. And everything okay ready rad put your thumb. Up next to the wreath. So when you say that's red that helps you remember that your radius is always next to your thumb.
Why does the forearm have two bones?
Functionally, the radius and ulna together serve as the primary support structure of the forearm articulating with the humerus and carpal bones as described above. Both bones also serve as origins and insertions for muscles responsible for flexion and extension of the forearm, wrist, and fingers.
What happens when you break your radius bone?
You will usually have pain and swelling in the forearm or wrist. You may have a deformity in the shape of the wrist if the fracture is bad enough. The presence of bruising (black and blue discoloration) is common. See your doctor if you have enough pain in your arm to stop you from using it normally.
Do your bones cross when you turn your arm?
The bones are parallel when your palms face up. When your palms face down, the radius crosses over the ulna. It's easy to imagine that the two arm bones rotate around each other, twisting like a rope, but they don't.
What are the 2 arm bones?
Your arm is made up of three bones: the upper arm bone (humerus) and two forearm bones (the ulna and the radius). The term "broken arm" may refer to a fracture in any of these bones.
What is the name of the wrist bones?
Your wrist is made up of eight small bones called the carpal bones, or the carpus. These irregularly shaped bones join your hand to the two long forearm bones: the radius and ulna. The carpal bones are small square, oval, and triangular bones. The cluster of carpal bones in the wrist makes it both strong and flexible.
What type of bone is ulna?
The ulna forms the skeleton of the medial part of the forearm and is a long bone, consisting of an expanded proximal end, a shaft and a head at the distal end.
What is diameter and radius?
A. While the radius of a circle runs from its center to its edge, the diameter runs from edge to edge and cuts through the center. A circle's diameter essentially splits the shape in half.
Why is the radius called the radius?
The radius is named so because the radius (bone) acts like the radius (of a circle). It rotates around the ulna and the far end (where it joins to the bones of the hand), known as the styloid process of the radius, is the distance from the ulna (center of the circle) to the edge of the radius (the circle).
What joint is the radius in?
The radius is part of two joints: the elbow and the wrist. At the elbow, it joins with the capitulum of the humerus, and in a separate region, with the ulna at the radial notch. At the wrist, the radius forms a joint with the ulna bone. The corresponding bone in the lower leg is the fibula .
What is the lateral surface of the radius?
The lateral surface ( facies lateralis; external surface) is convex throughout its entire extent and is known as the convexity of the radius, curving outwards to be convex at the side. Its upper third gives insertion to the supinator muscle. About its center is a rough ridge, for the insertion of the pronator teres muscle. Its lower part is narrow, and covered by the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus muscle and extensor pollicis brevis muscle .
What are the two parts of the radius?
The radius has a body and two extremities. The upper extremity of the radius consists of a somewhat cylindrical head articulating with the ulna and the humerus, a neck , and a radial tuberosity . The body of the radius is self-explanatory, and the lower extremity of the radius is roughly quadrilateral in shape, with articular surfaces for the ulna, scaphoid and lunate bones. The distal end of the radius forms two palpable points, radially the styloid process and Lister's tubercle on the ulnar side. Along with the proximal and distal radioulnar articulations, an interosseous membrane originates medially along the length of the body of the radius to attach the radius to the ulna.
What is the distal end of the radius?
The distal end of the radius forms two palpable points, radially the styloid process and Lister's tubercle on the ulnar side. Along with the proximal and distal radioulnar articulations, an interosseous membrane originates medially along the length of the body of the radius to attach the radius to the ulna.
Which bone articulates with the scaphoid bone?
Of these, the lateral, triangular, articulates with the scaphoid bone; the medial, quadrilateral, with the lunate bone. The articular surface for the ulna is called the ulnar notch ( sigmoid cavity) of the radius; it is narrow, concave, smooth, and articulates with the head of the ulna.
What is the upper extremity of the radius?
Near the elbow. The upper extremity of the radius (or proximal extremity) presents a head, neck, and tuberosity. The radial head has a cylindrical form, and on its upper surface is a shallow cup or fovea for articulation with the capitulum (or capitellum) of the humerus.
Why is the radius of the wrist so often fractured?
Due to the human instinct to break a fall by outstretching the arms, the radius is one of the more frequently fractured bones in the body. Also, dislocation issues with both the wrist and the elbow may arise. Last medically reviewed on February 13, 2015.
What are the two bones that make up the forearm?
Radius. The forearm contains two major bones. One is the ulna, and the other is the radius. In concert with each other, the two bones play a vital role in how the forearm rotates.
What is the radius of a bone?
The radius is a long bone, one of the four types of bone in the body. A long bone is a dense, strong bone characterized as being longer than it is wide. The shaft is known as the diaphysis and the end of a long bone is called an epiphysis. The diaphysis is hollow, with space inside called the medullary cavity.
Where is the radius located?
It is located on the lateral side of the forearm parallel to the ulna (in anatomical position with arms hanging at the sides of the body, palms facing forward) between the thumb and the elbow. The radius and ulna pivot around one another to allow rotation of the wrist.
How common are radius fractures in children?
In children, more than 50% of all forearm fractures involve only the radius, 6% involve only the ulna, and 44% involve both. 1 Radius fractures are also very common in adults. Men and women have similar instances of radius fractures until the mid 40s when they become much more frequent in women than in men.
Why is the radius bigger than the ulna?
The radius is often thought of as the larger of the two long bones in the forearm because it is thicker than the ulna at the wrist, but it is thinner at the elbow. The ulna is longer than the radius by about an ...
What is the radius of the epiphysis?
As described above, the radius is a typical long bone with dense, hard bone along the shaft (diaphysis). The ends of the radius have spongy bone that hardens with age. Westend61 / Getty Images.
How long is the radius?
The radius is between 8 to 10.5 inches long in adults. It averages 9.5 inches in men and 8.8 inches in women. 2 The distal epiphysis of the radius (far end at the wrist) averages about an inch wide. The proximal epiphysis (the end at the elbow) is about half as wide.
Which joint allows rotation of the wrist?
The pivoting motion of the radius and ulna allow for rotation of the wrist at the distal radioulnar joint. The radius provides stability for the hinge joint at the elbow and allows for motion at the radiohumeral joint, but the ulna and humerus do most of the work there.
Where is the radius located?
The radius is a long bone in the forearm. It lies laterally and parallel to ulna, the second of the forearm bones. The radius pivots around the ulna to produce movement at the proximal and distal radio-ulnar joints.
What is the articulation between the distal end of the radius and the carpal bones?
Wrist joint – An articulation between the distal end of the radius and the carpal bones. Distal radioulnar joint – An articulation between the ulnar notch and the head of the ulna. In this article, we shall look at the bony landmarks and osteological features of the radius.
What are the four places where the radius articulates?
The radius articulates in four places: Elbow joint – Partly formed by an articulation between the head of the radius, and the capitulum of the humerus. Proximal radioulnar joint – An articulation between the radial head, and the radial notch of the ulna. Wrist joint – An articulation between the distal end of the radius and the carpal bones.
What is the concavity of the radial shaft?
The lateral side projects distally as the styloid process. In the medial surface, there is a concavity, called the ulnar notch, which articulates with the head of ulna, forming the distal radioulnar joint.
Where is the proximal shaft of the ulna fractured?
The proximal shaft of ulna is fractured, and the head of the radius dislocates anteriorly at the elbow. Galeazzi – a fracture to the distal radius, with the ulna head dislocating at the distal radio-ulnar joint.
What joint is formed by an articulation between the head of the radius and the capitulum of the hum?
Elbow joint - Partly formed by an articulation between the head of the radius, and the capitulum of the humerus.
What is the narrow bone that lies between the radial head and radial tuberosity?
Neck – A narrow area of bone, which lies between the radial head and radial tuberosity. Radial tuberosity – A bony projection, which serves as the place of attachment of the biceps brachii muscle. By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2021) Fig 1.1 – Bony landmarks of the proximal radius.
What is the head proximal radius?
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.
How does the radius communicate with the head of the ulna?
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.
What are the bones of the forearm?
Radius and ulna. 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 ...
Which muscle is concave and holds the originating fibers of the supinator 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.
Where does the abductor pollicis longus originate?
Abductor pollicis longus which originates just below the posterior margin of the attachment of the supinator muscle.
What muscle attaches to the radial shaft?
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.
Where is the anconeus located?
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.
What is the radius of the wrist?
The part of the radius connected to the wrist joint is called the distal radius. When the radius breaks near the wrist, it is called a distal radius fracture . The break usually happens due to falling on an outstretched or flexed hand. It can also happen in a car accident, ...
How long does a distal radius fracture last?
It often serves as a final treatment until the bone heals. Usually a cast will remain on for up to six weeks. Then you will be given a removable wrist splint to wear for comfort and support.
What is the treatment for a distal radius fracture?
Decisions on how to treat a distal radius fracture may depend on many factors, including:
What is the name of the fracture of the forearm bone?
It can also occur along with a fracture of the distal ulna (the forearm bone on the small finger side). In these cases, the injury is called a distal radius and ulna fracture. Depending on the angle of the distal radius as it breaks, the fracture is called a Colles or Smith fracture.
Why does my wrist bump?
There is a distinct “bump” in the wrist similar to the neck of the fork. It happens because the broken end of the distal radius shifts up toward the back of the hand. A Smith fracture is the less common of the two. It may result from an impact to the back of the wrist, such as falling on a bent wrist. The end of the distal radius typically shifts ...
What causes a drop in the wrist?
It may result from an impact to the back of the wrist, such as falling on a bent wrist. The end of the distal radius typically shifts down toward the palm side in this type of fracture. This usually makes for a distinct drop in the wrist where the longer part of the radius ends. ViewMedica 8. Start Picture-in-Picture.
How long does it take to recover from a wrist fracture?
Once the cast is removed, you can start physical therapy to regain proper wrist function and strength. X-rays may be taken at three weeks and then at six weeks if the fracture was reduced or thought to be unstable. They may be taken less often if the fracture was not reduced and thought to be stable.
What causes a radial head fracture?
The most common cause of a radial head fracture is falling with an outstretched arm.
What to do if you break a bone?
If your break is more severe, you may need to see a bone doctor (orthopedic surgeon). Some fractures require surgery to: Insert screws and plates to hold your bones in place. Replace the broken piece with a metal part or replacement. Repair torn ligaments (tissues that connect bones)
How long does it take for a fracture to heal?
Most fractures heal well in 6 to 8 weeks.

Overview
Structure
The long narrow medullary cavity is enclosed in a strong wall of compact bone. It is thickest along the interosseous border and thinnest at the extremities, same over the cup-shaped articular surface (fovea) of the head.
The trabeculae of the spongy tissue are somewhat arched at the upper end and pass upward from the compact layer of the shaft to the fovea capituli (the humerus's cup-shaped articulatory notch…
Function
The biceps muscle inserts on the radial tuberosity of the upper extremity of the bone. The upper third of the body of the bone attaches to the supinator, the flexor digitorum superficialis, and the flexor pollicis longus muscles. The middle third of the body attaches to the extensor ossis metacarpi pollicis, extensor primi internodii pollicis, and the pronator teres muscles. The lower quarter of the body attaches to the pronator quadratus muscle and the tendon of the supinator lon…
Clinical significance
Radial aplasia refers to the congenital absence or shortness of the radius.
Specific fracture types of the radius include:
• Proximal radius fracture. A fracture within the capsule of the elbow joint results in the fat pad sign or "sail sign" which is a displacement of the fat pad at the elbow.
• Radial shaft fracture
History
The word radius is Latin for "ray". In the context of the radius bone, a ray can be thought of rotating around an axis line extending diagonally from center of capitulum to the center of distal ulna. While the ulna is the major contributor to the elbow joint, the radius primarily contributes to the wrist joint.
The radius is named so because the radius (bone) acts like the radius (of a circle). It rotates around the ulna and the far end (where it joins to the bones of the hand), known as the styloid pr…
Animals
In four-legged animals, the radius is the main load-bearing bone of the lower forelimb. Its structure is similar in most terrestrial tetrapods, but it may be fused with the ulna in some mammals (such as horses) and reduced or modified in animals with flippers or vestigial forelimbs.