The radial nerve is a nerve in the human body that supplies the posterior portion of the upper limb. It innervates the medial and lateral heads of the

triceps brachii muscle The triceps, or triceps brachii (Latin for "three-headed muscle of the arm"), is a large muscle on the back of the upper limb of many vertebrates. It consists of 3 parts: the medial, lateral, and long head. It is the muscle principally respon ...

of the arm, as well as all 12 muscles in the posterior osteofascial compartment of the forearm and the associated joints and overlying skin. It originates from the

brachial plexus The brachial plexus is a network () of nerves formed by the anterior rami of the lower four cervical nerves and first thoracic nerve ( C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1). This plexus extends from the spinal cord, through the cervicoaxillary canal in t ...

, carrying fibers from the ventral roots of spinal nerves C5, C6, C7, C8 & T1. The radial nerve and its branches provide motor innervation to the dorsal arm muscles (the

triceps brachii The triceps, or triceps brachii (Latin for "three-headed muscle of the arm"), is a large muscle on the back of the upper limb of many vertebrates. It consists of 3 parts: the medial, lateral, and long head. It is the muscle principally respon ...

and the

anconeus The anconeus muscle (or anconaeus/anconæus) is a small muscle on the posterior aspect of the elbow joint. Some consider anconeus to be a continuation of the triceps brachii muscle. Some sources consider it to be part of the posterior compartmen ...

) and the extrinsic extensors of the wrists and hands; it also provides cutaneous

sensory innervation Cutaneous innervation refers to the area of the skin which is supplied by a specific cutaneous nerve. Dermatomes are similar; however, a dermatome only specifies the area served by a spinal nerve. In some cases, the dermatome is less specific (wh ...

to most of the back of the hand, except for the back of the little finger and adjacent half of the

ring finger The ring finger, third finger, fourth finger, leech finger, or annulary is the fourth digit of the human hand, located between the middle finger and the little finger. Sometimes the term ring finger only refers to the fourth digit of a left-han ...

(which are innervated by the ulnar nerve). The radial nerve divides into a deep branch, which becomes the

posterior interosseous nerve The posterior interosseous nerve (or dorsal interosseous nerve) is a nerve in the forearm. It is the continuation of the deep branch of the radial nerve, after this has crossed the supinator muscle. It is considerably diminished in size compared ...

, and a superficial branch, which goes on to innervate the dorsum (back) of the hand. This nerve was historically referred to as the musculospiral nerve.

Structure

The radial nerve originates as a terminal branch of the

posterior cord The posterior cord is a part of the brachial plexus The brachial plexus is a network () of nerves formed by the anterior rami of the lower four cervical nerves and first thoracic nerve ( C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1). This plexus extends from the ...

of the

. It goes through the arm, first in the

posterior compartment of the arm The fascial compartments of arm refers to the specific anatomical term of the compartments within the upper segment of the upper limb (the arm) of the body. The upper limb is divided into two segments, the arm and the forearm. Each of these seg ...

, and later in the

anterior compartment of the arm The fascial compartments of arm refers to the specific anatomical term of the compartments within the upper segment of the upper limb (the arm) of the body. The upper limb is divided into two segments, the arm and the forearm. Each of these seg ...

, and continues in the

posterior compartment of the forearm The posterior compartment of the forearm (or extensor compartment) contains twelve muscles which primarily extend the wrist and digits. It is separated from the anterior compartment by the interosseous membrane between the radius and ulna. Struct ...

Arm

The radial nerve originates from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus with root values of C5 to C8 and T1. From the brachial plexus, it travels behind the third part of the

axillary artery In human anatomy, the axillary artery is a large blood vessel that conveys oxygenated blood to the lateral aspect of the thorax, the axilla (armpit) and the upper limb. Its origin is at the lateral margin of the first rib, before which it is ...

(part of the axillary artery distal to the

pectoralis minor Pectoralis minor muscle () is a thin, triangular muscle, situated at the upper part of the chest, beneath the pectoralis major in the human body. Structure Attachments Pectoralis minor muscle arises from the upper margins and outer surfaces ...

). In the arm, it runs behind the brachial artery and then enters the

lower triangular space The triangular interval (also known as the lateral triangular space, lower triangular space, and triceps hiatus) is a space found in the axilla. It is one of the three intermuscular spaces found in the axillary space. The other two spaces are: q ...

to reach the

radial sulcus The radial groove (also known as the musculospiral groove, radial sulcus, or spiral groove) is a broad but shallow oblique depression for the radial nerve and deep brachial artery. It is located on the center of the lateral border of the humerus ...

of back of the humerus. It travel downwards together with

profunda brachii artery The deep artery of arm (also known as arteria profunda brachii and the deep brachial artery) is a large vessel which arises from the lateral and posterior part of the brachial artery, just below the lower border of the teres major. Structure It ...

, between the lateral and medial heads of triceps brachii until it reaches the lateral side the arm at 5 cm below the

deltoid tuberosity In human anatomy, the deltoid tuberosity is a rough, triangular area on the anterolateral (front-side) surface of the middle of the humerus. It is a site of attachment of deltoid muscle. Structure Variation The deltoid tuberosity has been re ...

where it pierces the lateral intermuscular septum to reach the

. Then, it descends down to cross the lateral epicondyle of the humerus where the nerve terminates by branching itself into superficial and deep branch which continues into

cubital fossa The cubital fossa, chelidon, or elbow pit, is the triangular area on the anterior side of the upper limb between the arm and forearm of a human or other hominid animals. It lies anteriorly to the elbow (Latin ) when in standard anatomical position ...

and then into the forearm. Radial nerve gives out muscular branches to supply the long head, medial head, and lateral head of triceps brachii muscles before and during its course in the radial sulcus. After it emerges out from the radial sulcus, it supplies the brachialis,

brachioradialis The brachioradialis is a muscle of the forearm that flexes the forearm at the elbow. It is also capable of both pronation and supination, depending on the position of the forearm. It is attached to the distal styloid process of the radius by way o ...

and

extensor carpi radialis longus A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered appendage located at the end of the forearm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs. A few other vertebrates such as the koala (which has two opposable thumbs on each "hand ...

. Above the radial sulcus, the radial nerve gives off

posterior cutaneous nerve of the arm The posterior cutaneous nerve of arm (internal cutaneous branch of musculospiral, posterior brachial cutaneous nerve) is a branch of the radial nerve that provides sensory innervation for much of the skin on the back of the arm. It arises in the ...

which supplies the skin at the back of the arm. In the radial sulcus, it gives off lower lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm and

posterior cutaneous nerve of the forearm The posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm is a nerve found in humans and other animals. It is also known as the dorsal antebrachial cutaneous nerve, the external cutaneous branch of the musculospiral nerve, and the posterior antebrachial cutaneous ...

. The radial nerve also gives articular branches to supply the elbow joint.

Forearm and hand

In the forearm, it is divided into a superficial branch (primarily sensory) and a deep branch (primarily motor). * The

superficial branch of the radial nerve The superficial branch of the radial nerve passes along the front of the radial side of the forearm to the commencement of its lower third. It is a sensory nerve. It lies at first slightly lateral to the radial artery, concealed beneath the Brac ...

is widely separated from the

radial artery In human anatomy, the radial artery is the main artery of the lateral aspect of the forearm. Structure The radial artery arises from the bifurcation of the brachial artery in the antecubital fossa. It runs distally on the anterior part of the f ...

in the upper one third of the forearm, closely related to radial artery in the middle third of the forearm, and in the lower third, it descends in the forearm under the tendon of

. It crosses brachioradialis to enter posterior of forearm near the back of the wrist and supply dorsum of hand. It gives sensory supply to dorsal aspect of hand, dorsal aspect of thumb, index finger, middle finger and lateral side of ring finger except the nail beds, which are supplied by proper digital branches of median nerve. * The

deep branch of the radial nerve The radial nerve divides into a superficial (sensory) and deep (motor) branch at the cubital fossa. The deep branch of the radial nerve winds to the back of the forearm around the lateral side of the radius between the two planes of fibers of the ...

(also known as

by some authors)) pierces the supinator muscle, winds around the radius under the cover of supinator to reach posterior of forearm where it again pierces supinator and after which it is known as the

. It pierces the posterior extensor muscles and comes to lie between superficial and deep muscles of the back of the forearm. At the lower border of

extensor pollicis brevis In human anatomy, the extensor pollicis brevis is a skeletal muscle on the dorsal side of the forearm. It lies on the medial side of, and is closely connected with, the abductor pollicis longus. The extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) belongs to the ...

, it passes deep to the

extensor pollicis longus In human anatomy, the extensor pollicis longus muscle (EPL) is a skeletal muscle located dorsally on the forearm. It is much larger than the extensor pollicis brevis, the origin of which it partly covers and acts to stretch the thumb together with ...

and then run on the posterior interosseous membrane. It continues to move along with

posterior interosseous artery The posterior interosseous artery (dorsal interosseous artery) is an artery of the forearm. It is a branch of the common interosseous artery, which is a branch of the ulnar artery. Structure The posterior interosseous artery passes backward betw ...

(a deep branch of

common interosseous artery The common interosseous artery, about 1 cm. in length, arises immediately below the tuberosity of the radius from the ulnar artery. Passing backward to the upper border of the interosseous membrane An interosseous membrane is a thick den ...

which is a branch of

ulnar artery The ulnar artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the medial aspects of the forearm. It arises from the brachial artery and terminates in the superficial palmar arch, which joins with the superficial branch of the radial ar ...

), and ends as a pseudoganglion below extensor retinaculum by supplying the wrist and intercarpal joints.

Variation

It is commonly believed that the radial nerve also provided motor innervation to the long head of the triceps. However, a study conducted in 2004 found out that

axillary nerve The axillary nerve or the circumflex nerve is a nerve of the human body, that originates from the brachial plexus (upper trunk, posterior division, posterior cord) at the level of the axilla (armpit) and carries nerve fibers from C5 and C6. The a ...

innervates the long head of triceps in 20

cadaver A cadaver or corpse is a dead human body that is used by medical students, physicians and other scientists to study anatomy, identify disease sites, determine causes of death, and provide tissue to repair a defect in a living human being. Stud ...

s without any supply from radial nerve.

Function

The following are branches of the radial nerve (including the superficial branch of the radial nerve and the deep branch of the radial nerve/posterior interosseous nerve).

Cutaneous

Cutaneous innervation Cutaneous innervation refers to the area of the skin which is supplied by a specific cutaneous nerve. Dermatomes are similar; however, a dermatome only specifies the area served by a spinal nerve. In some cases, the dermatome is less specific (wh ...

by the radial nerve is provided by the following nerve branches: *

Posterior cutaneous nerve of arm The posterior cutaneous nerve of arm (internal cutaneous branch of musculospiral, posterior brachial cutaneous nerve) is a branch of the radial nerve that provides sensory innervation for much of the skin on the back of the arm. It arises in the a ...

(originates in axilla) *

Inferior lateral cutaneous nerve of arm The inferior lateral cutaneous nerve of arm is a nerve found in humans and other animals. It is also called the inferior lateral brachial cutaneous nerve. It is a branch of the radial nerve that provides sensory and vasomotor innervation to the lo ...

(originates in arm) *

Posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm The posterior cutaneous nerve of forearm is a nerve found in humans and other animals. It is also known as the dorsal antebrachial cutaneous nerve, the external cutaneous branch of the musculospiral nerve, and the posterior antebrachial cutaneous n ...

(originates in arm) The

provides sensory innervation to much of the back of the hand, including the web of skin between the thumb and index finger.

Motor

Muscular branches of the radial nerve: *

Triceps brachii The triceps, or triceps brachii (Latin for "three-headed muscle of the arm"), is a large muscle on the back of the upper limb of many vertebrates Vertebrates () comprise all animal taxa within the subphylum Vertebrata () ( chordates with ba ...

Anconeus The anconeus muscle (or anconaeus/anconæus) is a small muscle on the posterior aspect of the elbow joint. Some consider anconeus to be a continuation of the triceps brachii muscle. Some sources consider it to be part of the posterior compartmen ...

Brachioradialis The brachioradialis is a muscle of the forearm that flexes the forearm at the elbow. It is also capable of both pronation and supination, depending on the position of the forearm. It is attached to the distal styloid process of the radius by way o ...

Extensor carpi radialis longus A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered appendage located at the end of the forearm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs. A few other vertebrates such as the koala (which has two opposable thumbs on each "hand ...

Deep branch of the radial nerve The radial nerve divides into a superficial (sensory) and deep (motor) branch at the cubital fossa. The deep branch of the radial nerve winds to the back of the forearm around the lateral side of the radius between the two planes of fibers of the ...

: *

Extensor carpi radialis brevis In human anatomy, extensor carpi radialis brevis is a muscle in the forearm that acts to extend and abduct the wrist. It is shorter and thicker than its namesake extensor carpi radialis longus which can be found above the proximal end of the exte ...

* Supinator

Posterior interosseous nerve The posterior interosseous nerve (or dorsal interosseous nerve) is a nerve in the forearm. It is the continuation of the deep branch of the radial nerve, after this has crossed the supinator muscle. It is considerably diminished in size compared ...

(a continuation of the deep branch after the supinator): *

Extensor digitorum The extensor digitorum muscle (also known as extensor digitorum communis) is a muscle of the posterior forearm present in humans and other animals. It extends the medial four digits of the hand. Extensor digitorum is innervated by the posterior int ...

Extensor digiti minimi The extensor digiti minimi (extensor digiti quinti proprius) is a slender muscle of the forearm, placed on the ulnar side of the extensor digitorum communis, with which it is generally connected. It arises from the common extensor tendon by a thi ...

Extensor carpi ulnaris In human anatomy, the extensor carpi ulnaris is a skeletal muscle located on the ulnar side of the forearm. The extensor carpi ulnaris acts to extend and adduct at the carpus/wrist from anatomical position. Being an extensor muscle, extensor carpi ...

Abductor pollicis longus In human anatomy, the abductor pollicis longus (APL) is one of the extrinsic muscles of the hand. Its major function is to abduct the thumb at the wrist. Its tendon forms the anterior border of the anatomical snuffbox. Structure The abductor p ...

Extensor pollicis brevis In human anatomy, the extensor pollicis brevis is a skeletal muscle on the dorsal side of the forearm. It lies on the medial side of, and is closely connected with, the abductor pollicis longus. The extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) belongs to the ...

Extensor pollicis longus In human anatomy, the extensor pollicis longus muscle (EPL) is a skeletal muscle located dorsally on the forearm. It is much larger than the extensor pollicis brevis, the origin of which it partly covers and acts to stretch the thumb together with ...

Extensor indicis In human anatomy, the extensor indicis roprius'' is a narrow, elongated skeletal muscle in the deep layer of the dorsal forearm, placed medial to, and parallel with, the extensor pollicis longus. Its tendon goes to the index finger, which it ex ...

The radial nerve (and its deep branch) provides motor innervation to the muscles in the

and

forearm The forearm is the region of the upper limb between the elbow and the wrist. The term forearm is used in anatomy to distinguish it from the arm, a word which is most often used to describe the entire appendage of the upper limb, but which in anat ...

, which are mostly extensors.

Clinical significance

Injury

Injury to the radial nerve at different levels causes different syndromes with varying motor and sensory deficits. At the axilla * Common mechanisms of injury: Saturday night palsy,

crutch palsy Radial neuropathy is a type of mononeuropathy which results from acute Physical trauma, trauma to the radial nerve that extends the length of the arm. It is known as Paresthesia, transient paresthesia when sensation is temporarily abnormal. Sign ...

lesions A lesion is any damage or abnormal change in the tissue of an organism, usually caused by disease or trauma. ''Lesion'' is derived from the Latin "injury". Lesions may occur in plants as well as animals. Types There is no designated classifi ...

* Motor deficit: ** Loss of

extension Extension, extend or extended may refer to: Mathematics Logic or set theory * Axiom of extensionality * Extensible cardinal * Extension (model theory) * Extension (predicate logic), the set of tuples of values that satisfy the predicate * E ...

of forearm, weakness of

supination Motion, the process of movement, is described using specific anatomical terms. Motion includes movement of organs, joints, limbs, and specific sections of the body. The terminology used describes this motion according to its direction relative ...

, and loss of extension of hand and fingers. ** Presence of

wrist drop Wrist drop is a medical condition in which the wrist and the fingers cannot extend at the metacarpophalangeal joints. The wrist remains partially flexed due to an opposing action of flexor muscles of the forearm. As a result, the extensor muscles ...

, due to inability to extend the hand and fingers. * Sensory deficit: Loss of sensation in lateral arm, posterior forearm, the radial half of dorsum of hand, and dorsal aspect of radial digits, excluding their nail beds. At mid-arm * Common mechanism of injury: Mid-shaft humeral fracture * Motor deficit: ** Weakness of supination, and loss of extension of hand and fingers. ** Presence of

, due to inability to extend the hand and fingers. * Sensory deficit: Loss of sensation in posterior forearm, the radial half of dorsum of hand, and dorsal aspect of radial digits, excluding their nail beds. Just below the elbow * Common mechanism of injury: Neck of radius fracture, elbow dislocation or fracture, tight cast, rheumatoid nodules, injections due to

tennis elbow Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis or enthesopathy of the extensor carpi radialis origin, is a condition in which the outer part of the elbow becomes painful and tender. The pain may also extend into the back of the forearm. Onset ...

, injuring the deep branch of the radial nerve that pierces the radial head, causing

syndrome * Motor deficit: ** Weakness in extension of hand and loss of extension of fingers. ** Presence of finger drop, and partial wrist drop, since the

and

muscles are working. * Sensory deficit: None, as sensation is supplied by the superficial radial nerve Radial Nerves Extent

Within the distal forearm: * Common mechanism of injury: Wartenberg's syndrome, (not to be confused with Wartenberg's sign), due to nerve entrapment beneath the tendinous insertion of

, tight jewellery, and watch bands. * Motor deficit: None * Sensory deficit: Numbness and tingling in radial half of dorsum of hand, and dorsal aspect of radial digits, excluding their nail beds. * In Wartenberg's syndrome, there is significant radial wrist pain, and close resemblance to symptoms in de Quervain's tenosynovitis.

Finkelstein's test Finkelstein's test is a test used to diagnose de Quervain's tenosynovitis in people who have wrist pain. Classical descriptions of the Finkelstein's test are when the examiner grasps the thumb and ulnar deviates the hand sharply. If sharp pai ...

may be positive.

History

Additional images

File:Gray413_color.png, Cross-section through the middle of upper arm. File:Gray417_color.PNG, Cross-section through the middle of the forearm. File:Gray525.png, The brachial artery. File:Gray811and813.PNG, Cutaneous nerves of right upper extremity. File:Gray815.png, Superficial palmar nerves. File:Nerves_of_the_left_upper_extremity.gif, Nerves of the left upper extremity. File:Gray817.png, Deep palmar nerves. File:Gray1235 (English).svg, Front of right upper extremity, showing surface markings for bones, arteries, and nerves. File:Gray1236.png, Back of right upper extremity, showing surface markings for bones and nerves. File:Brachial plexus 1.jpg, Radial nerve at newborn File:Radial nerve 3.JPG, Radial nerve File:Radial nerve 2.JPG, Radial nerve File:Slide14yyy.JPG, Radial nerve File:Slide10PPP.JPG, Radial nerve File:Muscles of upper limb.(cross section - human cadaver).jpg, Muscles of upper limb.Cross section.

References

External links

* * - "Axilla, dissection, anterior view" {{Authority control Nerves of the upper limb