Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2024 Sep 1;38(9S):S1-S3.
doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000002856.

How the Forearm Works

Affiliations
Review

How the Forearm Works

Francisco Rubio et al. J Orthop Trauma. .

Abstract

Hand rotation and the ability to apply force and overcome external load are due to the coordinated activity of forearm bones, the interosseous ligament, and involved muscles. The following review is a detailed description of the anatomy and mechanics which illustrates how the forearm works.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

F. Rubio discloses a speaker's bureau and consulting relationship with Skeletal Dynamics. J. J. Heifner and G. E. Lacau declare no conflicts of interest related to the current work.

References

    1. Malone PS, Shaw OG, Lees VC. Anatomic relationships of the distal and proximal radioulnar joints articulating surface areas and of the radius and ulna bone volumes: implications for biomechanical studies of the distal and proximal radioulnar joints and forearm bones. Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2016;4:61.
    1. Malone PS, Cooley J, Morris J, et al. The biomechanical and functional relationships of the proximal radioulnar joint, distal radioulnar joint, and interosseous ligament. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2015;40:485–493.
    1. Hotchkiss RN, An KN, Sowa DT, et al. An anatomic and mechanical study of the interosseous membrane of the forearm: pathomechanics of proximal migration of the radius. J Hand Surg Am. 1989;14:256–261.
    1. Luo C, Sun Y, Bian H, et al. Length changes in the interosseous membrane during forearm rotation: a 3-dimensional study in vivo. J Hand Surg Am. 2024;49:486.e1–486.e5.
    1. Moritomo H. The function of the distal interosseous membrane and its relevance to the stability of the distal radioulnar joint: an anatomical and biomechanical review. Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir. 2015;47:277–280.

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources