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Radius — Anatomy Notes, Diagram & Quiz
The Radius is located in the forearm (lateral). Forearm bone on thumb side, forms wrist joint. Radius is the lateral bone of the forearm, articulating with the humerus at the elbow and with the carpals at the wrist.
Key facts
| Location | Forearm (lateral) |
|---|---|
| Main function | Forearm bone on thumb side, forms wrist joint. |
| Layer | skeleton |
| Key fact 1 | Radius is the lateral bone of the forearm, articulating with the humerus at the elbow and with the carpals at the wrist. |
| Key fact 2 | Radius has a distal end that forms the styloid process, a common site of fracture in Colles' fracture. |
| Key fact 3 | Radius allows pronation and supination of the hand by rotating around the fixed ulna at the radioulnar joints. |
Where is the Radius located?
The Radius is located in the forearm (lateral).
Radius is the lateral bone of the forearm, articulating with the humerus at the elbow and with the carpals at the wrist.
What does the Radius do?
Forearm bone on thumb side, forms wrist joint.
Radius has a distal end that forms the styloid process, a common site of fracture in Colles' fracture.
What to know for exams
- Radius is the lateral bone of the forearm, articulating with the humerus at the elbow and with the carpals at the wrist.
- Radius has a distal end that forms the styloid process, a common site of fracture in Colles' fracture.
- Radius allows pronation and supination of the hand by rotating around the fixed ulna at the radioulnar joints.
It belongs to the skeleton layer. Learn its location, relations, and the structures it works with.
Clinical relevance
Radius has a distal end that forms the styloid process, a common site of fracture in Colles' fracture.
Link the radius to its blood supply, innervation and relations. That is how exam questions usually test it.
Memory aid: Radius
Radius is the lateral bone of the forearm, articulating with the humerus at the elbow and with the carpals at the wrist. Radius has a distal end that forms the styloid process, a common site of fracture in Colles' fracture. Radius allows pronation and supination of the hand by rotating around the fixed ulna at the radioulnar joints.
Chain it as location → function → clinical link when you revise.
Radius anatomy quiz
Five questions. Open each answer after you commit to a response.
-
Where is the Radius located?
Reveal answer
Forearm (lateral)
-
What is the main function of the Radius?
Reveal answer
Forearm bone on thumb side, forms wrist joint.
-
Give one key fact about the Radius.
Reveal answer
Radius is the lateral bone of the forearm, articulating with the humerus at the elbow and with the carpals at the wrist.
-
Give another key fact about the Radius.
Reveal answer
Radius has a distal end that forms the styloid process, a common site of fracture in Colles' fracture.
-
What clinical link is associated with the Radius?
Reveal answer
Radius has a distal end that forms the styloid process, a common site of fracture in Colles' fracture.
Common questions
Where is the Radius located?
The Radius is located in the forearm (lateral). Radius is the lateral bone of the forearm, articulating with the humerus at the elbow and with the carpals at the wrist.
What does the Radius do?
Forearm bone on thumb side, forms wrist joint. Radius has a distal end that forms the styloid process, a common site of fracture in Colles' fracture.
What is a key fact about the Radius?
Radius allows pronation and supination of the hand by rotating around the fixed ulna at the radioulnar joints.
What layer does the Radius belong to?
It belongs to the skeleton layer of the body.
What should I remember for exams?
Radius is the lateral bone of the forearm, articulating with the humerus at the elbow and with the carpals at the wrist. Radius has a distal end that forms the styloid process, a common site of fracture in Colles' fracture. Radius allows pronation and supination of the hand by rotating around the fixed ulna at the radioulnar joints.
Sources
- Standring, S. (ed.). Gray’s Anatomy, 42nd edition. Elsevier, 2020.
- TeachMeAnatomy — anatomy library
- Kenhub — anatomy library
- StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf — Radius search
3D atlas and image credits
Anatomy models: BodyParts3D, © Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS), CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan. Écorché by Charleeh, derived from BodyParts3D and Z-Anatomy, CC BY-SA 4.0. Rendered in anotemy. Changes: highlighting, framing, labels and background removal. Images: CC BY-SA 4.0.
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