Brachialis origin and insertion

Brachialis runs from the humerus to the ulna.

What are the origin and insertion of brachialis?

Brachialis arises from the lower half of the front of the humerus. It inserts on the coronoid process and the tuberosity of the ulna. Its main action is elbow flexion. It is supplied by the musculocutaneous nerve (C5, C6), with a branch of the radial nerve. The attachments, actions and nerve follow Gray (1918).

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Every attachment and its bone

Origin 1

Origin of brachialis, with the bone each is on
Attachment	Bone
Lower half of the front of the humerus	Humerus

Insertion 1

Insertion of brachialis, with the bone each is on
Attachment	Bone
Coronoid process and the tuberosity of the ulna	Ulna

Actions

The actions of brachialis, and which are its main ones
Action	What moves	Main or assisting
Elbow flexion	The forearm bends up	Main action

Each action is stated in the anatomical position: standing, arms by the sides, palms forward.

Innervation

The musculocutaneous nerve (C5, C6), with a branch of the radial nerve.

Lifts that use brachialis

A prime mover produces the lift’s main joint action against the load; a synergist assists that action, or adds a secondary action the lift needs. Each role is the one the lift’s own page gives, for the technique that page states.

Prime mover in 5

Lifts in which brachialis is a prime mover, with what it does there
Lift	What it does there
Bent-over barbell row	Elbow flexion
Pull-up	Elbow flexion
Chin-up	Elbow flexion
Lat pulldown	Elbow flexion
Barbell biceps curl	Elbow flexion

Sources

Gray (1918), Myology, the muscles and fasciae of the arm

Each lift role is from that lift’s page in muscles worked by exercise, which names the sources it follows.

See it in 3D

Visualiser · Biology Muscle Origin, Insertion and Action Explorer Paint a muscle’s origin and insertion on real 3D bones, or click a bone to see what attaches to it. Visualiser · Biology Upper Limb Muscles Explorer 114 upper limb muscle meshes, by compartment. Visualiser · Biology Muscles Worked by Exercise 3D Explorer Choose a lift and a real body lights its prime movers, synergists and stabilisers, front and back, with the same muscles in 3D.