Pronator teres origin and insertion

Pronator teres runs from the humerus and ulna to the radius. It has two heads: the humeral head and the ulnar head.

What are the origin and insertion of pronator teres?

Pronator teres arises from the medial epicondyle of the humerus (humeral head) and the coronoid process of the ulna (ulnar head). It inserts on the middle of the side of the radius. Its main action is pronation of the forearm. It is supplied by the median nerve (C6, C7). The attachments, actions and nerve follow Gray (1918).

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Every attachment and its bone

Origins 2

Origins of pronator teres, with the bone each is on
Attachment	Bone	Part
Medial epicondyle of the humerus	Humerus	Humeral head
Coronoid process of the ulna	Ulna	Ulnar head

Insertion 1

Insertion of pronator teres, with the bone each is on
Attachment	Bone	Part
Middle of the side of the radius	Radius	All heads

Actions

The actions of pronator teres, and which are its main ones
Action	What moves	Main or assisting
Pronation	With the elbow bent, the palm turns from facing up to facing down	Main action
Elbow flexion	The forearm bends up	Assists

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

Innervation

The median nerve (C6, C7).

Lifts that use pronator teres

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.

Synergist in 1

Lifts in which pronator teres is a synergist, with what it does there
Lift	What it does there
Barbell biceps curl	Elbow flexion

Sources

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

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.