| Pronator quadratus muscle | |
|---|---|
 Anterior view of left forearm. Deep muscles. (Pronator quadratus visible at bottom-center right.) | |
| Details | |
| Origin | Medial, anterior surface of the ulna |
| Insertion | Lateral, anterior surface of the radius |
| Artery | Anterior interosseous artery |
| Nerve | Median nerve (anterior interosseous nerve) |
| Actions | Pronates theforearm |
| Antagonist | Supinator muscle |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculus pronator quadratus |
| TA98 | A04.6.02.038 |
| TA2 | 2493 |
| FMA | 38453 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
Pronator quadratus is a square-shapedmuscle on the distalforearm that acts topronate (turn so the palm faces downwards) thehand.
Its fibres run perpendicular to the direction of the arm, running from the mostdistal quarter of theanteriorulna to the distal quarter of theradius. It has two heads: the superficial head originates from the anterior distal aspect of thediaphysis (shaft) of the ulna and inserts into the anterior distal diaphysis of the radius, as well as its anteriormetaphysis. The deep head has the same origin, but insertsproximal to theulnar notch.[1] It is the only muscle that attaches only to the ulna at one end and the radius at the other end. Arterial blood comes via theanterior interosseous artery.[citation needed]
Pronator quadratus muscle is innervated by theanterior interosseous nerve, a branch of themedian nerve.[2][3]
When pronator quadratus contracts, it pulls thelateral side of the radius towards the ulna, thus pronating the hand. Its deep fibers serve to keep the two bones in the forearm bound together. Moreover, this muscle can be absent in some humans, however, that does not affect the action of pronation very notably, as thepronator teres does the major role in that action.
The lateral corticospinal tract is responsible for the motor pathway of the pronator quadratus. This tract begins in the precentral gyrus of the motor cortex where a signal is transmitted from the upper motor nerve through the progression tracts of the internal capsule and through the cerebral peduncles of the midbrain. It decussates in the medulla and travels down the lateral corticospinal tract in the lateral column of the spinal cord. It then decussates in the spinal cord and synapses at the anterior horn to the lower motor neurons of the skeletal muscles.The cuneate fasciculus tract is responsible for the sensation of the pronator quadratus position and movement, deep touch, visceral pain, and vibration. This tract begins in the dorsal nerve root where the signal is transmitted through the dorsal horn and up the posterior column of the spinal cord. It synapses with an interneuron in the gracile nucleus. It then decussates in the medial lemniscus of the medulla, travels through the cuneate nucleus and through the medial lemniscus of the midbrain to synapse in the thalamus. It synapses with a third order neuron and transmits the signal to the postcentral gyrus of the somesthetic cortex.This could apply to any muscle in the upper limb and not specific to this muscle.
