Functional Rehab Academy
Extensor carpi ulnaris / radialis
Muscle origin
Lateral epicondyle of humerus (both) and posterior border of ulna (Extensor carpi ulnaris)
Muscle insertion
Base of metacarpal bone 5 (Extensor carpi ulnaris) and posterior aspect of base of metacarpal bone 3 (Extensor carpi radialis)
Muscle function
Hand extension (both), adduction (Flexor carpi ulnaris) and abduction (Extensor carpi radialis). Control of Elbow and upper and lower Radioulnar joints.
Nerve innervation
C5-C8 (Lovett reactor -T10-L5)
Primary muscle type
Phasic / Mixed type (50-60%)
Myofascial lines:
Primary inhibatory muscles
Related joints
- Radioulnar joint
- Wrist joint
Extensor carpi ulnaris
Client is supine with the elbow flexed in a 90 deg. angle and full pronation. Hand is clenched into a fist and wrist in full extension. Grab around the fist close to the wrist area and apply pressure towards wrist extension in a slight oblique angle away from the Ulnar bone towards the radial head.
Extensor carpi radialis
Client is supine with the elbow flexed in a 90 deg. angle and full pronation. Hand is clenched into a fist and wrist in full extension. Grab around the fist close to the wrist area and apply pressure towards wrist extension in a slight oblique angle away from the Radial bone towards the ulnar head.
Functional anatomy for
Extensor carpi ulnaris / radialis
Organ relationship (T1-L2, Sacrum, n. Vagus)
- Heart (FA)
- Symp – T1-6 (Cardiac plexus)
- Parasymp – CX (Vagus)
- Stomach (AK)
- Symp – T5-9 (Celiac plexus)
- Parasymp – CX (Vagus)
- Pancreas (AK)
- Symp T5-10 (Celiac plexus)
- Parasymp – CX (Vagus)
- Liver (AK)
- Symp T5-10 (Celiac plexus)
- Parasymp – CX (Vagus)
- Small intestine (AK)
- Symp – T5-12 (Celiac and superior Mesenteric plexus)
- Parasymp – CX (Vagus)
- Large intestine (AK)
- Symp – T10-L2 (Mesenteric and Hypogastric plexus)
- Parasymp – CX (Vagus) and S2-S4 (Sacral plexus)
- Kidneys (AK)
- Symp – T10-L2 (Renal plexus)
- Parasymp – None (CX minimal)
- Reproductive organs (AK)
- Symp – T10-L2 (Inferior Hypogastric, Ovarian and Testicular plexus)
- Parasymp – S2-4 (Sacral plexus)
Associated muscles
- Trapezius – Superficial back arm line
- Deltoid – Superficial back arm line
- Flexor carpi ulnaris/radialis – Wrist control
- Extensor pollicus longus/brevis – Extension of wrist
- Supinator – Control of Elbow and Radioulnar joints
- Anconeus – Control of Elbow joint
- Pronator teres – Control of Radioulnar joints
- Pronator quadratus – Control of Radioulnar joints