Brachialis
What Is It, Location, Function, and More
Author: Georgina Tiarks
Editors: Alyssa Haag, Józia McGowan, DO
Illustrator: Jillian Dunbar
Copyeditor: David G. Walker
What is the brachialis muscle?
The brachialis muscle, a muscle located in the upper limb of the body, is mainly responsible for elbow flexion (i.e., the movement that occurs to allow the forearm to move closer to the body). The brachialis muscle is innervated medially by the musculocutaneous nerve (C5-C6) and laterally by the radial nerve (C7). Blood to the brachialis is supplied primarily by the brachial artery and radial recurrent artery. Occasionally, the ulnar collateral arteries may also provide blood to this muscle.
Where is the brachialis muscle located?
The brachialis muscle is located in the lower anterior compartment of the upper arm. It is situated beneath the biceps brachii muscle and at the inferior portion of the humerus bone, which runs from shoulder to elbow. The muscle fibers of the brachialis muscle join to form the brachialis tendon, which connects the brachialis muscle to the humerus at one end and the ulna, a bone in the forearm, at the other. The brachialis tendon originates at the mid-shaft of the humerus and inserts at the coronoid process, a rounded protuberance, or tuberosity, of the ulna.
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What is the function of the brachialis muscle?
The main function of the brachialis muscle is elbow flexion. It is one of the most important flexors of the elbow and allows for flexion of the elbow at various angles.
What are the most important facts to know about the brachialis muscle?
The brachialis muscle is an important muscle involved in the flexion of the forearm, located at the anterior compartment of the upper arm. It is located beneath the biceps brachii. The brachialis originates at the mid-shaft of the humerus and inserts at the coronoid process of the ulna. Innervation arises from both the musculocutaneous nerve and radial nerve, while blood may be supplied by the brachial artery or the radial recurrent artery.
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Bones of the upper limbAnatomy of the arm
Introduction to the muscular system
Resources for research and reference
Morton, D. A., Foreman, K. B., & Albertine, K. H. (2019). Arm. In The Big Picture: Gross Anatomy (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. Retrieved from accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1158278113
Morton, D. A., Foreman, K. B., & Albertine, K. H. (2019). Overview of the Upper Limb. In The Big Picture: Gross Anatomy (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education. Retrieved from accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1158277995
Plantz, M. A., & Bordoni, B. (2021). Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Brachialis Muscle. In StatPearls. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551630/
