ABSTRACT
The radius The radius, the lateral bone of the forearm, has a head, a body and a lower end (Fig. 13.1). The head is a cupped circular disc which articulates with the capitulum of the humerus and the radial notch of the ulna (Fig. 13.2). It can be palpated in the depression behind the lateral side of the elbow in extension. Just below the head is the radial tuberosity, which gives attachment to the biceps tendon. The body has a slight lateral convexity and expands in its lower part for muscle attachments (Fig. 13.1). Its medial side bears a ridge for the attachments of the interosseous membrane. The lower end extends into a palpable styloid process laterally; posteriorly lie a dorsal tubercle, which guides the tendon of extensor pollicis longus, and ridges to which septa from the extensor retinaculum are attached. Its medial surface articulates with the head of the ulna and its inferior surface has facets for the carpal bones, and it gives attachment to a fibrocartilaginous articular disc.
