Radius (Radius)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The lateral forearm bone on the thumb side. Its disc-shaped head pivots on the ulna when the hand rotates (pronation/supination), and its distal end carries most of the wrist load.
Clinical notes
The Colles fracture (distal radius with dorsal displacement) is the world's most common fracture after a fall on the outstretched hand, especially in the elderly and osteoporotic.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Radius?
The lateral forearm bone on the thumb side. Its disc-shaped head pivots on the ulna when the hand rotates (pronation/supination), and its distal end carries most of the wrist load.
Why is the Radius clinically important?
The Colles fracture (distal radius with dorsal displacement) is the world's most common fracture after a fall on the outstretched hand, especially in the elderly and osteoporotic.
Source & license
Derived from Z-Anatomy (Gauthier Kervyn et al.), CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/); upstream geometry from BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science. license details