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The Daily Insight

What does the posterior interosseous nerve innervate?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on May 01, 2026

The posterior interosseous nerve is a motor nerve and sequentially innervates supinator, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor digitorum communis, extensor digiti minimi, extensor carpi ulnaris, abductor pollicis, extensor pollicis brevis, extensor pollicis longus, and extensor indicis.

What does the posterior interosseous nerve do?

The posterior interosseous nerve, also known as the dorsal interosseous nerve, is the continuation of the deep branch of the radial nerve after it penetrates the supinator muscle. It carries fibers from the C7 and C8 spinal nerves and supplies the majority of the muscles in the posterior compartment of the forearm.

Where does posterior interosseous nerve get entrapped?

Motor Neuron and Peripheral Nerve Diseases The posterior interosseous nerve is susceptible to entrapment as it passes through the supinator muscle immediately below the tip of the lateral epicondyle. Following pain in the elbow and forearm, weakness appears in the extensors of the wrist, fingers, and thumb.

Is the posterior interosseous nerve a peripheral nerve?

The posterior interosseous nerve (or dorsal interosseous nerve) is a nerve in the forearm. It is the continuation of the deep branch of the radial nerve, after this has crossed the supinator muscle….

Posterior interosseous nerve
Latinnervus interosseus antebrachii posterior
TA98A14.2.03.055
TA26437
FMA77559

How do you treat posterior interosseous nerve?

Treatment of a PIN syndrome consists of either conservative or surgical management. Initially, wrist and/or elbow splints may be used, physical therapy, use of NSAIDs, or a corticosteroid injection in order to reduce local inflammation and swelling around the nerve (Hyde and Gengenbach, 2007).

What is radial nerve?

The radial nerve runs down the underside of your arm and controls movement of the triceps muscle, which is located at the back of the upper arm. The radial nerve is responsible for extending the wrist and fingers. It also controls sensation in part of the hand.

What nerve root is radial nerve?

The radial nerve is formed from the C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1 nerve roots of the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that branches from the cervical spine (neck). The brachial plexus travels under the clavicle and through the armpit (axilla).

Where does the ulnar nerve innervate?

The ulnar nerve innervates the flexor muscles of the forearm including the flexor carpi ulnaris and flexor digitorum profundus. It also innervates the intrinsic muscles of the hand including the palmaris brevis, lumbricals, hypothenar and interossei muscles.

What nerve innervates the posterior belly of the digastric muscle?

The posterior belly of the digastric muscle is derived from the mesoderm of the second pharyngeal arch and is therefore innervated by the digastric branch of the facial nerve ( cranial nerve 7).

What is posteriorposterior interosseous nerve syndrome?

Posterior interosseous nerve syndrome is a neuropathic compression of the posterior interosseous nerve, that is situated where this nerve (RN) passes through the radial tunnel(4) (Level of Evidence: 4) . The radial tunnel is a space that extends 5 cm from the radial head to the distal margin of the supinator.

Which muscles are innervated by the posterior interosseous nerve?

This study may show denervation changes in the muscles innervated by the posterior interosseous nerve. There will be sparing of muscles innervated by the radial nerve, including triceps, anconeus, brachioradialis, and extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL).

What is the function of the posterior interosseous branch?

Course. Along its course the posterior interosseous branch supplies motor innervation to all the muscles in the posterior compartment of the forearm, and finally provides sensory fibers to the dorsal aspect of the carpus.