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Glite Dictionary
nervus radialis

nervus radialis

9.2
A large arm nerve that controls feeling on the back of the hand and muscles to straighten wrist and fingers
  • noun
  • /ˈnɜrvəs ˈreɪdiəlɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : nervio radial
  • The nervus radialis can be injured during fractures of the humerus, leading to weakness in the wrist and fingers.

Examples

  • Damage to the nervus radialis may cause loss of sensation on the back of the hand.

  • Surgeons must take care to avoid the nervus radialis during certain arm procedures.

  • The nervus radialis is essential for arm movement.

  • Did you know the nervus radialis controls the extensor muscles?

  • Damage to the nervus radialis may cause loss of sensation on the back of the hand.

  • Surgeons must take care to avoid the nervus radialis during certain arm procedures.

  • The nervus radialis can be injured during fractures of the humerus, leading to weakness in the wrist and fingers.

Synonyms

radial nerve
vsnervus radialis
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A large nerve running down the arm that makes wrist and finger muscles straighten

is described using the humerus path and division near the lateral epicondyle
musculospiral nerve
vsnervus radialis
  • Specialized
9.9

A large nerve in the upper arm that makes the wrist and fingers straighten

is defined by division near the lateral epicondyle rather than the general elbow area

Surface Forms

nervus radialis singular
nervus radiales plural

Morphology

nervus + radialis

The term is fully compositional: 'nervus' = nerve and 'radialis' = relating to the radius/radial side, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes the nerve associated with the radial side (the radial nerve). Although Latin and technical, this follows standard anatomical naming patterns common across languages, making the meaning directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Nervus radialis comes from Latin: nervus means 'nerve' and radialis points to the 'radius', the forearm bone. Imagine a nerve running like a ray down that bone to the back of the hand, and that's why the name means the nerve that runs down the arm and helps move the wrist and fingers.