Registered Nurse RN

Registered Nurse, Free Care Plans, Free NCLEX Review, Nurse Salary, and much more. Join the nursing revolution.

  • RN
    • Nursing Clinical Skills
  • Nursing Videos
  • Blog
  • Nursing School
  • Nursing Care Plans
  • Nursing Quizzes
  • Nursing
  • Nursing Jobs
  • NCLEX Review
  • Store

Supination and Pronation

In this anatomy lesson, I’m going to demonstrate supination and pronation, which are special movements involving rotation of the forearm. These body movements are used by healthcare professionals to describe body movements, document, and assess patients.

Supination of Forearm and Hand

During supination, the distal end of the radius bone rotates over the ulna bone in a lateral direction. Lateral rotation means it is rotating away from the body’s midline.

I like to watch the thumb during this movement, because it is on the same side as the radius (hence, the radial pulse is located below the thumb). When the thumb is rotating away from the body’s midline, supination is occurring.

supination, supinate, anatomy, body movements, supinate forearm, hand

Pronation of Forearm and Hand

In contrast, pronation is the opposite movement: the distal end of the radius rotates over the ulna medially, and the two bones cross. Medial rotation is toward the body’s midline. So when the thumbs point toward the middle of the body, you know that pronation has occurred.

Pronation, pronate, anatomy, body movements

Palm Orientation During Supination and Pronation

You can also look at the orientation of the palms. During supination, the palms will face anteriorly (forward), which is their natural orientation in the anatomical position. However, if you flex the elbow about 90 degrees, the palms would then be facing up (superiorly).

supination palms, supination hand, palms forward

Pronation has the palms facing the opposite direction: posteriorly (toward the back) when in the anatomical position, or down (inferiorly) when the elbow flexes to around 90 degrees. This is another reason why I like to look at the thumbs during this movement. Thumbs will point away from the body’s midline during supination, and toward the body during pronation, regardless of how the elbow is flexed.

pronation palms, pronation hands, pronate, prone, anatomy

Supination vs Pronation Mnemonic

Here’s a simple mnemonic (memory trick) to help you remember pronation vs supination special movements:

At the grocery store, you pronate to pick up your produce, and you supinate to eat it for supper.

pronation, supination, mnemonic, anatomy, body movements

Also, if you want to take your vitamins, you pronate to pour, and you supinate to take your supplements.

Free Quiz and More Anatomy Videos

Take a free supination vs pronation quiz to test your knowledge, or review our supination vs pronation video. In addition, you might want to watch our anatomy and physiology lectures on YouTube, or check our anatomy and physiology notes.

Please Share:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
Nursing Gear

RSS Latest YouTube Videos

  • Do Nurses Remember Everything They Learned in Nursing School?
  • Gliding Movement of Joint | Anatomy Body Movement Terms | Body Planes of Motion
  • Barbiturates Pharmacology Nursing NCLEX Review Mechanism of Action
  • Circumduction Movement: Hip, Shoulder, Thumb, Fingers, Wrist, Ankle, Toes, Head

Recent Posts

  • Gliding
  • Gliding Quiz
  • Barbiturates Pharmacology Nursing NCLEX Review on Anxiolytic, Sedative-Hypnotic
  • Circumduction

Disclosure and Privacy Policy

This website provides entertainment value only, not medical advice or nursing protocols. We strive for 100% accuracy, but nursing procedures and state laws are constantly changing. By accessing any content on this site or its related media channels, you agree never to hold us liable for damages, harm, loss, or misinformation. See our full disclosure and privacy policy. Copyright Notice: Do not copy this site, articles, images, or its contents without permission.

Important Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook Nursing
  • Instagram Nursing
  • Twitter Nursing
  • YouTube Nursing

Get Free Email Updates:

Enter your email address below and hit "Submit" to receive free email updates and nursing tips.

Copyright © 2021 RegisteredNurseRN.com. All Rights Reserved.