What are the names of the two bones which extend from the elbow to the wrist?

The human forearm is a remarkable piece of engineering, containing two long bones that work in a clever partnership. These bones are the radius, located on the thumb side of the forearm, and the ulna, which is on the pinky side. They run parallel to each other, connecting the humerus bone of the upper arm at the elbow to the small carpal bones of the wrist.

What makes this arrangement so special is how they allow for rotation. When you turn your palm up or down, it is the radius that actually pivots and crosses over the more stationary ulna. A helpful way to remember their placement is that the radius is always on the same side as your thumb, which is why doctors check for your "radial" pulse on the thumb side of your wrist.

The ulna, meanwhile, is more fixed at the elbow joint, forming the main hinge. In fact, the bony point of your elbow that you can feel is a part of the ulna called the olecranon process. Together, this dynamic duo provides both the stability and the incredible dexterity that allows for the complex and precise movements of our hands and wrists.