long head of biceps brachii

Key points

• Biceps brachii lies at the front of the arm and has long and short heads that arise from the scapula.
• Its main tendon attaches to the radius, while a broad fibrous expansion blends with the connective tissue covering the forearm muscles.
• Its principal actions are elbow flexion and forearm supination, and it also assists shoulder flexion.
• The musculocutaneous nerve supplies biceps brachii, principally through fibres from spinal nerve roots C5 and C6.
• The atlas entry is anchored to the long head of biceps brachii rather than the whole muscle.

Read the guide: Biceps brachii: anatomy, location and function