US Medical Term · anatomy
Radius
Radio
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Radius |
| Spanish (Español) | Radio |
| Chinese (中文) | 橈骨 |
| Korean (한국어) | 요골 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Xương quay |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Radius (buto ng braso, gilid ng hinlalaki) |
| Portuguese (Português) | Rádio |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | กระดูกเรเดียส |
| Japanese (日本語) | 橈骨 |
What it means
The radius is one of the two bones in your forearm, located on the thumb side. It runs from the elbow to the wrist and is the larger of the two forearm bones at the wrist end. The radius plays a key role in wrist movement and rotation of the forearm. It connects to the humerus at the elbow and to the wrist bones below. The most common type of forearm fracture is a distal radius fracture — a break near the wrist, often caused by falling on an outstretched hand. These fractures are very common and are sometimes called Colles fractures. Treatment may involve a cast or surgery.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I broke my radius when I fell and tried to catch myself with my hand.
Me rompí el radio cuando me caí e intenté amortiguar la caída con la mano.
The X-ray showed a fracture at the end of my radius near the wrist.
La radiografía mostró una fractura en el extremo del radio cerca de la muñeca.
My wrist is very swollen and painful — could it be my radius?
La muñeca está muy inflamada y dolorosa — ¿podría ser el radio?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026