Radial artery at wrist — FRCA Primary MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardAnatomyRadial artery at wristFRCA Primary

At the wrist, the radial artery is usually identified immediately lateral to which tendon?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — Flexor carpi radialis tendon

The best answer is “Flexor carpi radialis tendon”. At the wrist, the radial pulse is palpated just lateral to the flexor carpi radialis tendon. This useful surface landmark assists radial arterial cannulation, although ultrasound is valuable where anatomy is uncertain or the vessel is poorly palpable.

Reference: RCoA, Primary FRCA Syllabus: https://rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2026-01/Primary-FRCA-Syllabus.pdf