This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations . (June 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Flexor digiti minimi brevis | |
---|---|
The muscles of the left hand. Palmar surface | |
Details | |
Origin | hamate bone |
Insertion | palmar side of the base of the proximal phalanx of fifth digit |
Artery | ulnar artery |
Nerve | deep branch of ulnar nerve |
Actions | flexes little finger |
Antagonist | Extensor digiti minimi muscle |
Identifiers | |
Latin | musculus flexor digiti minimi brevis manus |
TA | A04.6.02.063 |
FMA | 37383 |
Anatomical terms of muscle |
The flexor digiti minimi brevis is a hypothenar muscle in the hand that flexes the little finger (digit V) at the metacarpophalangeal joint. It lies lateral to the abductor digiti minimi when the hand is in anatomical position.
The flexor digiti minimi brevis arises from the hamulus of the hamate bone and the palmar surface of the flexor retinaculum of the hand. It is inserted into the medial side of the base of the proximal phalanx of digit V. It is separated from the abductor digiti minimi, at its origin, by the deep branches of the ulnar artery and the ulnar nerve. The flexor digiti minimi brevis is sometimes not present; in these cases, the abductor digiti minimi is usually larger than normal.
The flexor digiti minimi brevis is one of three muscles in the hypothenar muscle group. These three muscles form the fleshy mass at the base of the little finger, and are solely concerned with the movement of digit V. The other two muscles that make up the hypothenar muscle group are the abductor digiti minimi and the opponens digiti minimi. In anatomical position from medial to lateral is the abductor digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi brevis, and opponens digiti minimi.
The flexor digiti minimi brevis, like other hypothenar muscles, is innervated by the deep branch of the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve arises from the spinal nerve levels C8-T1. The spinal roots of C8 and T1 then merge to form the lower trunk, anterior division, medial cord, and finally produce the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve has a superficial and deep branch, but it is the deep branch that innervates the flexor digiti minimi brevis.
The flexor digiti minimi brevis flexes the little finger at the metacarpophalangeal joint.
The name of this muscle is Latin for the 'short flexor of the little finger'. Note that brevis is usually included to differentiate it from a longus muscle of the same name. The flexor digiti minimi longus, however, is not found in the typical human, but instead is a rare anatomical variation.
This gallery of anatomic features needs cleanup to abide by the medical manual of style. |
The radial nerve is a nerve in the human body that supplies the posterior portion of the upper limb. It innervates the medial and lateral heads of the triceps brachii muscle of the arm, as well as all 12 muscles in the posterior osteofascial compartment of the forearm and the associated joints and overlying skin.
The median nerve is a nerve in humans and other animals in the upper limb. It is one of the five main nerves originating from the brachial plexus.
The thenar eminence refers to the group of muscles on the palm of the human hand at the base of the thumb. The skin overlying this region is the area stimulated when trying to elicit a palmomental reflex. The word thenar comes from Greek θέναρ (thenar), meaning 'palm of the hand'.
In human anatomy, the ulnar nerve is a nerve that runs near the ulna bone. The ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint is in relation with the ulnar nerve. The nerve is the largest in the human body unprotected by muscle or bone, so injury is common. This nerve is directly connected to the little finger, and the adjacent half of the ring finger, innervating the palmar aspect of these fingers, including both front and back of the tips, perhaps as far back as the fingernail beds.
Wrist drop, is a medical condition in which the wrist and the fingers cannot extend at the metacarpophalangeal joints. The wrist remains partially flexed due to an opposing action of flexor muscles of the forearm. As a result, the extensor muscles in the posterior compartment remain paralyzed.
The upper limb or upper extremity is the region in a vertebrate animal extending from the deltoid region up to and including the hand, including the arm, axilla and shoulder.
The flexor pollicis brevis is a muscle in the hand that flexes the thumb. It is one of three thenar muscles. It has both a superficial part and a deep part.
In human anatomy, the adductor pollicis muscle is a muscle in the hand that functions to adduct the thumb. It has two heads: transverse and oblique.
The opponens digiti minimi is a muscle in the hand. It is of a triangular form, and placed immediately beneath the palmaris brevis, abductor digiti minimi and flexor digiti minimi brevis. It is one of the three hypothenar muscles that control the little finger.
The opponens pollicis is a small, triangular muscle in the hand, which functions to oppose the thumb. It is one of the three thenar muscles, lying deep to the abductor pollicis brevis and lateral to the flexor pollicis brevis.
The hypothenar muscles are a group of three muscles of the palm that control the motion of the little finger.
In human anatomy, the dorsal interossei (DI) are four muscles in the back of the hand that act to abduct (spread) the index, middle, and ring fingers away from hand's midline and assist in flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joints and extension at the interphalangeal joints of the index, middle and ring fingers.
In human anatomy, the abductor digiti minimi is a skeletal muscle situated on the ulnar border of the palm of the hand. It forms the ulnar border of the palm and its spindle-like shape defines the hypothenar eminence of the palm together with the skin, connective tissue, and fat surrounding it. Its main function is to pull the little finger away from the other fingers.
The deep palmar branch of ulnar artery passes between the Abductor digiti minimi and Flexor digiti minimi brevis and through the origin of the Opponens digiti minimi; it anastomoses with the radial artery, and completes the deep volar arch.
The deep branch of the ulnar nerve is a terminal, primarily motor branch of the ulnar nerve. It is accompanied by the deep palmar branch of ulnar artery.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human anatomy:
The cervical spinal nerve 8 (C8) is a spinal nerve of the cervical segment.
The muscles of the hand are the skeletal muscles responsible for the movement of the hand and fingers. The muscles of the hand can be subdivided into two groups: the extrinsic and intrinsic muscle groups. The extrinsic muscle groups are the long flexors and extensors. They are called extrinsic because the muscle belly is located on the forearm. The intrinsic group are the smaller muscles located within the hand itself. The muscles of the hand are innervated by the radial, median, and ulnar nerves from the brachial plexus.
The extrinsic extensor muscles of the hand are located in the back of the forearm and have long tendons connecting them to bones in the hand, where they exert their action. Extrinsic denotes their location outside the hand. Extensor denotes their action which is to extend, or open flat, joints in the hand. They include the extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL), extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB), extensor digitorum (ED), extensor digiti minimi (EDM), extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), abductor pollicis longus (APL), extensor pollicis brevis (EPB), extensor pollicis longus (EPL), and extensor indicis (EI).
The muscles of the thumb are nine skeletal muscles located in the hand and forearm. The muscles allow for flexion, extension, adduction, abduction and opposition of the thumb. The muscles acting on the thumb can be divided into two groups: The extrinsic hand muscles, with their muscle bellies located in the forearm, and the intrinsic hand muscles, with their muscles bellies located in the hand proper.
1. This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 464 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918) 2. Anatomy & Physiology The Unity of Form and Function. Seventh Edition. McGraw Hill. 3. Atkins, S.E, B. Logan, and D. A. McGrouther. "The Deep (Motor) Branch of the Ulnar Nerve: A Detailed Examination of Its Course and the Clinical Significance of Its Damage." The Journal of Hand Surgery. SAGE Journals, 14 Aug. 2008. <http://jhs.sagepub.com/content/34/1/47.full>.