Flexor digiti minimi brevis muscle (hand)

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Flexor digiti minimi brevis
Musculusflexordigitiminimibrevismanus.png
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.

Contents

Structure

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.

Innervation

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.

Actions

The flexor digiti minimi brevis flexes the little finger at the metacarpophalangeal joint.

Etymology

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.

Additional images

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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.

Extrinsic extensor muscles of the hand

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).

Muscles of the thumb

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.

References

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>.