Hypothenar eminence

Last updated
Hypothenar eminence
Gray423.png
The mucous sheaths of the tendons on the front of the wrist and digits. (Hypothenar eminence labeled at center right.)
Gray422.png
Transverse section across the wrist and digits. (Muscles of little finger labeled at upper right.)
Details
Insertion 5th metacarpal and proximal phalynx
Artery ulnar artery
Nerve deep branch of ulnar nerve
Actions control movement of the 5th digit
Identifiers
Latin eminentia hypothenaris
TA98 A01.2.07.024
TA2 307
FMA 61523
Anatomical terms of muscle

The hypothenar muscles are a group of three muscles of the palm that control the motion of the little finger.

Contents

Carpal tunnel and thenar and hypothenar eminences Hand dissection 5.jpg
Carpal tunnel and thenar and hypothenar eminences

The three muscles are: [1]

Structure

The muscles of hypothenar eminence are from medial to lateral:

The intrinsic muscles of hand can be remembered using the mnemonic, "A OF A OF A" for, Abductor pollicis brevis, Opponens pollicis, Flexor pollicis brevis (the three thenar muscles), Adductor pollicis, and the three hypothenar muscles, Opponens digiti minimi, Flexor digiti minimi brevis, Abductor digiti minimi. [2]

Clinical significance

"Hypothenar atrophy" is associated with the lesion of the ulnar nerve, which supplies the three hypothenar muscles.

Hypothenar hammer syndrome is a vascular occlusion of this region. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

Finger Organ of manipulation and sensation found in the hands of humans and other primates

A finger is a limb of the human body and a type of digit, an organ of manipulation and sensation found in the hands of humans and other primates. Normally humans have five digits, the bones of which are termed phalanges, on each hand, although some people have more or fewer than five due to congenital disorders such as polydactyly or oligodactyly, or accidental or medical amputations. The first digit is the thumb, followed by index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger or pinkie. According to different definitions, the thumb can be called a finger, or not.

Median nerve Nerve of the upper limb

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.

Thenar eminence

The thenar eminence is the mound formed at the base of the thumb on the palm of the hand by the intrinsic group of muscles 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) 'palm of the hand'.

Ulnar nerve

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.

Upper limb

The upper limbs or upper extremities are the forelimbs of an upright-postured tetrapod vertebrate, extending from the scapulae and clavicles down to and including the digits, including all the musculatures and ligaments involved with the shoulder, elbow, wrist and knuckle joints. In humans, each upper limb is divided into the arm, forearm and hand, and is primarily used for climbing, lifting and manipulating objects.

Little finger Smallest finger of the human hand

The little finger, or pinky finger, also known as the fifth digit, or pinkie, is the most ulnar and smallest finger of the human hand, opposite the thumb, and next to the ring finger.

In human anatomy, the abductor pollicis longus (APL) is one of the extrinsic muscles of the hand. As the name implies, its major function is to abduct the thumb at the wrist. Its tendon forms the anterior border of the anatomical snuffbox.

Opponens digiti minimi muscle of hand

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.

Opponens pollicis muscle

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. It lies deep to the abductor pollicis brevis and lateral to the flexor pollicis brevis.

Abductor digiti minimi muscle of hand

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.

Flexor digiti minimi brevis muscle (hand)

The flexor digiti minimi brevis is a hypothenar muscle in the hand that flexes the little finger at the metacarpophalangeal joint. It lies lateral to the abductor digiti minimi when the hand is in anatomical position.

Recurrent branch of the median nerve

The recurrent branch of the median nerve is the branch of the median nerve which supplies the thenar muscles. It is also occasionally referred to as the thenar branch of the median nerve, or the thenar muscular branch of the median nerve.

The posterior compartment of the forearm contains twelve muscles which are chiefly responsible for extension of the wrist and digits, and supination of the forearm. It is separated from the anterior compartment by the interosseous membrane between the radius and ulna.

Deep branch of ulnar nerve

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.

Cervical spinal nerve 8

The cervical spinal nerve 8 (C8) is a spinal nerve of the cervical segment.

Muscles of the hand

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.

In medicine, split hand syndrome is a neurological syndrome in which the hand muscles on the side of the thumb appear wasted, whereas the muscles on the side of the little finger are spared. Anatomically, the abductor pollicis brevis and first dorsal interosseous muscle are more wasted than the abductor digiti minimi.

In human anatomy, a brevis muscle derives its name from the Latin brevis meaning "short", and can refer to:

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. "Intrinsic Muscles of the Hand - Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics" . Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  2. "Medical mnemonics". LifeHugger. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  3. Cooke RA (2003). "Hypothenar hammer syndrome: a discrete syndrome to be distinguished from hand-arm vibration syndrome". Occup Med (Lond) . 53 (5): 320–4. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqg071 . PMID   12890831.