| Vincula tendina | |
|---|---|
 Tendons of forefinger and vincula tendina. (Vincula brevia labeled at lower left; vincula longa labeled at bottom center.) | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | vincula tendinum digitorum manus |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Within each osseo-aponeurotic canal, the tendons of the flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus are connected to each other, and to the phalanges, by slender, tendinous bands, called vincula tendina.
There are around three to seven vincula for each flexor tendon. [1] Vincula tendina can be classified into two types according to their morphology.
The vincula brevia (short), which are two in number in each finger, and consist of triangular bands of fibers, one connecting the tendon of the flexor digitorum superficialis to the front of the first interphalangeal joint and head of the first phalanx, and the other the tendon of the flexor digitorum profundus to the front of the second interphalangeal joint and head of the second phalanx.
The vincula longa (long and slender), one which connects the flexor digitorum superficialis to the base of the first phalanx, and the other which connects the under surfaces of the tendons of the flexor digitorum profundus to those of the subjacent flexor digitorum superficialis after the tendons of the former have passed through the latter.
The vincula tendina carry blood supply to the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus tendons. [1] The vincula breve helps facilitate digital flexion following injury to the distal flexor digitorum profundus tendon. [2]
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 lumbricals are intrinsic muscles of the hand that flex the metacarpophalangeal joints and extend the interphalangeal joints.
The flexor digitorum profundus is a muscle in the forearm of humans that flexes the fingers. It is considered an extrinsic hand muscle because it acts on the hand while its muscle belly is located in the forearm.
Flexor digitorum superficialis is an extrinsic flexor muscle of the fingers at the proximal interphalangeal joints.
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.
In anatomy, a vinculum is a band of connective tissue, similar to a ligament, that connects a flexor tendon to a phalanx bone. They contain tiny vessels which supply blood to the tendon. In vertebrate anatomy, they are referred to as mesotendons.
The extensor digitorum muscle is a muscle of the posterior forearm present in humans and other animals. It extends the medial four digits of the hand. Extensor digitorum is innervated by the posterior interosseous nerve, which is a branch of the radial nerve.
In human anatomy, the extensor pollicis longus muscle (EPL) is a skeletal muscle located dorsally on the forearm. It is much larger than the extensor pollicis brevis, the origin of which it partly covers and acts to stretch the thumb together with this muscle.
The flexor pollicis longus is a muscle in the forearm and hand that flexes the thumb. It lies in the same plane as the flexor digitorum profundus.
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 interphalangeal joints of the hand are the hinge joints between the phalanges of the fingers that provide flexion towards the palm of the hand.
The interphalangeal joints of the foot are between the phalanx bones of the toes in the feet.
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.
In the human body, the carpal tunnel or carpal canal is the passageway on the palmar side of the wrist that connects the forearm to the hand.
In the human hand, palmar or volar plates are found in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and interphalangeal (IP) joints where they reinforce the joint capsules, enhance joint stability, and limit hyperextension. The plates of the MCP and IP joints are structurally and functionally similar, except that in the MCP joints they are interconnected by a deep transverse ligament. In the MCP joints, they also indirectly provide stability to the longitudinal palmar arches of the hand. The volar plate of the thumb MCP joint has a transverse longitudinal rectangular shape, shorter than those in the fingers.
Jersey finger is a finger-related tendon injury that is common in athletics and can result in permanent loss of flexion of the end of the finger if not surgically repaired. This injury often occurs in American football when a player grabs another player's jersey with the tips of one or more fingers while that player is pulling or running away.
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).
In human anatomy, juncturae tendinum or connexus intertendinei refers to the connective tissues that link the tendons of the extensor digitorum communis, and sometimes, to the tendon of the extensor digiti minimi. Juncturae tendinum are located on the dorsal aspect of the hand in the first, second and third inter-metacarpal spaces proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joint.
Palmaris profundus is a rare anatomical variant in the anterior compartment of forearm. It was first described in 1908. It is usually found incidentally in cadaveric dissection or surgery. The prevalence of the palmaris longus was reported to be one in 1600 upper limbs.
Linburg–Comstock variation is an occasional tendinous connection between the flexor pollicis longus and the flexor digitorum profundus of the index, the middle finger or both. It is found in around 21% of the population. It is an anatomical variation in human, which may be viewed as a pathology if causes symptoms. It was recognised as early as the 1800s, but was first described by Linburg and Comstock in 1979.
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 449 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
 | This human musculoskeletal system article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
