Muscles of the hand: Thenar group

Muscles of the hand: Thenar groupAnatomy, function, blood supply and innervation of the muscles of the hand
~ 3 min

In this pdf-note, we’ll start with the borders of the upper limb:

  • The anterior border is the deltopectoral groove

  • The posterior border is the posterior deltoid groove

    Borders of the upper limb
    Borders of the upper limb
    Borders of the upper limb
    Borders of the upper limb

    Within the upper limb, there is a large number of regions:

  • Deltoid region (regio deltoidea)

  • Axillary region (regio axillaris)

  • Anterior region of the arm (regio brachialis anterior)

  • Posterior region of the arm (regio brachialis posterior)

  • Anterior region of the elbow (regio cubitalis anterior)

  • Posterior region of the elbow (regio cubitalis posterior)

  • Anterior region of the forearm (regio antero brachialis anterior)

  • Posterior region of the forearm (regio anterobrachialis posterior)

  • Anterior region of the wrist (regio carpalis anterior)

  • Posterior region of the wrist (regio carpalis posterior)

  • Palmar region of the hand (regio palmaris manus)

  • Dorsal region of the hand (regio dorsalis manus)

    Regions of the upper limb
    Regions of the upper limb
    Regions of the upper limb
    Regions of the upper limb

    Within these areas, the muscles of the upper limb are located.

    These include:

  • Pectoral girdle muscles

  • Muscles of the free part of the upper limb

    The muscles of the free part of the upper limb are divided into:

  • Arm muscles

  • Forearm muscles

  • Hand muscles

    There are three groups among the muscles of the hand:

  • The thenar eminence muscles (thenar) is the lateral group

  • The hypothenar eminence muscles (hypothenar) is the medial group

  • Middle muscle group

    The thenar eminence muscles include:

  • Abductor pollicis brevis muscle (m. abductor pollicis brevis)

    Abductor pollicis brevis muscle (m. abductor pollicis brevis)
    Abductor pollicis brevis muscle (m. abductor pollicis brevis)
    Abductor pollicis brevis muscle (m. abductor pollicis brevis)
    Abductor pollicis brevis muscle (m. abductor pollicis brevis)
    Abductor pollicis brevis muscle
    (m. abductor pollicis brevis)

    Origin: flexor retinaculum, scaphoid bone, transverse ligament of the wrist

    Insertion: base of the proximal phalanx of the thumb

    Function: abducts the thumb

    Innervation: median nerve (C5-Th1)

    Blood supply: superficial palmar branch of the radial artery

  • Opponens pollicis muscle (m. opponens pollicis)

    Opponens pollicis muscle (m. opponens pollicis)
    Opponens pollicis muscle (m. opponens pollicis)
    Opponens pollicis muscle
    (m. opponens pollicis)

    Origin: flexor retinaculum, trapezium bone

    Insertion: Radial border and anterior surface of the 1st metacarpal

    Function: opposes the thumb to the little finger

    Innervation: median nerve (C5-Th1)

    Blood supply: superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, deep palmar arterial arch

  • Flexor pollicis brevis muscle (m. flexor pollicis brevis)

    Flexor pollicis brevis muscle (m. flexor pollicis brevis)
    Flexor pollicis brevis muscle (m. flexor pollicis brevis)
    Flexor pollicis brevis muscle (m. flexor pollicis brevis)
    Flexor pollicis brevis muscle (m. flexor pollicis brevis)
    Flexor pollicis brevis muscle
    (m. flexor pollicis brevis)

    Origin:

    Superficial head (caput superficiale) arises from the flexor retinaculum

    Deep head (caput profundum) arises from the trapezium, trapezoid, 2nd metacarpal

    Insertion:

    Superficial head (caput superficiale) inserts into the proximal phalanx of the thumb (using the lateral sesamoid bone)

    Deep head (caput profundum) inserts into the proximal phalanx of the thumb (using the medial sesamoid bone), and into the lateral sesamoid bone

    Function: flexes the proximal phalanx of the thumb

    Innervation: median nerve (C5-Th1) innervates the superficial head, ulnar nerve (C8-Th1) innervates the deep head

    Blood supply: superficial palmar branch of the radial artery, deep palmar arterial arch

  • Adductor pollicis muscle (m. adductor pollicis)

Adductor pollicis muscle (m. adductor pollicis)
Adductor pollicis muscle (m. adductor pollicis)
Adductor pollicis muscle (m. adductor pollicis)
Adductor pollicis muscle (m. adductor pollicis)
Adductor pollicis muscle (m. adductor pollicis)
Adductor pollicis muscle (m. adductor pollicis)
Adductor pollicis muscle
(m. adductor pollicis)

Origin:

Oblique head (caput obliquum) arises from the capitate bone and the bases of the 2nd and 3rd metacarpals

Transverse head (caput transversum) arises from the palmar surface of the 3rd metacarpal

Insertion: proximal phalanx of the thumb of the hand, capsule of the metacarpophalangeal joint

Function: adducts the thumb, flexes the thumb

Innervation: ulnar nerve (C8-Th1)

Blood supply: superficial palmar arterial arch and deep palmar arterial arch

Dictionary

Muscles of the hand

Deltoid region
regio deltoidea
Axillary region
regio axillaris
Anterior region of the arm
regio brachialis anterior
Posterior region of the arm
regio brachialis posterior
Anterior region of the elbow
regio cubitalis anterior
Posterior region of the elbow
regio cubitalis posterior
Anterior region of the forearm
regio anterobrachialis anterior
Posterior region of the forearm
regio anterobrachialis posterior
Anterior region of the wrist
regio carpalis anterior
Posterior region of the wrist
regio carpalis posterior
Palmar region of the hand
regio palmaris manus
Dorsal region of the hand
regio dorsalis manus
Thenar eminence
thenar
Hypothenar eminence
hypothenar
Abductor pollicis brevis muscle
m. abductor pollicis brevis
Opponens pollicis muscle
m. opponens pollicis
Flexor pollicis brevis muscle
m. flexor pollicis brevis
Adductor pollicis muscle
m. adductor pollicis
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