Flexor pollicis brevis muscle

Flexor pollicis brevis muscle 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.

Etymology

The term "flexor" comes from the Latin word "flectere", meaning "to bend". "Pollicis" is derived from the Latin word "pollex" which means "thumb". "Brevis" is Latin for "short".

Anatomy

The flexor pollicis brevis muscle is located in the thenar eminence, the fleshy mass at the base of the thumb. It is one of three thenar muscles, the others being the abductor pollicis brevis and the opponens pollicis.

The muscle has two heads: a superficial part and a deep part. The superficial part arises from the distal edge of the flexor retinaculum and the tubercle of the trapezium. The deep part originates from the trapezoid and capitate bones.

Function

The flexor pollicis brevis muscle, as its name suggests, flexes the thumb. It is innervated by the median nerve and the ulnar nerve.

Clinical significance

Damage to the flexor pollicis brevis muscle can result in a loss of thumb flexion. This can significantly impact hand function, as the thumb is essential for many tasks such as gripping objects.

See also

• List of muscles of the human body
• Flexor pollicis longus muscle
• Flexor pollicis brevis muscle

References

Flexor pollicis brevis muscle Resources
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