Flexor pollicis brevis

Origin Trapezoid, flexor retinaculum
Insertion Thumb, proximal phalanx
Action(s) The flexor pollicis brevis flexes the thumb at the first metacarpophalangeal joint.
Nerve Supply The flexor pollicis brevis is mostly innervated by the recurrent branch of the median nerve (C8, T1). The deep part is often innervated by the deep branch of the ulnar nerve.
Arterial Supply Blood supply:

The flexor pollicis brevis receives it's blood supply from the superficial palmar arch.

Physical Exam  
Clinical Importance  
Disease States  
Discussion The muscle's superficial part arises from the distal edge of the flexor retinaculum of the hand and the tubercle of the trapezium, a bone in the wrist. It passes along the radial side of the tendon of the flexor pollicis longus, and, becoming tendonous, is inserted into the radial side of the base of the proximal phalanx of the thumb; in its tendon of insertion there is a sesamoid bone.

The deeper (and medial) portion of the muscle is very small, and arises from the ulnar side of the first metacarpal bone between the oblique part of the adductor pollicis and the lateral head of the first dorsal interosseous muscle, and is inserted into the ulnar side of the base of the first phalanx with the adductor pollicis.

The deep (medial) part of the flexor brevis pollicis is sometimes described as the first palmar interosseous muscle. When this muscle is included, the total number of palmar interossei is four. Otherwise, there are only three palmar interossei.

Figures

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From Wikipedia: Flexor pollicis brevis

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Cite this page

. Orthopaedia Main - Flexor pollicis brevis. In: Orthopaedia - Collaborative Orthopaedic Knowledgebase. Created Jan 05, 2008 20:04 by Christian Veillette , Last modified Jun 09, 2009 13:21 ver.3. Retrieved 2010-07-30, from http://www.orthopaedia.com/x/NoE9.

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The following individuals have contributed to this page:

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Christian Veillette 200936 days ago
Orthopaedia Assistant 100415 days ago