The abductor digiti minimi manus is the largest of the hypothenar eminence, the muscle mass of the little finger. The hypothenar eminence is located on the outside of the palm and hand. It consists of the abductor digiti minimi, the flexor digiti minimi, the opponens digiti minimi, and the palmaris brevis. The abductor digiti minimi is a superficial muscle that originates from the tip of pisiform bone and from the flexor carpi ulnaris. It wraps around the ulnar side of the hand and up to the side of the metacarpal of the little finger, inserting in the ulnar side of the base of the little finger. It is innervated by the ulnar nerve and supplied the ulnar artery. This muscle abducts and flexes the little finger. Research Abductor Digiti Minimi Manus
The flexor digiti minimi brevis manus is a narrow muscle located between the abductor digiti minimi and the opponens digiti minimi. It originates from the flexor retinaculum and hamate bone and inserts in the proximal phalanx (first bone) of the little finger. It is innervated by the ulnar nerve and supplied by the ulnar artery. This muscle flexes the little finger. It is considered a part of the hypothenar eminence, the muscle mass of the little finger, located on the outside of the palm of the hand. The hypothenar eminence includes the abductor digiti minimi, the flexor digiti minimi brevis, the opponens digiti minimi, and the palmaris brevis. These muscles work together to perform the grasping functions of the hand. Research Flexor Digiti Minimi Brevis Manus
The opponens digiti minimi (opponens digiti quinti) lies immediately beneath the flexor digiti minimi brevis. It is triangular in shape and originates from the hamulus of the hamate bone and the flexor retinaculum of the wrist. It inserts in the fifth metacarpal bone. The opponens digiti minimi is innervated by the ulnar nerve and supplied by the ulnar artery. This muscle is a part of the hypothenar eminence, the muscle mass of the little finger, located on the outside of the palm of the hand. The hypothenar eminence consists of the abductor digiti minimi, the flexor digiti minimi brevis, the opponens digiti minimi, and the palmaris brevis. These muscles work together to perform the grasp functions of the hand. With the help of the opponens digiti minimi, the little finger can be brought across to touch the thumb. Research Opponens Digiti Minimi
The palmaris brevis muscle works in conjunction with the palmaris longus muscle to bend the hand at the wrist. It is a short muscle that originates from the palmar aponeurosis on the ulnar side of the hand and inserts into the skin on the same side of the hand. This muscle is innervated by the ulnar nerve and supplied by superficial palmar branches of the ulnar artery. This muscle wrinkles the skin on the medial side of the palm. Research Palmaris Brevis
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Abductor Digiti Minimi Manus
