Abductor pollicis brevis muscle
The abductor pollicis brevis is a muscle in the hand that functions as an abductor of the thumb.
| Abductor pollicis brevis muscle | |
|---|---|
 Superficial muscles of the left hand, palmar view | |
| Details | |
| Origin | Transverse carpal ligament, the scaphoid and trapezium[1] |
| Insertion | Radial base of proximal phalanx of thumb and the thumb extensors[1] |
| Artery | Superficial palmar arch |
| Nerve | Recurrent branch of the median nerve |
| Actions | Abduction of the thumb by acting across the carpometacarpal joint and the metacarpophalangeal joint. It also assists in opposition and extension of the thumb. |
| Antagonist | Adductor pollicis muscle |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | musculus abductor pollicis brevis |
| TA | A04.6.02.054 |
| FMA | 37373 |
| Anatomical terms of muscle | |
Structure
The abductor pollicis brevis is a flat, thin muscle located just under the skin. It is a thenar muscle, and therefore contributes to the bulk of the palm's thenar eminence.
It originates from the flexor retinaculum of the hand, the tubercle of the scaphoid bone, and additionally sometimes from the tubercle of the trapezium.
Running lateralward and downward, it is inserted by a thin, flat tendon into the lateral side of the base of the first phalanx of the thumb and the capsule of the metacarpophalangeal joint.
Nerve supply
The abductor pollicis brevis is supplied by the recurrent branch of the median nerve (Roots C5- C7 and C8-T1 in the brachial plexus lateral and medial cords respectively).
Function
Abduction of the thumb is defined as the movement of the thumb anteriorly, a direction perpendicular to the palm. The abductor pollicis brevis does this by acting across both the carpometacarpal joint and the metacarpophalangeal joint.
It also assists in opposition and extension of the thumb.
Additional images
Cadaver dissection
References
This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 461 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
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