Short Muscles Of Hand – Origin, Nerve Supply, Functions

Last updated: February 7, 2026Reviewed date: February 7, 2026Reading time: 7 min read
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Short Muscles Of Hand/The thenar muscles are three short muscles located at the base of the thumb. The muscle bellies produce a bulge, known as the thenar eminence. They are responsible for the fine movements of the thumb. The median nerve innervates all the thenar muscles. Thenar Muscles of Hand Opponents policies  Function: Opposition of the thumb Origin: Flexor retinaculum  and tubercle of trapezium Insertion:...

Key Takeaways

  • This article explains Thenar Muscles of Hand in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Hypothenar Muscles of Hand in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Short Muscles Of Hand in simple medical language.
  • This article explains Surgical Considerations in simple medical language.
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Short Muscles Of Hand/The thenar muscles are three short muscles located at the base of the thumb. The muscle bellies produce a bulge, known as the thenar eminence. They are responsible for the fine movements of the thumb. The median nerve innervates all the thenar muscles.

Short Muscles Of Hand - Origin, Nerve Supply, Functions

Thenar Muscles of Hand

Opponents policies 

  • Function: Opposition of the thumb
  • Origin: Flexor retinaculum  and tubercle of trapezium
  • Insertion: Lateral aspect of the first metacarpal
  • Innervation: Recurrent branch of the median nerve (C8, T1)

Abductor policies Brevis

  • Function: Abduction of the thumb at the metacarpophalangeal joint
  • Origin: Flexor retinaculum  and tubercle of the scaphoid
  • Insertion: Lateral aspect of proximal phalanx of the first finger
  • Innervation: Recurrent branch of the median nerve (C8, T1)

Flexor policies Brevis 

  • Function: Flexion of the thumb at the metacarpophalangeal joint
  • Origin: Flexor retinaculum  and tubercle of trapezium
  • Insertion: Lateral aspect of proximal phalanx of the first finger
  • Innervation: Recurrent branch of the median nerve (C8, T1)

Adductor Compartment

Adductor pollicus 

  • Function: Adduction of the thumb
  • Origin: Second, third metacarpal, and capitate
  • Insertion: Proximal phalanx and extensor expansion of 1st finger
  • Innervation: Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8, T1)

Hypothenar Muscles of Hand

Abductor digiti minimi

  • Function: Abduction of the little finger at the metacarpophalangeal joint
  • Origin: Pisiform
  • Insertion: Medial aspect of proximal phalanx of fifth finger
  • Innervation: Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8, T1)

Flexor digiti minimi brevis

  • Function: Flexion of the little finger at the metacarpophalangeal joint
  • Origin: Flexor retinaculum and hook of hamate
  • Insertion: Medial aspect of proximal phalanx of fifth finger
  • Innervation: Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8, T1)

Opponens digiti minimi

  • Function: Opposition of the little finger
  • Origin: Flexor retinaculum and hook of hamate
  • Insertion: Medial aspect of fifth metacarpal
  • Innervation: Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8, T1)

Short Muscles Of Hand

Lubricants 

  • Function: Flexion of the metacarpophalangeal joints with extension of the interphalangeal joints
  • Origin: Arise from tendons of flexor digitorum profundus. First 2 are unipennate, and the third and fourth are bipennate
  • Insertion: Extensor expansions of second, third, fourth, and fifth finger
  • Innervation: Median nerve (C8, T1) for the lateral 2 lumbricals, deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8, T1) for the medial 2 lumbricals

Dorsal interossei 

  • Function: Abduction of the second, third, and fourth finger away from the axial line
  • Origin: Adjacent metacarpals
  • Insertion: Extensor expansions and proximal phalanges of the second, third, and fourth fingers
  • Innervation: Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8, T1)

Palmar interossei

  • Function: Adduction of the second, third, and fourth finger towards the axial line
  • Origin: Palmar surfaces of second, fourth, and fifth metacarpals
  • Insertion: Extensor expansions and proximal phalanges of the second, fourth, and fifth fingers
  • Innervation: Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8, T1)

 

Intrinsic Muscles of the Hand
MuscleOriginInsertionActionInnervation
Muscles acting on the Second through Fifth Digits
Dorsal interossei (4)the ulnar side of 1st MC; both sides of 2nd-4th MC; radial side of 5th MCTubercle of the proximal phalanx and dorsal aponeurosis: radially on 2nd and 3rd digits, clearly on 3rd and 4th digitAbduct 2nd-4th digits from midline; flex MCP joint, extend PIP and DIP jointsUlnar nerve (C8-T1, anterior)
Palmar interossei (3)the ulnar side of 2nd and radial side of 4th-5th MCTubercle of the proximal phalanx and dorsal aponeurosis: ulnarly on 2nd digit, radially on 4th and 5th digitsAdduct 2nd, 4th, and 5th digits to the midline of the hand. Flex MCP joint and extend PIP and DIP jointsUlnar nerve (C8-T1, anterior)
Lubricants (1 and 2)Tendons of FDP in deep palmradial side of dorsal expansion of 2nd and 3rd digitsFlex MCP, extend DIP, PIPMedian nerve (C8-T1, anterior)
Lubricants (3 and 4)Tendons of FDP in deep palmradial side of dorsal expansion of 4th and 5th digitsFlex MCP, extend DIP, PIPUlnar nerve (c8-T1, anterior)
Palmaris Brevisulnar border of palmar aponeurosisThe skin over the hypothenar regionCorrugates palmar skinUlnar nerve (C8-T1, anterior)
Abductor digiti minimiPisiform boneThe ulnar side of the base of the 5th proximal phalanxAbduct 5th digitUlnar nerve (C8-T1, anterior)
Flexor digiti minimi brevisFlexor retinaculum and hamulusThe ulnar side of the base of the 5th proximal phalanxFlex 5th MCP jointUlnar nerve (C8-T1, anterior)
Opponents digiti minimiFlexor retinaculum and hamulusThe ulnar side of the base of the 5th MCFlexion and oppositionUlnar nerve (C8-T1, anterior)
Muscles acting on the Thumb
Abductor pollicis brevis (APB)Anterior surface of trapezium, scaphoidthe radial aspect of the base of proximal phalanxAbducts thumbMedian n. (C8-T1, anterior)
Opponent pollicisTrapeziumThe anterolateral surface of 1st MCMedially rotates (opposes) thumbMedian n. (C8-T1, anterior)
Flexor pollicis brevis
  Superficial headTransverse carpal ligament and trapeziumradial side of the base of proximal phalanxFlexes thumbMedian n. (C8-T1, anterior)
  Deep headradial side of 2nd MCUlnar nerve (C8-T1, anterior)
Adductor pollicis
  Oblique headThe anterior surface of capitate and 2nd and 3rd MCthe ulnar side of the base of proximal phalanxAdducts thumbUlnar nerve (C8-T1, anterior)
  Transverse headDistal half of 3rd MC
  • Extrinsic (Originate in the forearm)The extrinsic muscles of the hand include the wrist flexors and extensors, which stabilize the wrist in slight dorsiflexion, the Finger Flexors (five deep and four superficial), and the finger extensors
Extrinsic Muscles of the Hand
MuscleOriginInsertionActionInnervation
Muscles acting on the Second through Fifth Digits
Extensor digitorum cominus (EDC)Lateral epicondyle of humerusmiddle and distal phalanges of index, middle, and ring fingersExtends digits and wrist when the fist is clenchedRadial nerve (C7-C8, posterior)
Extensor digiti minimi (EDM)Common extensor tendonAll phalanges of the fifth digitExtends the fifth digitRadial nerve (C7-C8, posterior)
Extensor indicis proprius (EIP)Interosseus membrane and ulnamiddle and distal phalanges of the index fingerextends first digit and wristRadial nerve (C8-T1, posterior)
Flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS)Medial epicondyleThe base of the middle phalanx of each digitFlexes PIP, MCP, and wrist jointMedian nerve (C8-T1, anterior)
Flexor digitorum profundus (FDP)Anterior proximal ulna and IOMBase of distal phalanx of each digitFlexes DIP, PIP, MCP, and wrist joints-Median n. (C7-T1, anterior) for 2nd-3rd digit
-Ulnar n. (C7-T1, anterior) for 4th-5th
Muscles acting on the thumb
Abductor pollicis longus (APL)Posterior IOM and ulnaBase of1st MC, laterallyAbducts thumb and wristRadial n. (C8-T1, posterior)
Extensor pollicis brevis (EPB)Posterior midshaft of radius and IOMBase of proximal phalanxExtends thumb and abducts wristRadial n. (C8-T1, posterior)
Extensor pollicis Longus (EPL)Posterior surface of IOM and posteriior ulnaBase of middle phalanxExtend thumb and abducts wristRadial n. (C8-T1, posterior)
Flexor pollicis longus (FPL)Anterior mid-radius and IOMLateral aspect of base of proximal phalanxFlexe thumb, MCP joint, and wristMedian n. (C7-T1, anterior)

Surgical Considerations

The deltoid is a significant factor when considering the anterior surgical approach to gain access to the shoulder joint.  Some of these technical procedures include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Open Bankart repair/capsular reconstructions – indicated in the setting of recurrent anterior (or other directional) instability of the shoulder
  • Shoulder arthroplasty – indicated for cases of post-traumatic deformity, advanced degenerative pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।" data-rx-term="arthritis" data-rx-definition="Arthritis means joint inflammation causing pain, swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement. সহজ বাংলা: জয়েন্টের প্রদাহ।">arthritis, and/or avascular necrosis includes hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA)
  • The long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) – repair versus tenotomy versus tenodesis procedures  indicated in the setting of either LHBT/bicipital groove instability or advanced/end-stage LHBT tendinopathy and degeneration
  • Rotator cuff repair contemporary –  indications remain somewhat controversial although most of these procedures are now being performed arthroscopically popular approaches (as opposed to the deltopectoral approach) include the mini-open approach (lateral deltoid-splitting approach)

References

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