5
104
Muscles Acting On
Thumb
Chapter 4 – Muscles That Move the Upper Extremity
Flexor pollicis longus
moves the thumb
Flexor pollicis brevis
moves the thumb
Opponens pollicis
Intrinsic Hand Muscles
moves the thumb
Adductor pollicis
moves the thumb
Abductor pollicis brevis
moves the thumb
Abductor pollicis longus
moves the thumb and the wrist
Mastering Muscles & Movement
Extensor pollicis longus
moves the thumb
Extensor pollicis brevis
moves the thumb
(larger illustrations
on page 107) Table 5 (A) - Thumb - Origin, Insertion, Action
RC=Radiocarpal (wrist), CM=Carpometacarpal, MP=Metacarpophalangeal, IP=Interphalangeal
Origin
Anterior shaft of radius,
and interosseus membrane
(also by a slip to coronoid
process of ulna)
Flexor retinaculum and
carpal bones
(Superficial head to flexor
retinaculum & trapezium, Deep
head to trapezoid and capitate)
Trapezium and
flexor retinaculum
Shaft of 3rd metacarpal
bone, and capitate bone
(palmar side)
(+ bases of metacarpals 2 & 3)
Flexor retinaculum,
trapezium and scaphoid
Posterior ulna and radius,
and interosseus membrane
Middle posterior ulna,
and interosseus membrane
Distal posterior radius,
and interosseus membrane
Thumb
Insertion Action
Base of distal phalanx of thumb Flexion of the thumb
(palmar side) (distal phalanx at the IP joint)
(Also assists flexion of the thumb at
the MP and CM joints, and may assist
flexion at the wrist)
Base of proximal phalanx of thumb Flexion of the thumb
(palmar side)
(at the MP and CM joints)
Metacarpal #1 Opposition of thumb to the fingers
(whole length of radial side)
(Opposition =
st
abduction + flexion + rotation at the 1
CM joint (saddle joint). The finger pads
face the thumb pad.)
Base of proximal phalanx of thumb Adduction of the thumb
(ulnar side)
(also assists flexion of the thumb
at the MP joint)
Base of proximal phalanx of thumb Abduction of the thumb
(radial side)
Base of metacarpal #1 Abduction and extension of the
(radial side) thumb (at the CM joint), and
Radial deviation (abduction)
at the wrist
Base of distal phalanx of thumb Extension of the thumb
(dorsal side) (at the IP, MP & CM joints)
(Also assists extension and
radial deviation at the wrist)
Base of proximal phalanx of thumb Extension of the thumb
(dorsal side) (at the MP & CM joints)
(Also assists radial deviation
at the wrist)
809A