Anatomy of the Thenar Muscles

Anatomy

• The thenar muscles are a group of three intrinsic muscles located in the lateral aspect of the palm.
• They are responsible for the movement of the thumb.
• The three thenar muscles include:
  1. Abductor Pollicis Brevis: Located on the outer side; abducts the thumb.
  2. Flexor Pollicis Brevis: Positioned next to the abductor; flexes the thumb.
  3. Opponens Pollicis: Deepest of the three; allows opposition of the thumb, enabling it to touch the other fingers.
• The thenar muscles originate from the tubercle of the scaphoid and trapezium bones and the flexor retinaculum.

Muscle Function

• Abductor Pollicis Brevis: Abducts the thumb away from the palm, crucial for grasping and holding objects.
• Flexor Pollicis Brevis: Flexes the thumb at the carpometacarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints, aiding in pinching movements.
• Opponens Pollicis: Allows for the thumb's opposition, which is the ability to touch the tips of the other fingers, facilitating fine motor skills.

Innervation

• All thenar muscles are innervated by the median nerve.
• The exception is the adductor pollicis, which is innervated by the ulnar nerve.
• The median nerve provides motor control to the thenar muscles, enabling thumb movement and coordination.

Anatomy

• Thenar muscles comprise three intrinsic muscles located on the palm's lateral side, crucial for thumb movement.
• The three thenar muscles are:
  • Abductor Pollicis Brevis: Abducts the thumb, positioned on the outer side.
  • Flexor Pollicis Brevis: Aids in thumb flexion, located adjacent to the abductor.
  • Opponens Pollicis: The deepest muscle, responsible for opposition, enabling thumb contact with other fingers.
• Originates from the tubercle of the scaphoid and trapezium bones and the flexor retinaculum.

Muscle Function

• Abductor Pollicis Brevis: Essential for grasping and holding objects by moving the thumb away from the palm.
• Flexor Pollicis Brevis: Facilitates pinching movements by flexing the thumb at the carpometacarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints.
• Opponens Pollicis: Vital for fine motor skills, allowing the thumb to touch tips of other fingers through opposition.

Innervation

• All thenar muscles receive innervation from the median nerve, which controls thumb movement and coordination.
• The adductor pollicis is an exception, receiving innervation from the ulnar nerve.

Explore the fascinating world of the thenar muscles, located in the palm of the hand. This quiz covers the three main muscles: Abductor Pollicis Brevis, Flexor Pollicis Brevis, and Opponens Pollicis, along with their functions related to thumb movement. Test your knowledge about their anatomy and roles in hand function!