Opponens Pollicis

Description

Opponens Pollicis

Schematic drawings of the right hand, palmar view, with the thenar muscles shown in two layers Only bony attachments are shown. Left) Overview of the thenar muscles as visible after skinning the hand. Both heads of the flexor pollicis brevis are covered by the abductor pollicis. Right) Abductor pollicis and opponens pollicis are completely removed. The deep head of Cruveilhier (orange; a.k.a. the deep head of the flexor pollicis brevis) is shown with two heads attaching onto the ulnar and radial side at the base of the proximal phalanx of the thumb. The superficial head of the flexor pollicis brevis (dark orange) has a single head that inserts ulnarward onto the proximal phalanx of the thumb.

Name

• Opponens Pollicis
• Muscle of the thumb
• Thenar muscle

General

• Muscle that allows opposition of the thumb
• Part of the thenar muscles

Origin

• Trapezium and flexor retinaculum

Insertion

• Radial margin of shaft of 1st metacarpal

Actions

• Opposition of carpometacarpal joint of 1st digit

Vascular Supply

• Superficial palmar branch of radial artery

Innervation

• Recurrent Branch of Median Nerve

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Clinical Significance

• Needs to be updated

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See Also

• Physical Exam Hand
• Hand And Wrist Anatomy
• Hand Pain (Main)
• Wrist Pain (Main)

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