Palmar Aponeurosis
Description
Name
- Palmar Aponeurosis
- Aponeurosis palmaris
- Palmar fascia
General
- Strong thickening of the central part of the deep fascia of the palm
- Has little mobility
- Covers underlying structures (neurovascular, tendons, intrinsic hand muscles)
- It is continuous with the flexor retinaculum, tendon of palmaris longus
Gross Anatomy
- Inverted triangle in shape
- Fans out over the palm, thins out hypothenar eminence and thenar eminence
- Superficial to the flexor tendons
- Distally it divides into four slips, attaching to the second through fifth digit
- Superficial fibers insert into the skin at the crease of the MCP joints
- Deep/ main fibers insert into
- the proximal end of the flexor sheaths
- the deep transverse ligament of the palm
- the bases of the proximal phalanges
Muscle Attachments
- Tendon of palmaris longus attaches to palmar aponeurosis
- Palmaris Brevis originates on the palmar aponeurosis
Function
- Improves grip of hand
- Protects flexor tendons
- Underlying neurovascular structures