Muscles acting on the hand and wrist

What muscle is this

Flexor carpi radialis

What does the flexor carpi radialis do

Flexes wrist anteriorly; aids in radial flexion of wrist

Where does the flexor carpi radialis originate

Medial condyle of humerus

Where does the flexor carpi radialis insert

Base of metacarpals II-III

What muscle is this

Flexor carpi ulnaris

What does the flexor carpi ulnaris do

Flexes wrist anteriorly; aids in ulnar flexion of wrist

Where does the flexor carpi ulnaris originate

Medial epicondyle of humerus; medial margin of olecranon; posterior surface of ulna

Where does the flexor carpi ulnaris insert

Metacarpal V; pisiform; hamate

What muscle is this

Flexor digitorum superficialis

What does the flexor digitorum superficialis do

Flexes wrist, metacarpophalangeal, and interphalangeal joints depending on action of other muscles

Where does the flexor digitorum superficialis originate

Medial epicondyle of humerus; ulnar collateral ligament; coronoid process; superior half of radius

Where does the flexor digitorum superficialis insert

Middle phalanges II-V

What muscle is this

Palmaris longus

What does the palmaris longus do

Anchors skin and fascia of palmar regions

Where does the palmaris longus originate

Medial epicondyle of humerus

Where does the palmaris longus insert

Flexor retinaculum, palmar aponeurosis

What muscle is this

Flexor digitorum profundus

What does the flexor digitorum profundus do

Flexes wrist, metacarpophalangeal, and interphalangeal joints; sole flexor of the distal and interphalangeal joints

Where does the flexor digitorum profundus originate

Proximal ¾ of ulna; coronoid process; interosseous membrane

Where does the flexor digitorum profundus insert

Distal phalanges II-V

What muscle is this

Flexor pollicis longus

What does the flexor pollicis longus do

Flexes phalanges of thumb

Where does the flexor pollicis longus originate

Radius; interosseous membrane

Where does the flexor pollicis longus insert

Distal phalanx I

What muscle is this

Extensor carpi radialis longus

What does the extensor carpi radialis longus do

Extends wrist; aids in radial flexion of wrist

Where does the extensor carpi radialis longus originate

Lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus

Where does the extensor carpi radialis longus insert

Base of metacarpal II

What muscle is this

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

What does the extensor carpi radialis brevis do

Extends wrist; aids in radial flexion of wrist

Where does the extensor carpi radialis brevis originate

Lateral epicondyle of humerus

Where does the extensor carpi radialis brevis insert

Base of metacarpal III

What muscle is this

Extensor digitorum

What does the extensor digitorum do

Extends wrist, metacarpophalangeal, and interphalangeal joints; tends to spread digits apart when extending metacarpophalangeal joints

Where does the extensor digitorum originate

Lateral epicondyle of humerus

Where does the extensor digitorum insert

Dorsal surfaces of phalanges II-V

What muscle is this

Extensor digiti minimi

What does the extensor digiti minimi do

Extends wrist and all joints of the little finger

Where does the extensor digiti minimi originate

Lateral epicondyle of humerus

Where does the extensor digiti minimi insert

Proximal phalanx V

What muscle is this

Extensor carpi ulnaris

What does the extensor carpi ulnaris do

Extends and fixes wrist when fist is clenched or hand grips and object; aids in ulnar flexion of the wrist

Where does the extensor carpi ulnaris originate

Lateral epicondyle of humerus; posterior surface of ulnar shaft

Where does the extensor carpi ulnaris insert

Base of metacarpal V

What muscle is this

Abductor pollicis longus

What does the abductor pollicis longus do

Radial abduction; extends thumb at carpometacarpal joint

Where does the abductor pollicis longus originate

Posterior surfaces of radius and ulna; interosseous membrane

Where does the abductor pollicis longus insert

Trapezium; base of metacarpal I

What muscle is this

Extensor pollicis brevis

What does the extensor pollicis brevis do

Extends metacarpal I and proximal phalanx of thumb

Where does the extensor pollicis brevis originate

Shaft of radius; interosseous membrane

Where does the extensor pollicis brevis insert

Proximal phalanx I

What muscle is this

Extensor pollicis longus

What does the extensor pollicis longus do

Extends distal phalanx I; aids in extending proximal phalanx I and metacarpal I; adducts and laterally rotates thumb

Where does the extensor pollicis longus originate

Posterior surface of ulna; interosseous membrane

Where does the extensor pollicis longus insert

Distal phalanx I

What muscle is this

Extensor indicis

What does the extensor indicis do

Extends wrist and index finger

Where does the extensor indicis originate

Posterior surface of ulna; interosseous membrane

Where does the extensor indicis insert

Middle and distal phalanges of index finger