The thenar muscles are three short muscles located at the base of the thumb . The muscle bellies produce a bulge, known as the thenar eminence. They are responsible for the fine movements of the thumb. The median nerve innervates all the thenar muscles.
Where is the hypothenar located?
Relevant Anatomy. The hypothenar eminence is the prominent part of the palm of the hand, above the pisiform bone, the hamate bone, and the base of the fifth finger . It corresponds to the hypothenar space, the Guyon canal, and the pisotriquetral complex.
Where are the thenar and hypothenar eminences found?
The thenar eminence is the fleshy mound at the base of the thumb . The hypothenar eminence is the mound located at the base of the fifth digit (little finger). The eminences at either side of the hand are made up of muscles. The muscles located in the thenar eminence function primarily to control the thumb.
How do I find thenar eminence?
Your thenar eminence is the soft fleshy area at the base of your thumb . The four muscles found here make your thumb opposable. That is, they allow your thumb to grip and hold small objects like a pencil, sewing needle, or spoon.
What is the origin of the thenar eminence?
It originates from the tubercles of the scaphoid and trapezium bones as well as the flexor retinaculum . From here, the muscle fibers extend laterally and distally, ending in a tendon that inserts onto the lateral aspect of the base of proximal phalanx 1.
What is the difference between thenar and hypothenar?
The thenar eminence is the fleshy mound at the base of the thumb. The hypothenar eminence is the mound located at the base of the fifth digit (little finger). The eminences at either side of the hand are made up of muscles. The muscles located in the thenar eminence function primarily to control the thumb.
Which is not a thenar muscle?
The adductor pollicis muscle is not one of the thenar muscles and – like flexor pollicis brevis muscle – is innervated by the ulnar nerve. The three muscles of the thenar eminence with adductor pollicis form the short muscles of the thumb, part of the intrinsic muscles of the hand group.
How is hypothenar pain treated?
The treatment of hypothenar hammer syndrome begins by avoiding those activities that caused the syndrome . Other treatments may include smoking cessation (smoking affects blood circulation), use of padded protective gloves, and avoiding the cold. Certain drugs will help to restore the blood flow.
What causes ape hand?
What causes ape hand? Ape hand is usually the result of median nerve palsy , which is commonly caused by deep injury to the wrist or forearm. This can impair the function of the thenar muscles.
How do you strengthen thenar eminence?
- Thumb flex and extension. Raise your hand, making sure that your thumb is positioned away from your fingers. ...
- Thumb extension with rubber band. Lay your hand flat on a table or other hard surface. ...
- Hand grip exercise. ...
- Pinch strength exercise. ...
- Thumb-to-finger touch.
Can thenar atrophy be reversed?
Unfortunately, thenar muscle atrophy is not completely reversible and contributes to hand weakness. Surgery is understood to prevent further worsening of the thenar atrophy, with some authors also reporting varying degrees of post-operative improvement.
What is the significance of flattening of the thenar muscles?
Diminished or lost innervation of the thenar muscles produces a flattening of the thenar eminence. Because OP and APB are responsible for opposition and palmar abduction, these motions become significantly weakened or absent resulting in an adducted thumb posture and ultimately the loss of web space length.
What structures are located in Thenar space?
- superficial. pronator teres muscle. flexor carpi radialis muscle. palmaris longus muscle. palmar aponeurosis. flexor carpi ulnaris muscle.
- intermediate. flexor digitorum superficialis muscle.
- deep. flexor digitorum profundus muscle. flexor pollicis longus muscle. Linburg–Comstock anomaly. pronator quadratus muscle.
What is the meaning of Thenar?
: of, relating to, involving, or constituting the ball of the thumb or the intrinsic musculature of the thumb .
