Abductor pollicis longus muscle
Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 16 Jan 2021
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Trajcevska E, Bell D, Weerakkody Y, et al. Abductor pollicis longus muscle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 29 Nov 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-24510
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rID:
24510
Article created:
21 Aug 2013, Elena Trajcevska
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Elena Trajcevska had no recorded disclosures.
View Elena Trajcevska's current disclosuresLast revised:
16 Jan 2021, Daniel J Bell ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosuresRevisions:
14 times, by 8 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Abductor pollicis longus muscles
- Abductor pollicis longus (APL)
- APL muscle
The abductor pollicis longus (APL) muscle is found in the deep layer of the posterior compartment of the forearm. As it descends, it becomes superficial and passes under the extensor retinaculum and through the 1st extensor compartment of the wrist before attaching distally. It is one of the extrinsic muscles of the hand.
Summary
- origin: posterior surfaces of ulna, radius and interosseous membrane
- insertion: via tendon, usually dividing into two slips, one attaching to the base of 1st metacarpal, the other attaching to the trapezium
- arterial supply: proximally by the posterior interosseous artery and distally by a branch from the anterior interosseous artery
- innervation: posterior interosseous nerve (C7, C8), a continuation of the deep branch of the radial nerve (C7, C8)
- action: abducts and extends the thumb at the carpometacarpal joint
Variant anatomy
- presence of multiple slips instead of a single APL tendon 4
- a vertical septum splitting the 1st extensor compartment into two distinct subcompartments (i.e. APL lies in its own tunnel) 4
References
- 1. Gray's Anatomy. Churchill Livingstone. (2011) ISBN:0443066841. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Last's anatomy. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:0443100330. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Moore KL, Dalley AF. Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (1999) ISBN:0683061410. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 4. Pascal Rousset, Valérie Vuillemin-Bodaghi, Jean-Denis Laredo, Caroline Parlier-Cuau. Anatomic Variations in the First Extensor Compartment of the Wrist: Accuracy of US1. (2010) Radiology. 257 (2): 427-33. doi:10.1148/radiol.10092265 - Pubmed
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- Wrist
- Radial collateral ligament of the wrist
- Posterior interosseous nerve
- Ultrasound of the wrist
- Rolando fracture
- Extensor pollicis brevis muscle
- Scaphoid fat pad sign
- Posterior compartment of the forearm
- Anatomical snuff box
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- Extrinsic muscles of the hand
- Posterior interosseous artery
- Radius
- Metacarpal bones
- Dorsal deltoid ligament complex of the thumb
- Carpometacarpal joint
- Ulna
- Extensor compartments of the wrist
- Ulnar impingement syndrome
Cases:
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- Wrist extensor tendons (reporting aid)
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Reversed palmaris longus muscle
- Orthopedic hardware impingement - 1st extensor compartment of the wrist
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
Related articles: Anatomy: Upper limb
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skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
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- radius
- ulna
- hand
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accessory ossicles of the wrist (mnemonic)
- os centrale carpi
- os epilunate
- os epitriquetrum
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shoulder joint
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wrist joint
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ligaments
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- long radiolunate ligament
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hand joints
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metacarpophalangeal joints
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interphalangeal joints
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anterior compartment of the forearm
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posterior compartment of the forearm (extensors)
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accessory muscles
- elbow
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arteries
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arteries
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brachial plexus (mnemonic)
- branches from the roots
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- branches from the cords
- lateral cord
- posterior cord
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- terminal branches
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