Adductor pollicis muscle

Dr Daniel J Bell ◉ and Dr Geon Oh et al.

The adductor pollicis muscle is a large triangular muscle anterior to the plane of the interossei that crosses the palm of the hand. It is deep to the thenar eminence, forming part of the short muscles of the thumb, and the intrinsic muscles of the hand.

Summary

origin:
- transverse head: 3^rd metacarpal
- oblique head: capitate and bases of 2^nd and 3^rd metacarpals
insertion: base of proximal phalanx and extensor hood of thumb
action: adducts thumb
arterial supply: deep palmar arch
innervation: deep branch of ulnar nerve

The oblique head is also called the adductor obliquus pollicis muscle and the transverse head - the adductor transversus pollicis muscle.

References

Anatomy: Upper limb

Anatomy: Upper limb

skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
  - conoid tubercle
  - supraclavicular foramen
- scapula
- humerus
  - supracondylar spur
  - olecranon foramen
- radius
- ulna
- carpal bones (mnemonic)
  - scaphoid
    - bipartite scaphoid
  - lunate
    - lunate morphology
  - triquetrum
  - pisiform
  - trapezium
  - trapezoid
  - capitate
  - hamate
  - variants
    - carpal coalition
      - lunotriquetral coalition
      - capito-hamate coalition
- metacarpals
- phalanges
  - terminal tuft
- accessory ossicles of the upper limb
  - accessory ossicles of the shoulder
    - os acromiale
  - accessory ossicles of the elbow
    - os supratrochleare dorsale
    - patella cubiti
  - accessory ossicles of the wrist (mnemonic)
    - os centrale carpi
    - os epilunate
    - os epitriquetrum
    - os styloideum
    - os hamuli proprium
    - lunula
    - os triangulare
    - trapezium secondarium
    - os paratrapezium
    - os radiostyloideum (persistent radial styloid)
joints of the upper limb
- pectoral girdle
  - shoulder joint
    - articulations
    - associated structures
    - movements
      - scapulothoracic joint
        
        scapular retraction (adduction)
        
        scapular protraction (abduction)
        
        scapular elevation
        
        scapular depression
        
        scapular lateral rotation
        
        scapular medial rotation
      - glenohumeral joint
        
        arm flexion
        
        arm extension
        
        arm abduction
        
        arm adduction
        
        arm internal rotation (medial rotation)
        
        arm external rotation (lateral rotation)
        
        circumduction
    - blood supply - scapular anastomosis
    - ossification centers
- elbow joint
  - proximal radioulnar joint
  - ligaments
    - medial (ulna) collateral ligament complex
    - lateral (radial) collateral ligament complex
      - lateral ulnar collateral ligament
  - associated structures
  - movements
  - alignment
  - blood supply - elbow anastomosis
  - development
    - elbow ossification (mnemonic)
    - elbow ossification centers
- wrist joint
  - articulations
  - ligaments
    - intrinsic ligaments
    - extrinsic ligaments
  - associated structures
    - extensor retinaculum
    - flexor retinaculum
    - joint capsule
  - movements
  - alignment
  - ossification centers
- hand joints
  - articulations
    - carpometacarpal joint
      - triscaphe joint
    - metacarpophalangeal joints
      - palmar ligament (plate)
      - collateral ligament
    - interphalangeal joints
      - palmar ligament (plate)
      - collateral ligament
  - movements
  - ossification centers
spaces of the upper limb
muscles of the upper limb
blood supply to the upper limb
- arteries
- veins
innervation of the upper limb
- intercostobrachial nerve
- brachial plexus (mnemonic)
  - branches from the roots
  - branches from the trunks
    - suprascapular nerve
  - branches from the cords
    - lateral cord
      - lateral pectoral nerve
    - posterior cord
    - medial cord
  - terminal branches
    - ulnar nerve
    - radial nerve
      - posterior interosseous nerve (deep radial nerve)
      - superficial radial nerve
    - musculocutaneous nerve
    - axillary nerve
    - median nerve
      - anterior interosseous nerve
      - bifid median nerve
lymphatic drainage of the upper limb
- axillary lymph nodes

Article information

rID: 45026

System: Musculoskeletal

Section: Anatomy

Tag: cases, cases, cases, cases

Synonyms or Alternate Spellings:

Adductor transversus pollicis muscle
Adductor obliquus pollicis muscle
Adductor pollicis muscles

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Cases and figures

Figure 1Figure 1

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