Extensor pollicis brevis muscle
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Foster T, Bell D, et al. Extensor pollicis brevis muscle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 06 Feb 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-47018
rID:
47018
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Tom Foster had no recorded disclosures.
View Tom Foster's current disclosures
Revisions:
11 times, by
7 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Extensor pollicis brevis muscles
Extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) muscle is one of the muscles of the deep layer of the posterior compartment of the forearm, inserting into the base of the proximal phalanx of the thumb. Along with extensor pollicis longus, it is responsible for extension of the thumb. Along with abductor pollicis longus it passes through the 1st extensor compartment of the wrist. It is one of the extrinsic muscles of the hand.
Summary
- origin: posterior surface of distal radial shaft and interosseous membrane
- insertion: dorsal surface base of the proximal phalanx of the thumb
- action: extends the thumb at metacarpophalangeal joint
- arterial supply: posterior interosseous artery
- innervation: posterior interosseous nerve (C7 and C8), a continuation of the deep branch of the radial nerve (C7, C8)
Quiz questions
{"containerId":"expandableQuestionsContainer","displayRelatedArticles":true,"displayNextQuestion":true,"displaySkipQuestion":true,"articleId":47018,"questionManager":null,"mcqUrl":"https://radiopaedia.org/articles/extensor-pollicis-brevis-muscle-1/questions/2277?iframe=true\u0026lang=us"}
References
- 1. Gray's Anatomy for Students: With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access, 3e. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:0702051314. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:1451119453. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Last's Anatomy. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN:0702033944. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Phalanges of the hands
- Proximal intersection syndrome
- Dorsal bridge plate fixation
- Radial collateral ligament of the wrist
- Posterior interosseous nerve
- Ultrasound of the wrist
- Scaphoid fat pad sign
- Posterior compartment of the forearm
- Abductor pollicis brevis muscle
- Anatomical snuff box
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- Extrinsic muscles of the hand
- Extensor expansion
- Radius
- Dorsal deltoid ligament complex of the thumb
- Carpometacarpal joint
- 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
- Extensor pollicis longus tendon tear
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- Wrist laceration (ultrasound)
- Extensor pollicis longus tendon tear
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Anatomy: Upper limb
-
skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
- scapula
- humerus
- radius
- ulna
- hand
- accessory ossicles of the upper limb
- accessory ossicles of the shoulder
- accessory ossicles of the elbow
-
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
- joint capsule
- bursae
- ligaments
- movements
- scapulothoracic joint
-
glenohumeral joint
- arm flexion
- arm extension
- arm abduction
- arm adduction
- arm internal rotation (medial rotation)
- arm external rotation (lateral rotation)
- circumduction
- arterial supply - scapular anastomosis
- ossification centers
-
shoulder joint
-
elbow joint
- proximal radioulnar joint
- ligaments
- associated structures
- movements
- alignment
- arterial supply - elbow anastomosis
- development
-
wrist joint
- articulations
-
ligaments
- intrinsic ligaments
- extrinsic ligaments
- radioscaphoid ligament
- dorsal intercarpal ligament
- dorsal radiotriquetral ligament
- dorsal radioulnar ligament
- volar radioulnar ligament
- radioscaphocapitate ligament
- long radiolunate ligament
- Vickers ligament
- short radiolunate ligament
- ulnolunate ligament
- ulnotriquetral ligament
- ulnocapitate ligament
- ulnar collateral ligament
- associated structures
- extensor retinaculum
- flexor retinaculum
- joint capsule
- movements
- alignment
- ossification centers
-
hand joints
- articulations
- carpometacarpal joint
-
metacarpophalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
-
interphalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
- movements
- ossification centers
- articulations
-
pectoral girdle
- spaces of the upper limb
- muscles of the upper limb
- shoulder girdle
- anterior compartment of the arm
- posterior compartment of the arm
-
anterior compartment of the forearm
- superficial
- intermediate
- deep
-
posterior compartment of the forearm (extensors)
- superficial
- deep
- muscles of the hand
-
accessory muscles
- elbow
- volar wrist midline
- palmaris longus profundus
- aberrant palmaris longus
- volar wrist radial-side
- accessory flexor digitorum superficialis indicis
- flexor indicis profundus
- flexor carpi radialis vel profundus
- accessory head of the flexor pollicis longus (Gantzer muscle, common)
- volar wrist ulnar-side
- dorsal wrist
- blood supply to the upper limb
-
arteries
- subclavian artery (mnemonic)
- axillary artery
- brachial artery (proximal portion)
- ulnar artery
- radial artery
- veins
-
arteries
- innervation of the upper limb
- intercostobrachial nerve
-
brachial plexus (mnemonic)
- branches from the roots
- branches from the trunks
- branches from the cords
- lateral cord
- posterior cord
- medial cord
- terminal branches
- lymphatic drainage of the upper limb