Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Knipe H, Bell D, Lau J, et al. Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 15 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-23257
rID:
23257
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Henry Knipe had no recorded disclosures.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures
Revisions:
17 times, by
13 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
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Synonyms:
- Flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) muscles
Flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) muscle is of the first layer of the anterior compartment of the forearm. It is one of the extrinsic muscles of the hand.
Summary
-
origin
- humeral head: medial epicondyle of the humerus
- ulnar head: aponeurosis from medial olecranon and upper three quarters subcutaneous border of ulna
- insertion: base of 5th metacarpal; hook of hamate, pisiform
- arterial supply: posterior ulnar recurrent artery and ulnar artery
- innervation: ulnar nerve (C8-T1)
- action: flexion and adduction of the wrist joint
- pathology: calcific tendinitis which occurs at the insertion into pisiform
- variability: muscle can be doubled - accessory flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, which can be often accompanied by concomitant variants 3
References
- 1. Schuenke M, Schulte E, Schumacher U et-al. General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System. Thieme. (2010) ISBN:1604062924. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Standring, Susan, and Henry Gray. 2008. Gray's anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice. [Edinburgh]: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. http://www.clinicalkey.com/dura/browse/bookChapter/3-s2.0-B9780443066849X5001X
- 3. Vojtech Kunc, Michal Stulpa, Georg Feigl, David Kachlik. Accessory flexor carpi ulnaris muscle with associated anterior interosseous artery variation: case report with the definition of a new type and review of concomitant variants. (2019) Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy. 41 (11): 1315. doi:10.1007/s00276-019-02261-4 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
Articles:
- Pisiform
- Wrist
- Hamate
- Abductor digiti minimi muscle (hand)
- Guyon's canal
- Ulnar artery
- Anterior compartment of the forearm
- Accessory flexor carpi ulnaris muscle
- Ulnar nerve
- Distal biceps tendon reconstruction
- Olecranon
- MRI of the wrist (an approach)
- Extrinsic muscles of the hand
- Median nerve
- Common flexor origin of the elbow
- Ulna
- Radiocarpal joint
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
Cases:
- Pisotriquetral osteoarthritis
- Tendinosis of the proximal flexor carpi ulnaris
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Flexor carpi ulnaris - calcific tendinitis
- Flexor carpi ulnaris partial tear and hypothenar muscle group strain
- Pisiform fracture - flexor carpi ulnaris avulsion
- Flexor carpi ulnaris calcific tendinosis
- Flexor carpi ulnaris calcific tendinosis
- Pisotriquetral osteoarthritis
- Volar wrist ganglion cyst - ulnar side
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Wrist laceration (ultrasound)
- Insertion tendinopathy of flexor carpi ulnaris muscle
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
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