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Opponens pollicis muscle

Dr Daniel J Bell ◉ and Dr Nafisa Shakir Batta et al.

The opponens pollicis muscle is one of the muscles of the thenar eminence, deep to abductor pollicis brevis, and is one of the intrinsic muscles of the hand. The three muscles that constitute the thenar eminence muscle group are abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis and opponens pollicis.

Summary

origin: extends from the trapezial tubercle and flexor retinaculum
insertion: lateral border and adjoining lateral half of the palmar surface of the first metacarpal bone
innervation: lateral terminal branch of median nerve (C8 and T1) and commonly a ramus of the deep terminal branch of the ulnar nerve (C8 and/or T1)
action: flexes the metacarpal bone medially across the palm, also rotating it medially, causing opposition, the palmar aspect of the terminal segment of thumb contacts the flexor aspects of any other digit

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 styloideum
    - os hamuli proprium
    - lunula
    - os triangulare
    - trapezium secondarium
    - os paratrapezium
    - os radiostyloideum (persistent radial styloid)
joints of the upper limb
- shoulder joint
  - articulations
  - associated structures
    - joint capsule
    - bursae
      - subacromial-subdeltoid (SASD) bursa
      - subscapular recess
      - subcoracoid bursa
      - coracoclavicular bursa
      - supra-acromial bursa
    - ligaments
      - coracoclavicular ligament
        
        conoid ligament
        
        trapezoid ligament
      - costoclavicular ligament
  - 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
  - associated structures
    - bicipitoradial bursa
    - olecranon bursa
  - 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
    - carpal arcs
  - ossification
- hand joints
  - articulations
    - carpometacarpal joint
      - triscaphe joint
    - metacarpophalangeal joint
      - palmar ligament (plate)
      - collateral ligament
    - interphalangeal joint
      - palmar ligament (plate)
      - collateral ligament
  - movements
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: 42961

System: Musculoskeletal

Section: Anatomy

Tag: anatomy, musculoskeletal, hand, wrist, muscle, upper limb

Synonyms or Alternate Spellings:

Opponens pollicis muscles

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