Flexor digitorum profundus muscle

Flexor digitorum profundus muscle

Ventral view of the deep muscles of the forearm. FDP is shown in blue.
Details
Origin upper 3/4 of the anterior and medial surfaces of the body of the ulna, interosseous membrane and deep fascia of the forearm
Insertion base of the distal phalanges of the fingers
Artery anterior interosseous artery
Nerve median (anterior interosseous), muscular branches of ulnar
Actions flex hand and both interphalangeal joints
Antagonist Extensor digitorum muscle
Identifiers
Latin Musculus flexor digitorum profundus
Dorlands
/Elsevier
m_22/12549089
TA A04.6.02.036
FMA 38478

Anatomical terms of muscle

In human anatomy, the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP, Latin for "deep bender of the fingers") is a muscle in the forearm that flexes the fingers (also known as digits). It is considered an extrinsic hand muscle because it acts on the hand while its muscle belly is located in the forearm. Together the flexor pollicis longus, pronator quadratus, and flexor digitorum profundus form the deep layer of ventral forearm muscles.[1]

Structure

Flexor digitorum profundus originates in the upper 3/4 of the anterior and medial surfaces of the ulna, interosseous membrane and deep fascia of the forearm. The muscle fans out into four tendons (one to each of the second to fifth fingers) to the palmar base of the distal phalanx.

Along with the flexor digitorum superficialis, it has long tendons that run down the arm and through the carpal tunnel and attach to the palmar side of the phalanges of the fingers.

Flexor digitorum profundus lies deep to the superficialis, but it attaches more distally. Therefore, profundus's tendons go through the tendons of superficialis, and end up attaching to the distal phalanx. For this reason profundus is also called the perforating muscle.[1]

The lumbricals of the hand arise from the radial side of its tendons.[1]

Innervation

Flexor digitorum profundus is a composite muscle innervated by the anterior interosseous nerve and ulnar nerves.

It is one of two flexor muscles that is not exclusively supplied by the median nerve (the other is flexor carpi ulnaris).

Variations

The tendon of the index finger often has a separate muscle belly.[1]

Function

Flexor digitorum profundus is a flexor of the wrist (midcarpal), metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints.[1] The lumbricals, intrinsic muscles of the hand, attach to the tendon of flexor digitorum profundus. Thus, the flexor muscle is utilised to aid the lumbrical muscles in their role as extensors of the interphalangeal joints. As the lumbrical muscles originate on the palmar side of the hand and attach on the dorsal aponeurosis, power is transferred from the flexor digitorum profundus muscle to fully extend the fingers as well as flex the metacarpophalangeal joints.

Other animals

In many primates, the FDP is fused with the flexor pollicis longus (FPL). In great apes the belly of the FDP has a separate tendon for the FDP. In lesser apes, both muscles have separate bellies in the forearm, but in Old World monkeys they separate in the carpal tunnel. The lack of differentiation in the FDP musculature in baboons makes it unlikely that this monkey can control individual fingers independently. [3]

Additional images

Front of the left forearm. Deep muscles. 
Cross-section through the middle of the forearm. 
Posterior surface of the forearm. Deep muscles. 
Transverse section across distal ends of radius and ulna. 
Transverse section across the wrist and digits. 
The mucous sheaths of the tendons on the front of the wrist and digits. 
Ulnar and radial arteries. Deep view. 
Tendons of forefinger and vincula tendina. (Flexor digitorum profundus labeled at bottom right.) 
Flexor digitorum profundus muscle 
Flexor digitorum profundus muscle 
Flexor digitorum profundus muscle 
Flexor digitorum profundus muscle 
Flexor digitorum profundus muscle 
Flexor digitorum profundus muscle 
Flexor digitorum profundus muscle 
Flexor digitorum profundus muscle 
Flexor digitorum profundus muscle 

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Platzer 2004, p 162
  2. 1 2 Lutsky KF, Giang EL, Matzon JL (January 2015). "Flexor tendon injury, repair and rehabilitation.". Orthopedic Clinics of North America 46 (1): 67–76. doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2014.09.004. PMID 25435036.
  3. Tocheri et al. 2008, pp 556-7

References

External links

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