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Opponens pollicis

Contents

Anatomy

 

Opponens pollicis - anterior view
Opponens pollicis - lateral view

General information

  • This section is strictly limited to anatomy, you might be looking for clinical relevant information which is found under the clinical chapters -- muscles section, click here to go to that page

Position

  • Deep to abductor pollicis brevis

Origin

  • Flexor retinaculum
  • Tuberculum trapezium

Insertion

  • 1. metacarpal
    • Radial side

Main function

  • CMC thumb
    • Opposition

Secondary function

  • CMC thumb
    • Flexion
    • Medial rotation
    • Abduction

Nerve innervation

  • Segmental
    • C8-Th1
  • Peripheral
    • Median nerve

Arterial supply

  • Radial artery

Palpation

  • Patient position
    • Sitting or supine
  • Place the palpating fingers along the lateral part of thenar towards the base of the metacarpal bone of the thumb
  • Use the opposite hand to give resistance to the patient at the 1 CMC-joint in an extension direction, so that the patient is giving force towards flexion of the 1 CMC -joint
  • Feel for the contraction of the muscle

Strength test

  • Patient position
    • Sitting or supine
  • Ask the patient to hold the thumb flexed, abducted and somewhat medially rotated at the metacarpal-joint
  • Give resistance towards extension, adduction and lateral rotation so that the patient is giving force towards flexion, abduction and medial rotation