Palmaris longus

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

• Superficial

Origin

• Medial epicondyle humerus
• Fascia antebrachii

Insertion

• Palmaris aponeurosis
• Flexor retinaculum

Main function

• Wrist
  • Flexion

Secondary function

• Elbow
  • Flexion
  • Pronation

Nerve innervation

• Segmental
  • C7-C8
• Peripheral
  • Median nerve

Arterial supply

• Ulnar artery

• Patient position
  • Sitting or supine
• Place your hand on the palmar side of the patient's wrist
• Ask the patient to press the tips of the thumb and little finger towards each other
• Ask the patient to hold this position while they flex the wrist
• Place some fingers under the thumb and little finger to give resistance towards the patients palm
• It is easier to seperate between the palmaris longus and flexor digitorum superficialis as long as the fingers are extended

• Patient position
  • Sitting
• Ask the patient to place their hand on the bench for support with the lower arm supinated
• Ask the patient to make a cavity in their palm while he/she is flexing the wrist
• Give pressure towards the wrist in direction of extension so that the patient is giving force towards flexion