THE MUSCLES OF THE UPPER EXTREMITY. 151 



89. The abductor minimi digiti is a small muscle, 

 almost reduced to a ligamentous band, which arises by 

 a rather strong tendon and a few indistinct fibres from 

 the proximal extremity of the anterior aspect of this 

 medius digit, to pass downwards and become inserted 

 upon the posterior border of the proximal phalanx of 

 the index finger, at a point rather above the tip of the 

 medius digit. The action of this now highly rudi- 

 mentary muscle is very feeble, but, such as it is, it is 

 opposed to the more powerful flexors applied to the 

 back of this joint. 



90. The flexor metacarpi brevis 1 arises partly fleshy 

 and partly tendinous from the outer side of the distal 

 extremity of the ulna ; the carneous portion ceases at 

 a point about opposite the base of the thumb-joint. 

 From this point a delicate tendon passes obliquely down 

 the carpo-metacarpus to become inserted at the base 

 of the proximal phalanx of the index digit, on its ulnar 

 side, in front. 



1 This muscle has been defined as the m. ulni-metacarpalis dorsalis 

 by Gadow, who records the following synonymy for it (loc. cit., pp. 

 273, 274) :- 



" 87. M. ULNI-METACABPALIS DOESALIS. 



Le court flechisseur de Vos metacarpe,. Vicq d'Azyr, p. 577, No. 3. 

 Flexor metacarpi brevis. Tiedemann, 273. 



,, ,, ,, Watson, p. 96. 



,, ,, ,, Heusinger, p, 190, No. 27. 



Unterer Theil des ausseren Ellenbogenmuskels. Meckel, p. 335, 



No. 4. 

 Kurzer Beuger der Mittelhand. Schopss, p. 156, No. 36. 



Prechtl, 56. 



Flexor carpi radialis. Selenka, p. 134, No. 65. 

 Court Jleckisseur de la main. Milne-Edwards. 

 Le court adducteur de la main. Gervais et Alix, p. 28. 

 Court flechisseur du metacarpe. Alix, pi. II. fig. 2, No. 21. 

 Second ou court cubital posterieur, ou court adducteur de la main. 

 Alix, p. 140." 



