FLEXOR DIGITORCM SUBLIMIS 'zll 



cnlar structure itieit be placed to-n-ards the lower end, the upper part being- 

 tendinous. Occasionally there are two long- palmar muscles, one havmg the 

 ordinary shape, while the other has one of the forms above referred to. Occa- 

 sionally its origin passes up to the triceps muscle. Its insertion below is also 

 subject to great variation. The most remarkable peculiarity is that in which a 

 small muscle, a second palmaris longus, placed nearer to the inner border of the 

 forearm than the usual muscle, covers the ulnar arteiy for some space above the 

 carpus, and terminates sometunes ui the annular ligament or in the fascia, and 

 frequently in the short muscles of the little finger. 



The fiexor carpi ulnaris, the innermost muscle of the superficial 

 group, arises by two heads, one of ^Thich is attached tendinously to tlie 

 inuer condylar eminence of the humerus, the other to the inner side of 

 the olecranon, and to the posterior border of the ulnar for two-thirds of 

 its length, by an aponeurosis which is inseparably connected with the 

 investing aponeurosis of the limb. The muscular fibres descending 

 from this long line of origin, terminate in a tendon, which descends 

 along tlic anterior margin of the muscle, and is inserted into the pisi- 

 form bone : this tendon is prolonged, by means of ligamentous struc- 

 tures, to the fifth metacarpal and unciform bones, as well as to the 

 annular ligament and muscles of the little finger. 



JRclattons. — This muscle rests on the flexor profundus digitorum. The ulnar 

 ner\'e passes down into the forearm in the inteiwal between the two heads, and is 

 then covered by the muscle ; for the middle part of^ its course the ulnar ai-tery is 

 also covered by it, and in the lower part of the forearm, the nerve and artery, 

 emerging from behma the muscle, lie on its radial' side. The posterior ulnar 

 reciuTent artery passes between its two heads of origin. 



The flexor digitortiin subliiiiis vel perforatus, the superficial 

 flexor of the fingers, is a broad flat muscle placed behind the preceding 

 muscles. It arises from the inner condyle by the common tendon, and 

 the fibrous septa common to it and the other muscles ; from the internal 

 lateral ligament ; from the anterior surface of the coronoid process at 

 the inner side ; and by a thin flat jiortion from the oblique line and 

 part of the anterior border of the radius. It is divided inferiorly into 

 four tendons, which pass to be inserted into the second phalanx of each 

 of tlie four inner digits. These tendons pass under the annular liga- 

 ment of the wrist in pairs, one in front of the other ; the anterior pair 

 consistisg of those for the middle and ring fingers, the posterior of 

 those for the index and little fingers. That for the little finger is 

 smaller than the others. 



In the palm of the hand the tendons diverge, and each, accompanied 

 by a tendon of the flexor profundus, enters a fibrous sheath which binds 

 both tendons down to the palmar surface of the phalanges. Opposite 

 the first phalanx the tendon of the flexor sublimis divides'into two parts, 

 which fold closely round the tendon of the deep flexor, and are reunited 

 by their margins behind it : the two portions of the tendon thereafter 

 separating, pass to be inserted one on each side into a ridge at the 

 middle of the lateral border of the second phalanx. A large synovial 

 bursa loosely invests the tendons of both the superficial and deep flexors 

 of the fingers behind the annular ligament, extending downwards into 

 the palm of the hand. In the little finger it ap]3roaches the synovial 

 lining of the sheath, and in the thumb it usually communicates 

 with it. 



TliQ sJieaihs of the Jlcxor te?uIons, hj v^hich. thev are bound down to 



p 2 



