434 MUSCLES. 



It brings the metacarpal bone of the little finger towards the 

 wrist, and thereby deepens the hollow of the hand. 



The Interosseous Muscles till up the interstices of the meta- 

 carpal bones; they are seven in number, four on the palm, and 

 three on the back of the hand. The back ones arise by double 

 heads from the contiguous sides of two metacarpal bones; the 

 palmar ones have a single head, which comes only from the meta- 

 carpal bone of the finger which the interosseous muscle is in- 

 tended to serve. As a general description, they all may be said 

 to arise, fleshy and tendinous, from the base and sides of the me- 

 tacarpal bones, and to be inserted, tendinous, into the sides of 

 the first phalanges, and into the tendinous membrane on the back 

 of the fingers, derived from the tendons of the extensor commu- 

 nis. The first four must be looked for on the palm, the three 

 others on the back of the hand. 



I. The Prior Indicts, 



Is along the radial side of the first digital metacarpal bone, 

 and arises from the base and side of the same. 



It is inserted, tendinous, into the radial side of the first pha- 

 lanx of the fore finger. 



It draws the fore finger towards the thumb. 



2. TTie Posterior Indicis, 



Is at the ulnar side of the first digital metacarpal bone. It 

 arises from the base and ulnar side of the same bone, and is in- 

 serted, tendinous, into the ulnar side of the first phalanx of the 

 fore finger. 



It draws the fore finger towards the others. 



3. The Prior Annularis, 



Is at the radial side of the metacarpal bone of the third or 

 ring finger. It arises from the base and radial side of the said 

 bone. 



