Chap, xv.] THE WRIST AND HAND. 269 



the flexor tendons into the fore-arm, while below 

 there are the seven passages provided for by the 

 division of the palmar fascia. Of these seven 

 passages, four, situate at the roots of the several 

 fingers, give passage to the flexor tendons, while the 

 remaining three correspond to the webs between the 



i 



Fig. 27. Horizontal Section of the Hand through the middle of the 

 Thenar and Hypothenar Eminences (Tillaiix). 



a, Mctacarpal bone ; 6, first dorsal interosseous ; c, iialmaris brevis ; <?,abductor 

 min. digit! ; e, flexor brevis miu. dig. ; /, opponens inin. dig-- ; 0, flexor brevis 

 poll.; fc, abductor poll.; i, opponeus poll.; y, adductor poll.; fc, flexor long. 

 IM>!. ; I, dorsal interossei ; m, palmar interossei ; n, flexor subliiuis; o, flexor 

 prof undue ; p, superflc. volae ; a, median nerve, and (on inner side) ulnar artery 

 and nerve: r, deep palmar arch ; 1, palmar fascia; 2, outer septum; 3, iuuer 

 septum ; 4, deep fascia of palm. 



fingers, and give passage to the lumbricales and the 

 digital vessels and nerves. When pus, therefore, 

 forms in the palm, beneath the palmar fascia, it 

 cannot come forward through that dense membrane, 

 but escapes rather along the fingers, or makes its way 

 up into the fore-arm. So rigid is the resistance offered 

 by the palmar fascia, that pent-up pus will make its 

 way through the interosseous spaces and appear on the 

 dorsum of the hand, rather than come through the 

 coverings of the palm. The passage of pus, however, 

 towards the dorsum is resisted by a layer of fascia 



