MUSCLES OF LITTLE FINGER 



405 



by a short tendon which is fused with that of the abductor and is inserted into the ulnar side of 

 the base of the "first phalanx of the little finger. A sesamoid bone may lie in the tendon. 



Nerve-supply. — A branch from the superficial or deep palmar division of the ulnar nerve 

 enters the deep surface of the muscle in its proximal half. The nerves to the abductor and flexor 

 may arise in common from the ulnar. The nerve fibres arise from the (seventh and) eighth 

 cervical and first thoracic nerves. 



Fig. 375. — The Superficial Muscles of the Palm of the Haxd. 



Flexor carpi radialis 



Flexor - 

 carpi ulnaris 



Transverse 



carpal 



ligament 



Abductor pollicis longus 



Opponens pollicis 



Abductor pollicis brevis 



Flexor pollicis brevis 



Adductor pollicis 



Flexor digitorum profundus 



Flexor digitorum 

 profundus 



Action. — To flex the first phalanx ot the little finger. When it sends a tendon slip to the 

 aponeurosis of the extensor of the finger it helps to extend the two terminal phalanges. 



Relations. — The muscle closely adjoins and is partly covered by the abductor. The pal- 

 maris brevis and the lateral volar digital artery to the fifth finger lie superficial to it. Under it 

 lies the opponens. 



Variations. — The muscle may be wanting or may be closely fused with the abductor or the 

 opponens. It may receive an accessory slip from the forearm fascia. It may give a tendon 

 slip to the extensor aponeurosis or to the head of the fifth metacarpal. 



The opponens digiti quinti (fig. 377). — Origin. — Partly tendinous, from the distal ulnar 

 border of the hook of the hamatum (unciform) and from the adjacent transverse carpal (anterior 

 annular) ligament. 



