Palmaris brevis muscle
The muscles of the left hand. Palmar surface (palmaris brevis visible at center left).
Details
OriginFlexor retinaculum (medial) and palmar aponeurosis
InsertionPalm
ArteryPalmar metacarpal artery
NerveSuperficial branch of ulnar nerve
ActionsPulls on skin over hypothenar eminence, deepening the cup of the palm and so improving grip
Identifiers
Latinmusculus palmaris brevis
TA98A04.6.02.053
TA22520
FMA37381
Anatomical terms of muscle

Palmaris brevis muscle is a thin, quadrilateral muscle, placed beneath the integument of the ulnar side of the hand. It acts to fold the skin of the hypothenar eminence transversally.

Structure

Origin and insertion

Palmaris brevis muscle is located on the ulnar side of the hand.[1][2] It arises from the tendinous fasciculi from the transverse carpal ligament and palmar aponeurosis. The muscle fibres are inserted into the skin on the ulnar border of the palm of the hand,[1] and occasionally on the pisiform bone.[3]

Innervation

Palmaris brevis muscle is the only muscle innervated by the superficial branch of the ulnar nerve (C8, T1).[2]

Blood supply

Palmaris brevis muscle is supplied by the palmar metacarpal artery of the deep palmar arch.

Discovery

The first recorded observation of the muscle is by Italian anatomist Giambattista Canano sometime before 1543. The muscle was independently discovered a few years later by Realdo Colombo before being pushed to general acceptance in the works of Andreas Vesalius.[4]

Function

Palmaris brevis muscle tenses the skin of the palm on the ulnar side during a grip action.[2][3] It also deepens the hollow of the palm.[5] The palmaris brevis may protect the ulnar nerve and ulnar artery from compressive forces during repetitive grasping actions.[6] The muscle has a fatigue-resistant fiber type profile, which supports the idea of a protective function to the ulnar neurovasculature during repetitive intermittent grasping tasks.[7]

See also

Additional images

  • The palmar aponeurosis
    The palmar aponeurosis

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 463 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ^ a b Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Standring, Susan., Gray, Henry, 1825-1861. (40th ed., anniversary ed.). [Edinburgh]: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. 2008. ISBN 978-0-443-06684-9. OCLC 213447727.((cite book)): CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ a b c Palazzo, J. J.; Galloway, K. (2017-01-01), Placzek, Jeffrey D.; Boyce, David A. (eds.), "Chapter 53 - Nerve Entrapments of the Wrist and Hand", Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Secrets (Third Edition), Elsevier, pp. 429–436, ISBN 978-0-323-28683-1, retrieved 2021-01-07
  3. ^ a b "Palmaris brevis". PT Central. 1998. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  4. ^ Tubbs, R.S.; Shoja, M.M.; Loukas, M.; Agutter, P. (2019). History of Anatomy: An International Perspective. Wiley. p. 170. ISBN 978-1-118-52425-1. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  5. ^ "palmaris brevis muscle (anatomy) - General Practice Notebook". gpnotebook.com. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  6. ^ Moore, Colin W.; Rice, Charles L. (December 2017). "Structural and functional anatomy of the palmaris brevis: grasping for answers". Journal of Anatomy. 231 (6): 939–946. doi:10.1111/joa.12675. PMC 5696130. PMID 28786108.
  7. ^ Moore, Colin W.; Beveridge, Tyler S.; Rice, Charles L. (October 2017). "Fiber type composition of the palmaris brevis muscle: implications for palmar function". Journal of Anatomy. 231 (4): 626–633. doi:10.1111/joa.12652. PMC 5603781. PMID 28620932.
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