Lumbricales
Lumbricales
The Lumbricales are a group of four small skeletal muscles found in the human hand. They are part of the intrinsic muscle group, which also includes the interossei and the thenar and hypothenar muscles. The lumbricales originate from the Flexor digitorum profundus and insert into the extensor expansion. They are responsible for flexing the metacarpophalangeal joints and extending the interphalangeal joints.
Structure[edit | edit source]
The lumbricales are unique among the muscles of the hand in that they do not have any bony attachments. Instead, they originate from the tendons of the flexor digitorum profundus and insert into the extensor expansion, a fibrous structure on the dorsal side of the fingers. The lumbricales are numbered from lateral to medial, with the first lumbrical being the most lateral and the fourth the most medial.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the lumbricales is to flex the metacarpophalangeal joints and extend the interphalangeal joints. This action is important for the fine motor control of the fingers, particularly during tasks such as writing and typing.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Damage to the lumbricales can result in a loss of fine motor control in the fingers. This can be caused by a variety of conditions, including Carpal tunnel syndrome, Dupuytren's contracture, and Rheumatoid arthritis. Treatment typically involves physical therapy and, in severe cases, surgery.
See also[edit | edit source]
- Hand anatomy
- Flexor digitorum profundus
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dupuytren's contracture
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Lumbricales Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
- Lumbricales at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD