Wrist & Hand Muscles

The main muscles which move the wrist and hand consist of the flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, flexor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi radialis longus, flexor digitorum superficiialis, flexor digitorum profundus, flexor pollicis longus, extensor digitorum, extensor indicis, extensor digiti minimi, extensor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis and adductor pollicis muscle.

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Flexor Pollicis Longus

The Supraspinatus muscle is one of the four muscles which make up the rotator cuff. Its main function is to stabilise the humerus by holding the head of the humerus in position. It is important in throwing motions to control any forward motion of the head of humerus.


Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus

Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus is, as the name suggests, the longer of the two extensor carpi radialis muscles as its origin is the ridge above the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, as opposed to the medial epicondyle.


Extensor Pollicis Longus

The tendon of Extensor Pollicis Longus can be seen on the radial side of the wrist, at the base of the thumb where it forms the lower border of the ‘anatomical snuffbox’.


Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis

Extensor Carpi Radalis Brevis is the shorter of the two extensor carpi radialis muscles. The word brevis means short in Latin.


Flexor Digitorum Superficialis

Flexor Digitorum Superficialis is sometimes also known as Flexor Digitorum Sublimis.


Flexor Carpi Ulnaris


Extensor Digitorum Communis

Extensor Digitorum Communis is sometimes simply referred to as Extensor Digitorum.


Flexor Carpi Radialis

Flexor Carpi Radialis crosses the elbow joint and so is also a weak elbow flexor.


Extensor Carpi Ulnaris

The Extensor Carpi Ulnaris muscle is a powerful wrist extensor and except for the flexor carpi ulnaris is the only muscle involved in wrist adduction.

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