Muscles of the Forearm and Hand Chart for Massage Therapists
| Forearm and hand | ||||
| Muscle | Origin | Insertion | Action | Notes |
| Extensor digitorum | Common extensor tendon from lateral epicondyle of humerus | Dorsal surface of middle and distal phalanges 2-5 ( four fingers) |
Extends four fingers, assists in extension of the wrist | |
| Pronator quadratus | ||||
| Palmaris longus | Medial epicondyle of humerus | Palmar aponeurosis | Flexion of hand and wrist | Flex wrist against resistance to find tendon.May be absent in one or both sides in some people. |
| Flexor digitorum superficialis | Medial epicondyle of humerus, coronoid process of ulna, proximal radius | Four tendons into the middle phalanges of fingers 2-5, palmar surface | Flexes the middle and proximal phalanges of fingers 2-5, flexion of the wrist and forearm. | Median nerve and ulnar artery are under origin |
| Flexor carpi radialis | Medial epicondyle of humerus | Base of 2nd to base of 3rd metacarpal bone | Flexes and abducts the wrist, pronation of the forearm and flexion of the elbow | |
| Flexor carpi ulnaris | Medial epicondyle of humerus, medial olecranon and proximal posterior ulna | Pisiform bone | Flexes and adducts the wrist and flexes the elbow | |
| Extensor carpi radialis longus | Lateral supracondylar ridge of humerus | Base of 2nd metacarpal bone dorsal side | Extends and abducts the wrist, flexes the elbow | |
| Extensor carpi radialis brevis | Lateral epicondyle of humerus | Dorsal surface of base of 3rd metacarpal bone | Extends and assists in abduction of the wrist | |
| Extensor carpi ulnaris | Lateral epicondyle of humerus, posterior border of ulna | Base of 5th metacarpal bone, ulnar side | Extends and adducts the wrist | Tendon runs through a groove between the head of the ulna and the styloid process of ulna |
| Flexor digitorum profundus | Anterior and medial surfaces of proximal ¾ of ulna | Four tendons into bases of distal phalanges on anterior surface | Flexes distal interphalangeal joints of four fingers, flexes proximal interphalageal and metacarpopphalangeal joints | |
| Flexor pollicus longus | Anterior surface of radius, deep to flexors | Distal phalange of thumb | Flexes thumb | |
| Supinator | Lateral epicondyle of humerus, posterior ulna | Proximal anterior shaft of humerus | Supinates forearm | |
| Extensor pollicus longus and brevis | Posterior surface of radius and ulna, deep to extensors | Brevis –proximal phalange of thumbLongus- distal phalange of thumb | Extends the thumb | |
| Opponens pollicis | Palmar retinaculum, trapezium | 1st metacarpal anterior surface | Opposition of thumb to each digit.Rotates 1st metacarpal so the thumbnail faces the ceiling when the hand is resting palm up. |
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