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The Abductor Pollicis Brevis is a member of the Thenar Eminence Group of intrinsic muscles of the hand, composed of the:
- Abductor pollicis brevis
- Flexor pollicis brevis
- Opponens pollicis
ATTACHMENTS:
- The abductor pollicis brevis attaches from the transverse carpal ligament and the scaphoid and trapezium to the proximal phalanx of the thumb.
- The transverse carpal ligament is also known as the flexor retinaculum.
ACTIONS:
- Abducts the thumb at the carpometacarpal joint.
- Flexes the thumb at the carpometacarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints.
NOTE: The abductor pollicis brevis is the most superficial of the three muscles of the thenar group.