Central Compartment Group

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The Central Compartment Group of intrinsic muscles of the hand is composed of the:

• Adductor pollicis
• Lumbricals manus
• Palmar interossei
• Dorsal interossei manus

ATTACHMENTS:

• The muscles of the hypothenar eminence group attach from the transverse carpal ligament and the hamate and pisiform to the little finger.
  • The abductor digiti minimi manus and flexor digiti minimi manus attach distally onto the proximal phalanx of the little finger.
  • The opponens digiti minimi attaches distally onto the metacarpal of the little finger.
  • The transverse carpal ligament is also known as the flexor retinaculum.

ACTIONS:

• Adducts the thumb at the carpometacarpal joint (adductor pollicis).
• Flexes fingers #2-5 at the metacarpophalangeal joints (lumbricals manus, palmar interossei, dorsal interossei manus).
• Extends fingers #2-5 at the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints (lumbricals manus, palmar interossei, dorsal interossei manus).
• Adducts fingers #2, #4, #5 at the metacarpophalangeal joints (palmar interossei).
• Abducts fingers #2 and #4 at the metacarpophalangeal joints (dorsal interossei manus).
• Radially abducts and ulnarly abducts finger #3 at the metacarpophalangeal joint (dorsal interossei manus).

NOTE: The muscles of the central compartment are located between the muscles of the thenar eminence and hypothenar eminence groups.