Thenar Eminence Group

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The Thenar Eminence Group of intrinsic muscles of the hand is composed of the:

• Abductor pollicis brevis
• Flexor pollicis brevis
• Opponens pollicis

ATTACHMENTS:

• The muscles of the thenar eminence group attach from the transverse carpal ligament and the scaphoid and trapezium to the thumb.
  • The abductor pollicis brevis and flexor pollicis brevis attach distally onto the proximal phalanx of the thumb.
  • The opponens pollicis attaches distally onto the metacarpal 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 joint.
• Medially rotates the thumb at the carpometacarpal joint.
• Opposes the thumb at the carpometacarpal joint.
• Flexes the thumb at the metacarpophalangeal joint.

NOTES:

1. All three muscles of the thenar eminence group attach onto the thumb.
2. There are three analogous muscles of the hypothenar eminence group that attach onto the little finger: abductor digiti minimi manus, flexor digiti minimi manus, and opponens digiti minimi.