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Flexor digitorum profundus
Other Terms:
Musculus flexor digitorum profundus,
Muscle fléchisseur profond des doigts
Muscle parts
None
Latin name
Musculus flexor digitorum profundus
Latin muscle parts
None
Group
Antebrachial muscle – anterior compartment – deep group
Etymology
In English this muscle’s name is the deep muscle that bends the fingers. The word flexor comes from the Latin flectere meaning “to bend.”The term digitorum is from the Latin digitus, which originally meant the “pointing thing,” a term that is similar to the Sanskrit word “dic” meaning to show or point out. Because we point with our fingers the term was applied to the fingers and then the toes.The term profundus is Latin for “deep.” It arises from the Latin pro meaning “before” and fundus meaning “the bottom.” So something just before the bottom is deep.
Origin
Medial side of the coronoid process, posterior ulnar border and anterior and medial surfaces of the ulna along the length of the ulnar shaft, ulnar side of the interosseous membrane
Insertion
Anterior surface of base of distal phalanges of fingers (muscle group common to middle, ring, and little fingers, with numerous interconnections between the three tendons)
Action
Flexion of wrist and digits (all joints)
Nerve supply
Median and ulnar nerves (C8 and T1)
Blood supply
From proximal to distal, the belly of the muscle receives blood supply from the ulnar collateral arteries, the posterior ulnar recurrent artery, the anterior and posterior interosseous arteries, and small muscular branches from the ulnar artery. The distal tendons of the muscle receive blood supply from the deep palmar arch via the palmar metacarpal arteries and the common and proper palmar digital arteries.
Latin
Musculus flexor digitorum profundus
French
Muscle fléchisseur profond des doigts