Forearm Flexor Muscles

• Flexors of the Wrist and Fingers:

  • Superficial layer:
  • Flexor carpi radialis (FCR)
  • Flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS)
  • Flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU)
  • Palmaris longus (PL)
  • Deep layer:
  • Flexor digitorum profundus (FDP)
  • Flexor pollicis longus (FPL)
• Relationship between Flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) & Flexor digitorum profundus (FDP):

  • 4 FDS tendons lie superficial to 4 tendons of FDP
  • At metacarpophalangeal joints FDS tendons split to allow FDP tendons to pass through
  • 2 halves of the split FDS tendons then reunite forming a groove for the FDP tendons

  A) Flexor Digitorum Superficialis

  
• Functions of forearm and finger flexors:

  • Finger flexion (e.g. gripping) accompanied by wrist extension to avoid active insufficiency of long finger flexors
  • Ability to flex individual digits improves functional ability