• 3 wrist flexors
 flexor carpi
radialis
 flexor carpi ulnaris
 palmaris longus
• 3 wrist extensors
 extensor carpi
radialis longus
 extensor carpi
radialis brevis
 extensor carpi
ulnaris
 Condyloid-type
joint
 Flexion
– 70-90 degrees
 Extension – 65-85 degrees
 Abduction – 15-20 degrees
 Adduction – 25-40 degrees
 Articulation
primarily occurs
between the
distal radius and
the proximal
carpal row
(scaphoid,
lunate,
triquetrum)
Movement
Plane
Axis
Flexion (palmar flexion)
Sagittal
Lateral
Extension (dorsiflexion)
Sagittal
Lateral
Abduction (radial
deviation, radial flexion)
Frontal
Anteroposterior
Adduction (ulnar
deviation, ulnar flexion)
Frontal
Anteroposterior
Metacarpals
Hamate
Trapezium
Triquetrum
Trapezoid
Scaphoid
Pisiform
Lunate
Capitate
 Interphalangeal
Joint
• Collateral Ligament
• Palmar Ligament
 Metacarpophalangeal
Joint
• Collatoral Ligament
• Palmar Ligament
• Deep Transverse Metacarpal Ligament
 Palmar
Flexion

Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Swelling & inflammation can
cause increased pressure in
carpal tunnel resulting in
decreased function of median
nerve leading to reduced
motor & sensation function in
its distribution
• particularly common with
repetitive use of the hand and
wrist in manual labor and
clerical work such as typing
and keyboarding
• Often, slight modifications in
work habits and hand & wrist
positions during these
activities can be preventative
• Flexibility exercises for the
wrist & finger flexors may be
helpful
The book said there
were too numerous
to mention in this
discussion.
 Wrist
Flexion
• 0 to ± 80 degrees
 Wrist
Extension
• 0 to ± 70 degrees
 Ulnar
Deviation
• 0 to 30 degrees
 Radial
Deviation
• 0 to 20 degrees
 Collateral
Ligament
Muscle
Origin
Insertion
Action
Innervation
Flexor
Carpi
Radialis
Medial epicondyle
of humerus
Base of 2nd and
3rd metacarpals
on palmar
surface
-Flexion of
wrist
-Abduction of
wrist
-Weak flexion
of elbow
-weak
pronation of
forearm
Median nerve
(C6 and C7)
Palmaris
Longus
Medial epicondyle
of humerus
Palmar
aponeurosis of
the 2nd, 3rd, 4th,
and 5th
metacarpals
-Flexion of
wrist
-Weak flexion
of elbow
Median nerve
(C6 and C7)
Flexor
Carpi
Ulnaris
Medial epicondyle
of humerus and
posterior aspect of
proximal ulna
Base of 5th
metacarpal
(palmar
surface),
pisiform, and
hamate
-Flexion of
wrist
-Adduction of
wrist
-Weak flexion
of elbow
Ulnar nerve
(C8 and T1)
Muscle
Flexor
Digitorum
Profundus
Origin
Proximal ¾ of
anterior and
medial ulna
Flexor
-Medial
Digitorum
epicondyle of
Superficialis humerus
-Ulnar head:
medial coronoid
process
-Radial head:
upper 2/3 of
anterior border
of the radius just
distal to the
radial tuberosity
Insertion
Action
Innervation
Base of distal
phalanges of
four fingers
Flexion of the four
fingers at the
metacarpophalangeal,
proximal interphalangeal, and
distal interphalangeal joints
Median
nerve (C8,
T1) to 2nd
and 3rd
fingers;
ulnar nerve
(C8, T1) to
4th and 5th
fingers
Each tendon
splits and
attaches to the
sides of
middle
phalanx of
four fingers on
palmar
surface
-Flexion of the
fingers at the
metacarpophalangeal and
proximal interphalangeal joints
-Flexion of wrist
-Weak flexion of
elbow
Median
nerve (C7,
C8, and T1)
Muscle
Origin
Insertion
Action
Innervation
Extensor Carpi Lateral
Ulnaris
epicondyle of
humerus and
middle ½ of
the posterior
border of the
ulnaq
Base of 5th
metacarpal on
dorsal surface
-Extension of
wrist
-Adduction of
wrist
-Weak
extension of
elbow
Radial nerve
(C6, C7, and
C8)
Extensor Carpi Lateral
Radialis Brevis epicondyle of
humerus
Base of 3rd
metacarpal on
dorsal surface
-Extension of
wrist
-Abduction of
wrist
-Weak flexion
of elbow
Radial nerve
(C6 and C7)
 The
flexor carpi ulnaris
is important in wrist
flexion or curling
activities. It is one of
only two muscles
involved in wrist
adduction or ulnar
flexion. It may be
strengthened with any
type of wrist-curling
activity against
resistance.
 The
ulnar nerve assists
the flexor carpi ulnaris
in
• Flexion of the wrist
• Adduction of the wrist
• Weak flexion of the elbow
therefore these movements
would be most affected if
the ulnar nerve gets
injured.
 Opposition
will not take place in its full
range of motion.
 Eccentric
Contraction
 Isometric
Contraction
A – wrist
flexion
B – wrist
extension