Lumbricales
Lumbricales
Lumbricales (pronunciation: lum-bri-kay-leez) are a group of four small skeletal muscles found in the human hand. They are part of the intrinsic muscles of the hand, meaning they are located within the hand itself, rather than in the forearm.
Etymology
The term "lumbricales" is derived from the Latin word "lumbricus", which means earthworm. This is due to the worm-like appearance of these muscles.
Function
The primary function of the lumbricales is to flex the metacarpophalangeal joints (the joints at the base of the fingers) and extend the interphalangeal joints (the joints between the finger bones). This allows for fine motor control of the fingers, such as when gripping or releasing objects.
Anatomy
The lumbricales originate from the tendons of the Flexor digitorum profundus, a muscle in the forearm that flexes the fingers. Each lumbrical muscle then inserts onto the extensor expansion, a complex structure on the back of each finger that helps to extend the fingers.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lumbricales
- Wikipedia's article - Lumbricales
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