Chapter 10.4, Problem 21BYGO

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

The human hand is capable of fine and delicate movements as well as powerful movements. Both these movements are possible using the same hand due to the involvement of different sets of muscles. Movements requiring more power, for example, climbing a wall vertically using hands, would require big muscles that may not fit inside the hand itself, therefore, they are located within the forearm but are attached to the phalanges and the metacarpal bones by means of long tendons that pass in between the carpal bones. These muscles located away from the region of movement are known as extrinsic muscles. The muscles required for smaller and finer movements are smaller in size and are located within the hand itself, in the palm, and they are known as intrinsic muscles. The intrinsic muscles of the hand may be divided into the thenar group (located radially, that is, laterally); the hypothenar muscles located on the ulnar side; and the intermediate muscles located in the middle of the palm.