The human hand has 34 muscles. These muscles are responsible for the intricate movements and dexterity of the hand and fingers.
While most people think of the muscles in the hand as being directly in the palm and fingers, the majority of these muscles actually originate in the forearm and extend to the hand via tendons.
Healthcare providers categorize hand muscles into groups based on their location and function:
- Thenar muscles: These control the thumb's movements.
- Hypothenar muscles: These control the little finger's movements.
- Palmar interossei muscles: These muscles help with finger flexion and abduction (moving the fingers away from the midline).
- Dorsal interossei muscles: These muscles help with finger extension and abduction.
- Lumbricals: These are thin muscles that help bend the metacarpophalangeal joints (knuckles) and extend the fingers.
The hand's complex network of muscles, tendons, bones, and ligaments allows for a remarkable range of motion and fine motor control.
