PCL 5 Movements at Wrist Joint

Articulations at Wrist Joint

1.) Flexion

Bending the joint resulting in a decrease of angle; moving the palm of the hand toward the front of the forearm.

Muscles:

Flexor carpi radialis

Flexor carpi ulnaris

Palmaris longus

Abductor pollicis longus

Flexor digitorum profundus

Flexor digitorum superficialis

Flexor pollicis longus

2.) Extension / Hyperextension

Straightening the joint resulting in an increase of angle; moving the back of the hand toward the back of the forearm.

Muscles:

Extensor carpi radialis longus

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

Extensor carpi ulnaris

Extensor digitorum

Extensor pollicis longus

Extensor indicis

Extensor digiti minimi

3.) Adduction (Ulna Deviation)

Medial movement toward the midline of the body; moving the little finger side of the hand toward the medial side of the forearm.

Muscles:

Flexor carpi ulnaris

Extensor carpi ulnaris

4.) Abduction (Radial Deviation)

Lateral movement away from the midline of the body; moving the thumb side of the hand toward the lateral side of the forearm.

Muscles:

Extensor carpi radialis longus

Extensor carpi radialis brevis

Flexor carpi radialis

Abductor pollicis longus

Extensor pollicis brevis

Extensor pollicis longus

Thumb Articulations

Carpometacarpal (saddle joint)

1.) Flexion

Bending the joint resulting in a decrease of angle; moving the bone below the thumb toward the hand and slightly forward.

Muscles:

Flexor pollicis brevis

Flexor pollicis longus

Opponens pollicis

2.) Extension

Straightening the joint resulting in an increase of angle; moving the bone below the thumb away from the hand and slightly back.

Muscles:

Extensor pollicis longus

Extensor pollicis brevis

Abductor pollicis longus

3.) Adduction

Medial movement toward the midline of the body; moving the bone below the thumb toward the back of the wrist.

Muscles:

Adductor pollicis

1st dorsal interosseous

Extensor pollicis longus

Flexor pollicis longus

4.) Abduction

Lateral movement away from the midline of the body; moving the bone below the thumb toward the front of the wrist.

Muscles:

Abductor pollicis longus

Abductor pollicis brevis

5.) Opposition

Diagonal movement of the thumb across the palm of the hand making contact with the fingers.

Muscles:

Opponens pollicis

Abductor pollicis brevis

Flexor pollicis brevis

Flexor pollicis longus

Adductor pollicis

Metacarpophalangeal (condyloid)

1.) Flexion

Bending the joint resulting in a decrease of angle; moving the base of the thumb toward the heel of the hand.

Muscles:

Flexor pollicis longus

Flexor pollicis brevis

1st palmar interosseous

Abductor pollicis brevis

2.) Extension

Straightening the joint resulting in an increase of angle; moving the base of the thumb away from the heel of the hand.

Muscles:

Extensor pollicis longus

Extensor pollicis brevis

3.) Adduction

Medial movement toward the midline of the body; slight movement of the base of the thumb toward the back of the hand.

Muscles:

Adductor pollicis

1st palmar interosseous

4.) Abduction

Lateral movement away from the midline of the body; slight movement of the base of the thumb away from the back of the hand.

Muscle: Abductor pollicis brevis

Interphalangeal

1.) Flexion

Bending the joint resulting in a decrease of angle; moving the distal segments of the thumb toward the base of the thumb.

Muscle: Flexor pollicis longus.

2.) Extension / Hyperextension

Straightening the joint resulting in an increase of angle; moving the distal segments of the thumb away from the base of the thumb.

Muscles:

Extensor pollicis longus

Abductor pollicis brevis

Adductor pollicis