Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Muscle
Original Editor Uchechukwu Chukwuemeka
Top Contributors - Uchechukwu Chukwuemeka, Ananya Bunglae Sudindar, Patti Cavaleri and Vidya Acharya
Original Editor -
Top Contributors - Uchechukwu Chukwuemeka, Ananya Bunglae Sudindar, Patti Cavaleri and Vidya Acharya
Description[edit | edit source]
Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle (FCU) is the most medial flexor muscles in the superficial compartment of the forearm. It can adduct and flex the wrist at the same time; acts in tandem with FCR to flex the wrist and with the extensor carpi ulnaris to adduct the wrist. This muscle is the only muscle in the anterior compartment that is fully innervated by the ulnar nerve.
Origin[edit | edit source]
It has an long linear origin from olecranon and posterior border of the ulna,
A humeral head origin from the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
Insertion[edit | edit source]
It inserts at the base of Pisiform bone, hook of hamate and base of 5th metacarpal.[1][2]
Nerve[edit | edit source]
FCU is innervated by the Ulnar nerve (C7,C8, T1)[1]
Artery[edit | edit source]
FCU blood supply is via ulnar collateral arteries, and also anterior and posterior ulnar recurrent arteries.
Function[edit | edit source]
FCU flexes and adducts the hand at the wrist joint
Clinical relevance[2][edit | edit source]
The ulnar nerve enters the forearm by passing between the humeral and the ulnar heads of its origin.
Where the FCU tendon inserts serves as a landmark in finding the ulnar nerve and artery, which are on its lateral side at the wrist
Assessment[edit | edit source]
Manual Muscle Testing[edit | edit source]
The patient/client is seated with posterior aspect of the forearm and hand flat on a table; then, the hand is positioned in supination and extension
The therapist is seated at the side of the upper limb being tested, one hand stabilizes the patient's forearm and as well palpates the muscle and its tendon; while the other hand's two to three fingers is placed on the radial side of the hand at the 5th metacarpal and metacarpophalangeal joint of the patient
Instruction: The patient is instructed to abduct the little finger while flexing the wrist against the therapist's resistance.
