Opponens Digiti Minimi Anatomy
Origin: Flexor retinaculum and the hook of the hamate bone, which are structures in the wrist
Insertion: Ulnar aspect of metacarpal bone 5
Innervation: Deep branch of ulnar nerve (C8, T1)
Diagrams & Photos
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Opponens Digiti Minimi
Key Points
- A positive Wartenburg's sign occurs when the patient's little finger is in an involuntary abducted position because of a weak third palmar interosseous muscle and contracted and/or unopposed hypothenar muscles.
- The hypothenar muscles can used to perform a opponensplasty muscle transfer to replace the function of the thumb's thenar muscles. In the Huber transfer the hypothenar muscles are released from their distal insertions and mobilized proximally on their neurovascular pedicle and surgically relocated to replace the damaged or denervated thenar muscles.
- Surgical exposure of the deep motor branch of the ulnar nerve often requires release of the hypothenar muscles from their hook of hamate origin.