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Thenar eminence

The thenar eminence is the fleshy, muscular mound located on the radial aspect of the at the base of , formed by the intrinsic that facilitate its opposition, , and flexion. It derives its name from word "thenar," meaning the of the hand. Composed primarily of three short muscles—the abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, and opponens pollicis—the thenar eminence enables precise thumb movements essential for grasping, fine motor tasks, and human dexterity in tool use and manipulation.

Anatomy

Location and boundaries

The thenar eminence is the prominent, fleshy mound located on the radial (thumb) side of the palm, formed by the underlying thenar muscles that provide bulk to this region. It occupies the base of the thumb, spanning the area where the thumb metacarpal articulates with the carpal bones. Anatomically, the thenar eminence extends proximally to the flexor retinaculum (also known as the transverse carpal ligament) and distally to the thumb's web space near the metacarpophalangeal joint. Its boundaries are precisely defined: the medial (ulnar) border is marked by the thenar crease, separating it from the central palm; the lateral (radial) border follows the first metacarpal and the trapezium bone; the proximal limit is at the flexor retinaculum, anchoring the origins of the contributing muscles; and the distal limit reaches the web space between the thumb and index finger. In , the thenar eminence is visible as a subtle, rounded in the relaxed hand, becoming more pronounced and palpable when is abducted or opposed due to of the underlying muscles. It relates closely to creases of the , lying proximal to the distal palmar crease and bordered laterally by the thenar crease, a curved fold that outlines the base of the mound and facilitates thumb mobility. This palpability aids in clinical assessment, as the eminence can be easily identified by pressing at the thumb base on the palmar surface.

Muscles

The thenar eminence is composed primarily of three intrinsic hand muscles that provide its characteristic bulk: the abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, and opponens pollicis. The adductor pollicis lies deep to these muscles in the palm. The abductor pollicis brevis is the most superficial of these muscles and lies laterally; it originates from the flexor retinaculum and the tubercles of the scaphoid and trapezium bones, inserting into the lateral aspect of the base of the thumb's proximal phalanx. The flexor pollicis brevis has two heads: a superficial head originating from the tubercle of the trapezium and the flexor retinaculum, and a deep head arising from the ulnar side of the first metacarpal or adjacent structures; both heads insert into the lateral base of the thumb's proximal phalanx. The opponens pollicis, the largest thenar muscle, is located deep and originates from the flexor retinaculum and the tubercle of the trapezium, inserting along the anterolateral surface of the first metacarpal shaft. The adductor pollicis, a deep palmar muscle that contributes to thumb adduction, consists of transverse and oblique heads; the transverse head originates from the anterior surface of the third metacarpal, while the oblique head arises from the capitate bone and the bases of the second and third metacarpals, with both inserting into the medial base of the thumb's proximal phalanx. These thenar muscles are organized into superficial and deep layers. The superficial layer includes the abductor pollicis brevis and the superficial head of the flexor pollicis brevis, while the deep layer encompasses the opponens pollicis and the deep head of the flexor pollicis brevis. Origins generally arise from the flexor retinaculum, scaphoid, , and capitate bones, with insertions primarily on the proximal or first metacarpal of the thumb. Anatomical variations in these muscles include accessory heads or slips, particularly in the abductor pollicis brevis and flexor pollicis brevis, as well as occasional absence or fusion of the opponens pollicis and fascicular differences in the adductor pollicis, observed in certain populations based on cadaveric studies.

Vascular supply

The vascular supply to the thenar eminence is primarily arterial, ensuring adequate to the underlying muscles and overlying skin at the base of . The main arterial source is the superficial palmar branch of the , which arises proximal to the flexor retinaculum and courses superficially across the thenar region to nourish the area. Additional contributions come from the princeps pollicis artery, a branch of the that supplies the base of and forms recurrent branches around the . These vessels anastomose with the , primarily formed by the with ulnar contributions, providing collateral circulation that enhances regional blood flow and supports surgical considerations for flap transfers. Venous drainage parallels the arterial supply, with superficial palmar veins collecting blood from the thenar eminence and directing it toward the system along the radial aspect of the hand. Deep venous follows the accompanying arteries, contributing to overall hand venous return via the dorsal venous network. Lymphatic from the thenar eminence proceeds along the radial side of the hand toward the cubital nodes in the , before ultimately reaching the axillary nodes and returning to the central . Anatomical variations in the palmar arches can affect thenar ; for instance, a complete , formed by ulnar and radial contributions, occurs in approximately 75% of cases, while incomplete arches are seen in 25%, potentially influencing collateral flow in vascular compromise.

Nerve supply

The primary motor innervation of the thenar eminence is provided by the (C6-T1), specifically through its recurrent motor branch, which emerges in the distal portion of the and supplies the abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, and superficial head of the flexor pollicis brevis muscles. The recurrent motor branch typically originates from the radial side of the just distal to the flexor retinaculum, then loops volarly around the distal edge of the retinaculum in an extraligamentous fashion (most common variant), traveling superficially toward the thenar muscles and passing near the of the scaphoid, where it is particularly vulnerable to during surgical procedures. The (C8-T1) contributes to the motor supply via its deep branch, innervating the deep head of the flexor pollicis brevis and the adductor pollicis (a deep palmar muscle). In approximately 12-30% of cases, variations occur where the adductor pollicis receives partial or full innervation from the instead of the . Sensory innervation to the skin overlying the thenar eminence is supplied by the palmar cutaneous branch of the , which arises proximal to the and provides sensation to the central palm and thenar region; the thumb web space receives additional sensory input from the digital branches of the . Anatomical variations in thenar innervation are common, with the Martin-Gruber —a connection where motor fibers from the in the forearm join the —occurring in 15-20% of individuals and potentially altering the expected distribution of thenar motor supply by providing median-derived fibers to ulnar-innervated muscles.

Function

Primary movements

The trapeziometacarpal (TMC) , a between the and the base of the first metacarpal, enables multiplanar motion of through of freedom: flexion-extension, abduction-adduction, and axial . This configuration allows the thenar eminence muscles to facilitate precise thumb positioning essential for hand dexterity. Typical ranges of motion at the TMC include approximately 41° for flexion-extension, 51° for abduction-adduction, and 21° for axial . Abduction of the thumb, primarily mediated by the , involves radial deviation at the carpometacarpal () joint, moving the thumb away from the plane of the . This muscle originates from the tubercles of the scaphoid and and the flexor retinaculum, inserting on the lateral aspect of the proximal base, thereby drawing the thumb perpendicular to the palm in the radial direction. Flexion at the thumb is achieved by the flexor pollicis brevis muscle, which acts on both the CMC and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints to bend the thumb toward the palm. Comprising superficial and deep heads, this muscle originates from the trapezium tubercle, flexor retinaculum, and base of the second metacarpal, inserting on the base of the proximal phalanx to produce palmar flexion. Opposition is driven by the opponens pollicis muscle, which rotates and adducts the thumb at the CMC joint, positioning the thumb pad toward the fingertips. Originating from the tubercle of the trapezium and the flexor retinaculum, it inserts along the anterolateral shaft of the first metacarpal, facilitating medial rotation and flexion to enable the thumb to cross the palm. These primary movements collectively contribute to the thumb's opposition capability, allowing touch between the thumb and other digits.

Role in grip and opposition

The thenar eminence plays a pivotal role in the opposition mechanism, enabling to position its palmar surface against the fingers for precision s such as pinching or writing. This movement, primarily driven by the within the eminence, allows the thumb tip to contact other digits, facilitating fine motor tasks essential for dexterity. In grip types, the thenar eminence contributes to both power and precision actions through synergistic muscle activity. During power grip, such as grasping a cylindrical object, the thenar muscles adduct the thumb to provide stability against the palm, supporting forceful extrinsic muscle contractions. In contrast, tip-to-tip pinch relies on thenar-mediated flexion and abduction synergy to align the thumb precisely with fingertips, enabling controlled manipulation. Evolutionarily, enhanced opposition in the human thenar eminence distinguishes species from other , promoting advanced use and cultural development around 2 million years ago. Unlike chimpanzees, whose thumb opposition yields only about 44% of human torque efficiency due to smaller muscle cross-sections, human adaptations in the trapeziometacarpal joint and thenar musculature support superior precision grasping for dietary and technological advancements. Biomechanically, the thenar eminence integrates with the hypothenar complex and interossei muscles to maintain stable hand posture during prehensile activities. This coordination ensures balanced force distribution across the , with thenar adduction countering hypothenar and interossei stabilizing metacarpophalangeal joints for sustained integrity.

Clinical significance

Common disorders

One of the most prevalent disorders affecting the thenar eminence is thenar , which results from of the , most commonly in (CTS). In advanced CTS, the recurrent motor branch of the becomes compromised, leading to denervation and wasting of the thenar muscles, manifesting as a flattened of the eminence and progressive weakness in opposition and . CTS affects approximately 3.8% of the general adult population, with thenar involvement typically occurring in severe, untreated cases. Thenar atrophy can also indicate early amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through the "split hand" sign, where preferential wasting of thenar muscles occurs compared to hypothenar, aiding differentiation from or other . injury at or proximal to the may cause , featuring loss of thumb opposition, abduction, and a flattened thenar eminence due to unopposed action of extrinsic extensors. De Quervain's tenosynovitis involves inflammation and thickening of the tendon sheaths enclosing the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis, which, although extrinsic to the thenar eminence, produces pain radiating to the radial aspect of the and base of the . This condition often arises from repetitive and motions, resulting in swelling and tenderness over the thenar region that impairs and mobility. Trigger thumb, or stenosing of the flexor pollicis longus , causes mechanical locking or catching during thumb flexion, indirectly affecting thenar function by limiting smooth opposition and pinch. The stems from nodular within the at the , leading to pain and stiffness that can extend to the thenar eminence with prolonged episodes. Fractures and dislocations involving the or of the first metacarpal frequently lead to and dysfunction of the thenar eminence due to its anatomical proximity and reliance on these structures for stability. Such injuries, often from high-energy axial loading or falls, present with localized pain, swelling, and ecchymosis over the thenar mound, accompanied by reduced thumb and potential that flattens the eminence contour.

Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches

Diagnosis of thenar eminence-related issues typically begins with a thorough to assess , strength, and sensory deficits. Key maneuvers include Phalen's test, which involves flexion to provoke compression symptoms indicative of affecting the thenar muscles, and Froment's sign, where compensatory thumb flexion during key pinch reveals involvement impacting thenar function. for thenar wasting and for tenderness further guide initial evaluation. Imaging modalities such as (MRI) are employed to visualize thenar muscle and rule out structural causes like masses or nerve entrapment, while assesses vascular flow and dynamic in conditions like de Quervain's tenosynovitis. (EMG) and nerve conduction studies provide objective data on innervation deficits, confirming dysfunction with sensitivities up to 85% in moderate cases. Conservative therapies form the first-line management for early or mild thenar eminence involvement, emphasizing rest and symptom relief. Splinting, particularly thumb spica orthoses, immobilizes the and to alleviate pressure on the or extensor tendons, often combined with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation in de Quervain's tenosynovitis or early . Physical therapy incorporates , strengthening exercises, and modalities like to improve opposition and grip without invasive measures. Surgical interventions are indicated for persistent or severe cases, with release being the standard for compression to preserve the recurrent motor branch supplying the thenar muscles. For thumb basal arthritis contributing to thenar pain, trapeziectomy with reconstruction and interposition (LRTI) removes the arthritic and stabilizes the . repairs address specific injuries like de Quervain's release, involving incision of the first compartment. Outcomes of these approaches vary by intervention and severity, with release achieving symptom relief in 80-90% of patients and partial reversal of in many cases, though full muscle recovery may take 6-12 months. Trapeziectomy yields high satisfaction rates of 89-96%, with significant pain reduction and improved pinch strength at long-term follow-up. protocols post-surgery focus on progressive opposition exercises to restore function, typically spanning 6-8 weeks. Emerging therapies include (Botox) injections for affecting the thenar eminence, targeting overactive muscles to enhance function in neurological conditions with reported improvements in hand dexterity. Regenerative options like (PRP) injections show promise for thumb carpometacarpal , reducing pain and potentially delaying surgery with effects lasting 6-12 months in preliminary studies.

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