Thenar eminence

Thenar Eminence

The Thenar Eminence is a group of muscles in the human hand, located at the base of the thumb. The term "thenar" comes from the Greek word θέναρ (thenar), meaning palm of the hand.

Etymology

The term "thenar" is derived from the Greek word θέναρ (thenar), which translates to "palm of the hand". The term "eminence" is derived from the Latin word "eminencia", which means "prominence" or "projection". Together, "thenar eminence" refers to the prominent, fleshy mass at the base of the thumb on the palm of the hand.

Anatomy

The thenar eminence is primarily made up of three muscles: the Abductor pollicis brevis, the Flexor pollicis brevis, and the Opponens pollicis. These muscles are responsible for the movements of the thumb and are innervated by the Median nerve, specifically the recurrent branch of the median nerve.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the thenar eminence can result in a loss of thumb movement and grip strength. Conditions such as Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause atrophy of the thenar eminence, leading to a flattened appearance of the palm and difficulty in performing tasks that require thumb movement.

Related Terms

• Hypothenar eminence: The group of muscles on the little finger side of the palm.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: A condition that causes numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hand due to pressure on the median nerve in your wrist.
• Median nerve: A nerve in humans and other animals located in the upper limb, one of the five main nerves originating from the brachial plexus.

See Also

• Hand
• Thumb
• Muscle
• Nerve

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Thenar eminence

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  Anatomy of the hand showing the thenar eminence
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  Diagram of the carpal tunnel
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  Thenar eminence
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  Dissection of the hand showing the thenar muscles
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  Anterior view of the thenar eminence
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  Posterior view of the thenar eminence
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  Comparison of thumbs showing the thenar eminence