Name

# Opponens Pollicis

Pronunciation

(o-PONE-ens POL-uh-sus)

Origin/Proximal Attachment

Distal border of flexor retinaculum; trapezium

Insertion/Distal Attachment

Lateral aspect of 1st metacarpal

Action/Relevance

Opposes thumb to the fingers

Innervation

Median nerve - recurrent branch (C8, T1)

Notes

The Opponens pollicis is a small, triangular muscle, placed beneath the preceding. It arises from the ridge on the greater multangular and from the transverse carpal ligament, passes downward and lateralward, and is inserted into the whole length of the metacarpal bone of the thumb on its radial side.