Flexor and Extensor Tendons of the Hand: Anatomy, Function and Mechanism
FLEXOR AND
EXTENSOR TENDONS OF THE HAND
As
the flexor and extensor tendons pass from the wrist to the hand, clinical zones
have been described that help physicians articulate more precisely the
significant anatomic differences that exist in each zone that affect finger
function after injury (see Plates 4-5 and 4-6). As the extensor digitorum tendons diverge
over the dorsum of the hand, they are interconnected by inter-tendinous
connections. These prominently interconnect the tendons for the third,
fourth, and fifth digits and severely limit the independent action of these
digits, especially the fourth digit. Independent extensor action is retained
for the index finger. The convergence of the tendon of the extensor pollicis
longus muscle toward the tendons of the abductor pollicis longus and extensor
pollicis brevis muscles defines a hollow known as the anatomic snuffbox (see
Plate 4-14). In the floor of this hollow, the radial artery passes toward the
dorsum of the hand and gives off its dorsal carpal branch.
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