Abductor Pollicis Brevis
(This structure is not yet classified in the VH Dissector)
(This structure is not yet classified in the VH Dissector)
Standing, sitting or lying supine
Anterior or lateral to the patient.
May I touch your hand? ( or point to the demonstrated area ).
Please bend your elbow and turn your palm up. Raise your thumb up and away from your palm and keep your other fingers straight (or demonstrate, which is easier). (If needed, hold in this position while I try to move your thumb.)
Guide the patient to bend the elbow and supinate. Guide the patient to abduct the thumb while keeping the other fingers extended. Observe that as the thumb abducts, the most superficial muscle of the thenar eminence, the abductor pollicis brevis, becomes prominent. Starting with the muscle relaxed, palpate this muscle during thumb abduction. With unclear muscle activity, provide added resistance by having the patient ìholdî while you gradually produce a push on the thumb in the direction of thumb carpometacarpal adduction.
VH -