Standing, sitting or lying supine
Anterior or lateral to the patient.
May I touch your hand? ( or point to the demonstrated area ).
Please turn your palm down. Straighten the knuckles, while the rest of the finger stay bent
(or demonstrate, which is much easier). (If needed, hold in this position while I try to move your finger.)
This muscle may be referred to as the extensor digitorum or the extensor digitorum communis.
Since there is an extensor digitorum longus muscle in the leg, the term extensor digitorum
communis more clearly distinguishes the closely named muscles in the forearm and leg.
Guide the patient to pronate. With the patient relaxed, place the flat hand across the posterior proximal forearm. Guide the patient to extend the metacarpophalangeal joints of the four fingers. The extensor digitorum (communis) muscle should be the most prominently contracting muscle. If needed, verify this muscle location as explained for the extensor carpi radialis brevis and longus muscles of the wrist.
Palpate the easily observable tendons as they expand the dorsum of the hand toward digits 2, 3, and 4. The tendon to digit 5 is a slip from the tendon of digit 4 to join the extensor digiti minimi and may be more palpable than visible. With unclear muscle activity, provide added resistance by having the patient ìholdî while you gradually produce a push on the proximal phalanx of each finger in the direction of metacarpophalangeal flexion.
This muscle also extends the interphalangeal joints of digits 2, 3, 4, and 5, however the action at these joints is less than at the metacarpophalangeal joints. Some additional muscle action may be seen with extension of the interphalangeal joints of digits 2, 3, 4, and 5 with the metacarpophalangeal joints already extended.
Guide the patient to pronate. With the patient relaxed, place the flat hand across the posterior proximal forearm. Guide the patient to extend the metacarpophalangeal joints of the four fingers. The extensor digitorum (communis) muscle should be the most prominently contracting muscle. If needed, verify this muscle location as explained for the extensor carpi radialis brevis and longus muscles of the wrist.
Palpate the easily observable tendons as they expand the dorsum of the hand toward digits 2, 3, and 4. The tendon to digit 5 is a slip from the tendon of digit 4 to join the extensor digiti minimi and may be more palpable than visible. With unclear muscle activity, provide added resistance by having the patient ìholdî while you gradually produce a push on the proximal phalanx of each finger in the direction of metacarpophalangeal flexion.
This muscle also extends the interphalangeal joints of digits 2, 3, 4, and 5, however the action at these joints is less than at the metacarpophalangeal joints. Some additional muscle action may be seen with extension of the interphalangeal joints of digits 2, 3, 4, and 5 with the metacarpophalangeal joints already extended.
VH - Extensor digitorum muscle and tendons