Extensor pollicis brevis

Looks like

A deep muscle on the back of the forearm from the radius to the base of the thumb's first bone.

What it does

Straightens the thumb at its knuckle.

Keeping it well

Involved in de Quervain's disease; pain at the thumb side of the wrist eases with splinting or an injection.

Related conditions

• Botulism
• Compartment syndrome
• De Quervain's tenosynovitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Lymphangitis
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Tetanus