Hypothenar muscles

Looks like

Three short muscles forming the heel of the hand below the little finger: abductor, flexor and opponens digiti minimi; supplied by the ulnar nerve.

What it does

Move the little finger and cup the palm for a firm grip.

Keeping it well

Wasting here, with weak finger spreading, points to ulnar nerve damage at the elbow or wrist (as in cyclists' handlebar palsy).

Its parts

• Abductor digiti minimi of hand
• Flexor digiti minimi brevis of hand
• Opponens digiti minimi of hand

Related conditions

• Botulism
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• De Quervain's tenosynovitis
• Dupuytren's contracture & trigger finger
• Fibromyalgia
• Frailty & falls in older age
• Ganglion cyst
• Heat exhaustion & heatstroke
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Malnutrition & refeeding syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate disease)
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Repetitive strain & overuse injury
• Rhabdomyolysis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sarcoma
• Sarcopenia
• Tetanus