top of page

Abductor pollicis brevis

Etymology:

From L. abducere: “to lead away” [from ab (“away”) + ducere (“to lead”)] + L. pollex: "thumb" + L. brevis: "short, small, little, narrow"

Definition:

The shorter of two muscles (its longer counterpart being the abductor pollicis longus) in the hand that functions to lead the thumb away (i.e. abduction) from the hand. 


The abductor pollicis brevis is a flat, thin muscle located just under the skin. It is a thenar muscle, and therefore contributes to the bulk of the palm's thenar eminence. 


The abductor pollicis brevis is supplied by the recurrent branch of the median nerve (Roots C8-T1).

bottom of page