The flexor carpi ulnaris
Flexor carpi ulnaris · musculus flexor carpi ulnaris
A forearm muscle that bends the wrist and tilts it towards the little finger.
What it does
The flexor carpi ulnaris runs along the little-finger side of the forearm to the pisiform bone and the base of the little-finger metacarpal. It bends the wrist and pulls it towards the little finger, the movement you make when hammering a nail.
Surprising fact
The ulnar nerve slips into the forearm between its two heads, so a tight or swollen muscle here can contribute to pins and needles in the little finger.
Why it matters
Golfers and throwers load this muscle heavily, and the tendons at its elbow end are one source of "golfer's elbow" pain on the inner side of the joint.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.