Dorsal interossei muscles of the hand: want to learn more about it?

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Dorsal interossei muscles of the hand

Last reviewed: December 09, 2019

The dorsal interossei muscles are four short muscles of the metacarpus. They are located in the back of the hand (dorsum) and act as the abductors of the fingers, specifically the index, middle and ring fingers.

Besides spreading the fingers, they also assist in flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joints of the index, middle and ring fingers and the extension at the interphalangeal joints of the index, middle and ring fingers. So, if you have ever wondered how does Spock in the Star Trek franchise performs his typical greeting with the little and ring finger laterally abduct and the index and middle medially abduct, now you have the answer - with dorsal interossei.

Key facts
Origins	Interosseous I: adjacent surfaces of the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones Interosseous II: adjacent surfaces of the 2nd and 3rd metacarpal bones Interosseous III: adjacent surfaces of the 3rd and 4th metacarpal bones Interosseous IV: adjacent surfaces of the 4th and 5th metacarpal bones
Insertions	Interosseous I: radial side of the base of the 2nd proximal phalanx (index finger) Interosseous II: radial side of the base of the 3rd proximal phalanx (middle finger) Interosseous III: ulnar side of the base of the 3rd proximal phalanx (middle finger) Interosseous IV: ulnar side of the base of the 4th proximal phalanx (ring finger)
Innervation	Deep branch of the ulnar nerve (C8-Th1)
Function	Interossei I and II: radial abduction of the index and middle fingers Interossei III and IV: ulnar abduction of the middle and ring fingers Assist flexion in the metacarpophalangeal joints, assist extension in the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints

This article will discuss the anatomy and function of the dorsal interossei muscles.

Contents

Anatomy
Function
Clinical notes
Related diagrams and images

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Anatomy

Origin

Each of them is attached to the adjacent sides of two metacarpal bones, e.g. the first one between thumb and index fingers, the second between index and middle fingers, etc.

Insertion

Distally, their tendons insert at the dorsal aponeurosis and the base of the proximal phalanx of the second to fourth fingers. Thereby, they all run towards the middle finger which leads to the following insertion surfaces:

dorsal interosseous muscle I: radial side of the index finger
dorsal interosseous muscle II: radial side of the middle finger
dorsal interosseous muscle III: ulnar side of the middle finger
dorsal interosseous muscle IV: ulnar side of the ring finger

The first dorsal interosseous, the largest and strongest among the four, can be easily felt in the web between thumb and index finger. Nevertheless, it is also possible to palpate the remaining three between the metacarpal bones and the tendon of the extensor digitorum muscle.

Innervation

The innervation of all dorsal interossei is carried by the deep branch of the ulnar nerve (C8-Th1).

Recommended video: Dorsal interossei muscles of the hand

Attachments, innervation and function of the dorsal interossei muscles of the hand.

Function

The dorsal interossei partially perform opposite actions in the fingers: While the first and second pull the index and middle finger laterally (radial abduction), the third and fourth move the middle and ring finger medially (ulnar abduction).

Together they complement the abductor pollicis (abductor of the thumb) and the abductor digiti minimi (abductor of the little finger) in the spread of the fingers and, thus, act antagonistically to the palmar interossei muscles.

(mnemonic: DAB = Dorsals ABduct, PAD = Palmars ADduct).

Abduction of the fingers

Furthermore, their contraction leads to a flexion in the metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP) and an extension in the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints (PIP and DIP).

An analogous muscle group can be found in the foot which is responsible, at the bottom, for identical movements at the toes (dorsal interossei of the foot).

Clinical notes

Lesions of the deep branch of the ulnar nerve can cause paralysis of the dorsal and palmar interossei whereby the fingers are extended in the MCP and flexed in the PIP and DIP. In that case, spreading the fingers also becomes a more difficult task. This characteristic clinical picture is referred to as the ulnar claw (or claw hand).

An atrophy of the metacarpal and hypothenar muscles occurs in later stages. Interestingly the index and middle fingers are usually less affected in the ulnar claw because the first and second lumbricals can compensate this loss up to a certain degree. The reason behind this is that those two muscles are not supplied by the ulnar nerve, but instead the median nerve.

Dorsal interossei muscles of the hand: want to learn more about it?

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“I would honestly say that Kenhub cut my study time in half.” – Read more. Kim Bengochea, Regis University, Denver

Show references

References:

M. Schünke/E. Schulte/U. Schumacher: Prometheus – LernAtlas der Anatomie – Allgemeine Anatomie und Bewegungssystem, 2nd edition, Thieme Verlag (2007), p. 316-317
J. E. Muscolino: The muscular system manual – The skeletal muscles of the human body, 2nd edition, Elsevier Mosby (2005), p. 686-689
I. Reuter: Krallenhand, Lexikon Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, SpringerMedizin

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