Flexor Carpi Ulnaris

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

The flexor carpi ulnaris muscle is a superficial forearm muscle that flexes and adducts the hand at the wrist.

image descriptionFlexor Carpi Ulnaris

An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the associated muscles muscles. The visible, labelled muscles are as follows: Biceps Brachii, Brachialis, Pronator Teres, Brachioradialis, Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus, Palmaris Longus, Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis, Flexor Carpi Radialis, Flexor Carpi Ulnaris (highlighted in green), Flexor Digitorum Superficialis and a transverse carpal ligament at the wrist - Flexor Retinaculum - going over the tendons of most forearm muscles.
Anterior view of the forearm bones and muscles with the pronator teres, palmaris longus, flexor carpi radialis and ulnaris, flexor digitorum superficialis and the flexor retinaculum labeled.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and isolated Flexor Carpi Ulnaris muscle.
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image descriptionAttachments of the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Muscle: Origin and Insertion

Origin (proximal attachment)
a. Medial epicondyle of humerus.

Insertion (distal attachment)
a. Pisiform, hook of hamate, & base of 5th metacarpal.

An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the associated muscles muscles. The visible, labelled muscles are as follows: Biceps Brachii, Brachialis, Pronator Teres, Brachioradialis, Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus, Palmaris Longus, Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis, Flexor Carpi Radialis, Flexor Carpi Ulnaris (highlighted in green), Flexor Digitorum Superficialis and a transverse carpal ligament at the wrist - Flexor Retinaculum - going over the tendons of most forearm muscles.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and isolated Flexor Carpi Ulnaris muscle.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the attachment of the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris muscle. Origin at the medial epicondyle of humerus is marked by a red oval. The insertions at the pisiform, hook of hamate, and base of 5th metacarpal are marked by blue circles. Transparent Flexor Carpi Ulnaris muscle connects the attachment sites.
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Actions of the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris Muscle:

a.  image descriptionFlexes the hand at the wrist.

Learning muscle anatomy is hard! Simplify your studies with this upper limb muscle anatomy reference chart.

a.  image descriptionUlnar deviates (adducts) the hand at the wrist.

Nerve to the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris muscle and its spinal segment:

a. Ulnar nerve (C8, T1).

An overview of the posterior forearm muscles

A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the associated soft structures. The visible structures of the forearm are labelled 1-11 and the answers in the box below are concealed.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-11. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Biceps Brachii 2. Brachialis 3. Pronator Teres 4. Brachioradialis 5. Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus 6. Palmaris Longus 7. Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis 8. Flexor Carpi Radialis 9. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 10. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 11. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-10. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Brachialis 2. Pronator Teres 3. Brachioradialis 4. Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus 5. Palmaris Longus 6. Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis 7. Flexor Carpi Radialis 8. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 9. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 10. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-9. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Pronator Teres 2. Brachioradialis 3. Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus 4. Palmaris Longus 5. Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis 6. Flexor Carpi Radialis 7. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 8. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 9. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-8. The answers in the box below are as follows: 1. Pronator Teres 2. Brachioradialis 3. Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus 4. Palmaris Longus 5. Flexor Carpi Radialis 6. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 7. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 8. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-7. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Pronator Teres 2. Brachioradialis 3. Palmaris Longus 4. Flexor Carpi Radialis 5. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 6. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 7. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-6. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Pronator Teres 2. Palmaris Longus 3. Flexor Carpi Radialis 4. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 5. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 6. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-4. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Palmaris Longus 2. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 3. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 4. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-3. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Flexor Carpi Radialis 2. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 3. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible structures of the forearm are numbered 1-2. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 2. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the isolated Flexor Carpi Ulnaris muscle numbered 1.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the attachment of the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris muscle. Origin at the medial epicondyle of humerus is marked by a red oval. The insertions at the pisiform, hook of hamate, and base of 5th metacarpal are marked by blue circles. Transparent Flexor Carpi Ulnaris muscle connects the attachment sites.
Test yourself while observing the Flexor Carpi Ulnaris muscle
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Muscles That Act On The Anterior Wrist and Hand

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