Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Muscle

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

The flexor digitorum superficialis muscle is a forearm muscle located in the intermediate compartment of the forearm primarily involved finger flexion.

image descriptionFlexor Digitorum Superficialis Muscle

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, Flexor Retinaculum and Flexor Aponeurosis. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis is highlighted in green, but not labelled in this image.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible, labelled muscles are as follows: Pronator Teres, Flexor Digitorum Superficialis (highlighted in green), Palmaris Longus, Flexor Carpi Radialis, Flexor Carpi Ulnaris,Flexor Retinaculum and Flexor Aponeurosis.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the deeper muscles. The visible, labelled muscles are as follows: Flexor Digitorum Superficialis (highlighted in green), Palmaris Longus, Flexor Carpi Ulnaris, Flexor Retinaculum, Flexor Aponeurosis.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and isolated Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle.
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image descriptionAttachments of the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Muscle: Origin and Insertion

Origin (proximal attachment)
a. Humero-ulnar head: medial epicondyle of humerus & coronoid process of ulna
b. Radial head: upper anterior surface of radius.

Insertion (distal attachment)
a. Middle phalanges of digits 2-5.

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, Flexor Retinaculum and Flexor Aponeurosis. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis is highlighted in green, but not labelled in this image.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and isolated Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle.
An anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the attachment of the Flexor Carpi Radialis muscle. Origin of the humero-ulnar head: medial epicondyle of humerus & coronoid process of ulna and of the radial head: upper anterior surface of radius are marked by red areas. The insertions at the middle phalanges of digits 2-5 are marked by blue circles. Transparent Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle connects the two attachment sites.
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Actions of the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis Muscle:

a.  image descriptionFlexes middle phalanges.

Save yourself the stress and hours spent learning muscle anatomy with these handy muscle anatomy reference charts.

b. If action continues, image descriptionflexes proximal phalanges, hand at wrist, and forearm at elbow.

Nerve to the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle and its spinal segment:

a. Median nerve (C7, C8, T1).

An Overview of the Anterior Muscles of the Forearm

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 Retinaculum 11. Flexor Aponeurosis.
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 Retinaculum 10. Flexor Aponeurosis.
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 Retinaculum 9. Flexor Aponeurosis.
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 Retinaculum 8. Flexor Aponeurosis.
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 Retinaculum 7. Flexor Aponeurosis.
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. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 3. Palmaris Longus 4. Flexor Carpi Radialis 5. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 6. Flexor Retinaculum 7. Flexor Aponeurosis.
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. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 2. Palmaris Longus 3. Flexor Carpi Radialis 4. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 5. Flexor Retinaculum 6. Flexor Aponeurosis.
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 1-5. The answers in the box below are as follows 1. Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 2. Palmaris Longus 3. Flexor Carpi Ulnaris 4. Flexor Retinaculum 5. Flexor Aponeurosis.
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 Digitorum Superficialis 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 Digitorum Superficialis 2. Flexor Retinaculum.
A test yourself image of the anterior view of the forearm showing the bony elements and the isolated Flexor Digitorum Superficialis 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 Radialis muscle. Origin of the humero-ulnar head: medial epicondyle of humerus & coronoid process of ulna and of the radial head: upper anterior surface of radius are marked by red areas. The insertions at the middle phalanges of digits 2-5 are marked by blue circles. Transparent Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle connects the two attachment sites.
Test yourself while observing the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscle
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