Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
PDF hosted at the Radboud Repository of the Radboud University Nijmegen The following full text is a publisher's version. For additional information about this publication click this link. http://hdl.handle.net/2066/22075 Please be advised that this information was generated on 2017-05-06 and may be subject to change. J. Amu. (1995) 186, pp. 509-515, with 9 Jigures Printed in GreaL Britain 509 Functional relationship between the abductor pollicis longus and abductor pollicis brevis muscles: an EMG analysis E. VAN O U D E N A A R D E 1 A ND R. A. B* O O S T E N D O R P 2 1 University o f Nijmegen, the Netherlands, 2Free University o f Brussels, Belgium and National Institute f o r Research and Postgraduate Education in Physical Therapy, Amersfoort, The Netherlands (Accepted S November 1994) ABSTRACT This study examined the anatomical and functional relationships between the abductor pollicis longus (APL) and the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscles. The APL has 2 divisions, a distal superficial division and a more proximal deep one. A direct anatomical connection between the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles o f the thumb is made up by the deep division of the-APL, the APB and the trapezium. Electromyographic (EM G) recordings were made from these muscles to investigate differences and similarities in muscle activation. The EMG acitivity was recorded with intramuscular wire electrodes during isometric as well as dynamic contractions in different directions, both for the thumb and for the hand. The E M G activity o f the right hand o f 8 subjects was scaled relative to the the mean EM G value at the maximum voluntary isometric contraction in order to compare relative muscle activity in various directions for different subjects. APB and APL were activated in a number o f directions for the thumb as well as for the hand. Cooperation between these muscles is necessary to stabilise the trapezium to the carpus in movements o f the thumb. APB is activated in movements o f the hand to maintain the tension in the deep APL. The deep APL is activated in movements of the thumb to prevent undesired movements o f the hand and the forearm. The APB and superficial APL are prime movers o f the thumb. Key words: Electromyography; hand function; abductor pollicis longus; abductor pollicis brevis; trapezium. INTRODUCTION The extrinsic muscles o f the thumb are extensor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis longus and abductor pollicis longus. These muscles are polyarticular and act at the carpal joint as well as on the joints o f the thumb. The intrinsic muscles o f the thumb are opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, adductor pollicis and abductor pollicis brevis. These muscles are smaller than the extrinsic muscles and only cross the joints o f the thumb. Little is known about the functional relationships between the ex trinsic and intrinsic muscles o f the thumb. The only anatomical connection between the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the thumb is made up by abductor pollicis longus (APL), abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and the trapezium (Fig. 1). APL has a distal superficial and a more proximal deep division (van Oudenaarde, 1991a). The superficial division (APLsup) inserts with one or more tendons into the 1 st metacarpal bone (MCl). The deep division (APLdeep) has a variable number o f insertions into the trapezium, the joint capsule, the capsular ligaments and mostly jnto the radial muscle belly o f APB, sometimes into opponens pollicis (OP). APB, similar to APL, also has more divisions (Simard & Roberge, 1988). This muscle originates from the flexor retinaculum and the Trapczium Retinaculum extensorum Retinaculum flexorum Fig. 1. Anatomical connection between abductor pollicis brevis (APB), the deep division o f abductor pollicis longus (APL) and the trapezium. Correspondence to D r E. van Oudenaarde, Weezenhof 62—37, 6536 AP Nijmegen, The Netherlands. MU E . van Oudenaarde and R. A. B . Oostendorp trapezium and inserts into the proximal phalanx of the thumb. Such an insertion o f one tendon into another muscle, is rarely found in the human body (APLdeep into APB) but is considered to be of functional importance. A PL and APB are innervated by different nerves, the radial and the median nerves, respectively. The trapezium is part o f the radial chain o f the carpus (Kauer, 1986). Kauer divided the carpus into 3 longitudinal chains; radial, central and ulnar. The radial chain is formed by the radius, scaphoid, trapezoid and trapezium. The joints of the radial carpal colum n are for movements dependent on each other as well as on the other chains o f the carpus (Kauer, 1986). A t the distal end o f the radial column is the trapeziometacarpal joint, otherwise referred to as the 1st carpometacarpal joint (CMCI). This is a highly interesting joint, being free moving in contrast to the joints o f the radial carpal chain, APL inserts into both sides o f CMCI, i.e. into the trapezium (APLdeep) as well as into the M CI (APLsup). Few facts are known as to the role o f the trapezium in the function o f the carpus. Ruby et al. (1988) labelled m ost o f the bones o f the carpus for kinematic analysis, but the trapezium was not included. Kauer & de Lange (1987) noted that the distal carpal row, which includes the trapezoid and trapezium, can be considered as acting as a fixed group. On the other hand, it is known that an interosseous ligament between the trapezium and trapezoid is usually lacking (Warwick & W illiams, 1975; Rom anes, 1976; Spinner, 1984). Berger & Crowinshield (1982) postulated that the trapezium is a marginal bone in the distal carpal row and hence has less articulatory contact with the other bones o f the distal row o f the carpus. The trapezium would therefore have more mobility than the other bones o f the carpus. Van Oudenaarde (1991 b) noted displacement o f the trapezium during passive movements o f the thumb. The trapezium moves during dorsopalmar flexion o f the hand in relation to the scaphoid (Kauer, 1986), but is fixed to the scaphoid if the thumb moves. In this way the trapezium forms the link between the interconnected movements o f the bones o f the carpus and the independent movements o f CM CI. The fixation o f the trapezium to the scaphoid and the trapezoid is a point o f some interest. The exact mechanism o f this fixation is uncertain. From the displacement o f the trapezium during passive movement (from observations on cadaver hands) it would be expected that muscles play an important role in this fixation. N o muscles insert into m ost of the bones o f the carpus with the consequence that the movements o f these bones in relation to each other are indirect. An exception is the trapezium into which 2 muscles insert, APL and APB. The functional relationship between APL and APB, as well as the role o f muscles in the fixation o f the trapezium to the carpus, is the subject o f this study, This relationship is complex and still poorly understood. As there are numerous combinations o f movements o f the hand in the carpal joint and o f the thumb in CMCI, the experiments in this study were performed under controlled conditions to test the hypothesis that both muscles and the trapezium are functionally related. In this study EMG signals from APL and APB were recorded in a number o f directions to look for differences and similarities in muscle activation in each of these muscles in the chosen directions. The results will be used to discuss the coordination between these muscles and the functional role o f these muscles in stabilisation o f the trapezium to the carpus. MATERIALS AND METHODS The methods were used similar to those described elsewhere (van Oudenaarde et al, 1994). A summary is given below, Subjects Eight adult subjects with normal manual function participated in the study, 4 women and 4 men, aged from 35 to 70 y. In 1 male subject, only the EMG signals from the hand were recorded. All experiments were performed on the right hand, Terminology In this study 'isometric contraction’ is defined as muscle activation against a constant load without shortening or lengthening of the muscle and without joint movement. By ‘dynamic contraction’ we refer to contraction against a constant load in which the thumb or the hand is free to m ove and in which the length of the muscle can change by movements o f the thumb or the hand. EMG activity was recorded for isometric and dynamic contractions in a number of directions. The isometric contractions in each o f 6 directions and the movements in each o f the 6 directions for the thumb and the 7 directions o f the hand will be referred to as ‘directions1. The terminology o f the International Federation o f Societies for Surgery o f the Hand (Terminology for Hand Surgery, 1970) will be used to refer to the directions o f the thumb. Cooperation between the A P L and the A P B Equipment EM G signals were recorded by means o f intramuscular wire electrodes. Alternately the thumb and the hand were connected to a strain-gauge by means o f a thumb splint or a hand splint. The splints were connected to a cable leading to a torque motor used to deliver dynamic loads. 511 level of a = °-05 w as chosen. The null hypothesis was tested that there is no tendency for the EM G signals in one direction to be larger or smaller than in another direction. The alternative hypothesis implies that the outcom e o f one direction is larger or smaller than in other directions, RESULTS Procedure For the directions o f the thumb, the forearm was held in midposition between pronation and supination, the hand in midposition between palmar flexion and dorsiflexion. The forearm and hand were positioned from the elbow to the fingers along the armrest of a chair, with the fingers slightly flexed. For dorsiflexion and palmar (dorsopalmar) flexion o f the hand, the thumb was held in a relaxed position on the index finger. In the positions of pronation and supination the right forearm rested on the armrest from the elbow up to the wrist. In midposition the forearm down to and including the little finger lay on the armrest. Changes in the amount o f EMG activity in isometric and dynamic contractions were determined relative to the mean amplitude o f EMG activity in the starting position by subtracting the EMG in the starting position. All EM G signals were recorded for a period o f 3 s. Pronation, supination and midposition o f the forearm were combined with dorsiflexion and palmar flexion o f the hand in the following directions: ( 1 ) thum b : palmar abduction, opposition, radial abduction, ad duction, reposition, repeated palmar abduction; (2 ) forearm and hand : supination with dorsiflexion and palmar flexion, pronation with dorsiflexion and palmar flexion, midposition with dorsiflexion and palmar flexion, repeated midposition with palmar flexion. The mean value o f EM G signals, relative to the maximum EM G for isometric as well as for dynamic contractions, respectively, for the APB and the APLdeep in various directions are presented in Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7. % m a x , £M G activity Thum b 100 80 60 40 20 Fig. 2, Mean percentage of E M G activity relative to the maximum E M G activity for isometric contractions for APB and APLdeep in various directions. Bars indicate s . d . Hatched columns, APB; black columns, deep division of APL, PA, palmar abduction; OP, opposition; RA, radial abduction; AD, adduction; REP, repo sition; RPA, repeated palm ar abduction. * Correlation significant (P ^ 0.05). % m ix . EMG activity Thumb 100 r 1 80 D ata analysis In order to compare the function o f APL and APB, the percentages o f EMG activity relative to the maximum EMG activity were calculated for each direction and for each muscle (separately for the directions of the thumb and those of the hand). Finally the results from all subjects were averaged and the s .d . was calculated. Differences between the amount o f EMG activity in the various directions were tested with the Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Test (Krauth, 1988). A significance 60 40 20 D O O U fl ■ »T O 'A W 0 REP RPA Fig. 3. Mean percentage of E M G activity relative to the maximum E M G activity for dynamic contractions for A PB and APLdeep in various directions. Bars indicate s . d . Hatched columns, APB; black columns, deep division o f APL. Abbreviations as in Figure 2. * Correlation significant (P < 0.05). van ü n d en a a rd e and R. A. B. Oostendovp H a n cl %mux. £MC* wgtMiy Thum b %my«. EMOactIvicy 100r 200 150 í 100 p w ’J j |S: ■xi. ir tvè 50 0 -20 HPA Fig. 4, M e a n p e r c e n t a g e o f E M G a c t i v i t y relative to t h e m a x i m u m Fig. 7, M e a n p e r c e n t a g e o f E M G act i vi t y relative to t he m a x i m u m E M G a c t i v i t y f or i s o m e t r i c c o n t r a c t i o n s f o r A P B a n d A P L s u p in E M G act i vi t y f or d y n a m i c c o n t r a c t i o n s for A P B a n d A P L d e c p in v a r i o u s d i r e c t i o n s . B a r s i n d i c a t e s . o. H a t e h e d c o l u r n s , A P B ; b l a c k various directions. c o l u m n s , s u p e r f i c i a l d i v i s i o n o f A P L . A b b r e v i a t i o n s as in F i g u r e 2. columns, deep division o f APL. * C o rre la tio n significant ( P ï|! C o r r e l a t i o n .significant ( P ^ 0.05). 0.05). %íimih. 6MG activity 100 Bans i ndi cat e s.D. Hatched columns, APB; A b b r e v i a t i o n s as in F i g u r e 6. Th u m b r " H a n cl %fTutx. E'MCi activity 100 •• » •4 « 80 ao 60 60 40 te d y& SY't'yA S/iri 20 •^4 m a:b '■"M-'-A 0 Figure pA 5. OP Mean BA percentage AD of EMG activity || nPA HEP r el at i ve to the m a x i m u m E M G activity for d y n a m ic contractions for APB and A P L s u p in v a r i o u s d i r e c t i o n s . B a r s i n d i c a t e s.D. M a t c h e d c o l u m n s , Fig. 8. M e a n p e r c e n t a g e o f E M G act i vi t y relative to t he m a x i m u m A P B ; b l a c k c o l u m n s , s u n e r f i c i a l d i v i s i o n o f A P L . A b b r c v u t i o n s as in F i g u r e 2. * C o r r e l a t i o n s i g n i f i c a n t {.P ^ E M G ac t i v i t y f or i s o me t r i c c o n t r a c t i o n s for A P B a n d A P L s u p in v a r i o u s d i r e c t i o n s , Bars i n d i c a t e ,s.t). H a t c h e d c o l u m n s , A P B ; bl ack c o l u m n s , .superficial di vi s i on o f A P I , . A b b r e v i a t i o n s as in F i g u r e 6. * C o r r e l a t i o n s i gni f i cant ( P ^ 0.05). %max. SMGActivity H a n cl 100 rrr^ .„ - b "rVX* r. r. Th e mea n values o f E M G signals, relative to the 80 m a x i m u m E M G for isometric as well as for d y n a m i c contractions, respectively, for A PB and A P L s u p in 60 various directions are presented in Figures 4, 5, 8 a n d 9. 40 A PB 20 fp DM l-Jh A P B (w ithou t crossing the carpal joint) was activated HPM in actions o f the t h u m b as well as o f the hand, in the Fig, 6. M o a n p e r c e n t a g e o f E M G ac t i vi t y r e l a t i v e to t he m a x i m u m E M G a c t i v i t y f o r i s o m e t r i c c o n t r a c t i o n s f o r A P B a n d A P L d e c p in v a r i o u s d i r e c t i o n s . B a r s i n d i c a t e s.D. M a t c h e d c o l u m n s , A P B ; bl ack c o l u m n s , d e e p d i v i s i o n o f A P L . PS, p a l m a r f l e x i o n / s u p i n a t i o n ; D S , in a t i o n ; dorsiflexion/pronation; P P, p a Im a r f Ie x i o n / p r o n a t.i o n ; DP, PM , palm ar flexion/midposition; DM , ; R P M = repeated palmar flexion/ m i d p o s i t i o n . * C o r r e l a t i o n s i g n i f i c a n t ( P 4 0.05). :y I was most, strongly activated in p a l m a r a bductio n, o p p o s itio n and radial a bd ucti on, as is shown in Figures 2 a n d 4. In the other directions, only low E M G values were found. In the in isometric c o n t r a c t i o n s o f APB, no distinct difference was found in E M G r r * t \ /•» > * r \ / v f i .'" v q Coopération between the A PL and the A P B 513 Hand a b d u c t i o n of the t h u m b ( b o t h 6 0 % o f the m a x i m u m .k,i EMG). 140 120 Relationship between A P B and APLcleep 100 T h e a n a to m ic a l c o n n e c t i o n s between À P B a n d APLcleep are sh ow n in Figure l. Differences between 80 60 40 20 0 RPM the m e a n percentages o f E M G signals, relative to Lhe m a x i m u m E M G fo r isometric as well as for d y n a m i c c o n t r a c t i o n s for b o t h A P B a n d the A P L d e e p in various directions for the t h u m b a n d the h a n d are sh ow n in Figures 2, 3, 6 a n d 7. Fig. 9. M e a n p e r c e n t a g e o f E M G act i vi t y relative t o the m a x i m u m E M G a c t i v i t y for d y n a m i c c o n t r a c t i o n s for A P B a n d A P L s u p in v a r i o u s d i r e c t i o n s . Burs i n d i c a t e s.D. H a t c h e d c o l u m n s , A P B ; Bl ack c o l u m n s , superfi ci al d i v i s i o n o f A P L , A b b r e v i a t i o n s as in F i g u r e 6. C o r r e l a t i o n si gni f i cant ( P 0.052), activity between p a l m a r flexion and dorsiflexion (Fig. 6). in d y n am ic c o n t r a c t i o n s the largest values were found in the p r o n a t e d position o f the forearm (Fig. 7). Relationship between A P B and superficial A P L Differences between the m e a n percentag es o f E M G signals, relative to the m a x i m u m E M G for isometric as well as d y n a m i c c o n t r a c t i o n s for b o t h A P B a n d A P L s u p in various directions for the t h u m b and the h a n d are shown in F i g u r e s 4, 5, 8 a n d 9. D ISCU SSIO N Deep division o f A P L T h e A P L d e e p was most strongly activated in do rsi flexion o f the hand, but (without crossing C M C ! ) also in actions o f the th u m b , especially in radial abduction (Fii>. 2). In the tested directions o f the thumb the A P L d e e p , without an insertion into the thumb, was activated in opposition, radial abducti o n an d r e p o Th e main result o f this s t u d y is a direct functional relationship between the A P L d e e p a n d APB. T h e A P L d e e p as well as APB' were a c ti vate d in actions o f a joint which is n o t crossed by these muscles. T h e A P L d e e p was a c tivate d in m o v e m e n t s o f the t h u m b a n d A P B in m o v e m e n t s o f the h a n d , as is s h o w n in F . • ugure I L sition as is shown in Figures 2 and 4. in the tested directions of the hand the strongest E M G activity of the A P L d e e p was found in dorsiflexion of the hand, regardless of the position o f the forearm, in isometric APB a n d the A P L d e e p are closely c o n n e c t e d anatomically, T h e r e f o r e c o o p e r a t i o n between these muscles in m o v e m e n ts o f the t h u m b or the hand is very likely. APB is i n n e r v a t e d by the m e d i a n nerve as well as in d y n a m i c c o n tr a c tio n s (F igs 6, 7). E M G a n d A P L by the radial nerve, in general it is a s s u m e d t h a t a separate i n n e r v a t i o n o f muscle parts corres p o n d s to a different function, in this case, to the contrary, in some c o n d i t i o n s there is a n in terac tion between 2 muscles i n n e r v a t e d by 2 different nerves. activity in isometric p a l m a r flexion o f the hand was negligible, a b o u t 3 -4 % of the m a x im u m E M G (F ig. 6 ). Superficial division o f the A P L T h e E M G activity o f the A P L s u p showed no distinct Relationship between A P B and A P L d e e p Th e A P L d e e p as well as A P B h ave a n insertion into difference between actions o f the t h u m b or the hand in isometric or d y n a m i c contractions. In the tested the trapezium. A c o o p e r a t i v e f u n c t i o n between these d irection s o f the thumb in isom etric as well as in m uscles to stabilise the tra p eziu m to the carp u s is d yn am ic con tractio n s, this m uscle was m ost strongly necessary during m o v e m e n ts o f the th u m b or the activated hand. B o t h m uscles can be c o n sid e r e d to act as a force a ctiv a tio n in radial a b d u ctio n was m u ch greater (F igs than 4, 5). T h is for the oth er directions o f the thumb* In isometric contractions of the hand no distinct difference in E M G activity was found between the tested directions. The largest value was found in d y n a m i c stipulated p a l m a r flexion (Fig. 9), which is similar to the activity in dynamic radial c o u p le on the trapezium (F ig . 1). In the tested directions o f the thumb the level o f E M G activity in p a l m a r a b d u c t i o n was significantly larger in APB t h a n in the A P L d e e p for isometric as well as for dyn am ic c o n tr a c tio n s (F ig s 2, 3). A P B can be considered as a prim e m o v e r for palm ar a b d u ctio n 514 E , van Oudenaarde and R . A. B . Oostendorp and opposition o f the thumb (Figs 2, 3). The APLdeep was activated in general to prevent undesired movements o f the hand at the carpal joint. In palmar abduction o f the thumb the APLdeep has to prevent a palmar flexion o f the hand, in opposition a pronation o f the forearm, in radial abduction a radial deviation o f the hand and in reposition to stabilise the trapezium to the carpus. In the tested directions o f the hand in isometric palmar flexion the EM G activity o f the APLdeep can be neglected (Figs 6, 7). From this it is clear that APB showed significantly more EM G activity in palmar flexion than the APLdeep. The EM G activity from A PB, which does not cross the carpal joint, can be explained by its direct connection to the APLdeep, The insertion from the APLdeep into APB suggests that both muscles together can be considered as one long muscle with 2 bellies. In palmar flexion o f the hand the tendon o f the APLdeep inserting into the trapezium will lengthen; at the same time the tendon inserting into APB will relax (Fig. I). It can be hypothesised that both muscles regulate the tension o f each other. In dorsiflexion o f the hand, the amount o f ac tivation o f APB is the same as for palmar flexion; the APLdeep is more strongly activated for dorsiflexion than for palmar flexion. The APLdeep will now shorten, and the tendon which inserts into APB will also regulate the tension o f APB. Relationship between A P B and the APLsup The APLsup has, in contrast to the deep division, no direct anatomical connection with APB. Both muscles insert into the thumb, the APLsup inserts into MCI and APB into the proximal phalanx. Both muscles can thus be considered as prime movers of the thumb. In the tested directions o f the thumb , differences in the E M G signals for these 2 muscles were found. APB was more strongly activated than the APLsup for palmar abduction and opposition and less strongly activated than the APLsup for radial abduction and reposition in isometric as well as in dynamic con tractions. The differences between the 2 muscles were not significant in all directions, but in m ost o f the individual subjects these differences were present. The differences in activation between these muscles can be explained anatomically. APB is situated on the palmar side o f the hand and is therefore in a better position for palmar abduction and opposition than APL. APB can act directly on the CM CI joint. The APLsup is limited in its function at the same joint because it passes through the retinaculum and inserts directly after the joint cleft into MCI. The greater amount o f EM G activity in radial abduction and in reposition o f the APLsup can be explained from the position o f this muscle, which originates mainly from the dorsal aspect o f the interosseous membrane, The differences in isometric EMG activity between both muscles in the tested directions o f the hand are very small (fewer than 1 %) and not significant (Fig. 8). Both muscles are short and insert directly into the bones o f the thumb. The results o f this study may have implications in clinical assessment and in pathological and surgical conditions in which these muscles are implicated. The following come to mind: voluntary muscle testing, paralysis o f APL in radial palsy, use o f APL in ulnar and/or median nerve paralysis, and involvement o f APL, APB and trapezium in conditions such as tendosynovitis and oesteoarthritis. Conclusions From the EM G analysis of APB and APL it appears that both muscles are activated in the tested directions o f the thumb as well as in those o f the hand. Cooperation between these muscles is necessary to stabilise the trapezium to the carpus in movements of the thumb. APB is activated in movements o f the hand to maintain the tension in the deep division o f the APL. The APLdeep is activated in movements o f the thumb to prevent undesired movements o f the hand and forearm. APB and the superficial division o f APL are the prime movers o f the thumb. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors are grateful to Professor C. C A. M. Gielen, Department o f Medical Physics and Biophysics, University o f Nijmegen, the Netherlands, for encouraging this project, supplying some o f the material and providing hospitality in his laboratory. The authors wish to thank Peter Snoeren for pro ducing Figure 1. REFERENCES B e r g e r RA, C r o w in s h h s l d RD (1982) The three-dimensional rotational behaviors o f the carpal bones. Clinical Orthopaedies and Related Research 167, 303-310. K a u e r JM G (1986) The mechanism of the carpal joint. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research 202, 1 6 -2 6 . K a u e r JM G , d e L a n g e A (1987) The carpal joint. Hand Clinical 3, 23-29. K r a u t h J (1988) Distribution-free Statistics, vol. 2 , Amsterdam: Elsevier. Cooperation between the A P L and the A P B Cunningham's Textbook o f Anatomy. L o n d o n : Oxford University Press. R u n Y LK, C o o n e y WP, A n KN, L i n d s c h e i d R L , C hao EYS (1988) Relative motion of selected carpal bones: kinematic analysis of the normal wrist. Journal o f Hand Surgery 13A, 1-10. S i m a r d TG, R o b e r g e J (1988) H um an abductor pollicis brevis muscle ‘divisions’ and the ncrva hilla. Anatomical Record 2 2 2 , 426-436. S p i n n e r M (ed.) (1984). Kaplan's Functional and Surgical Anatomy o f the Hand , 3th cdn. Philadelphia: Lippincott. T e r m i n o l o g y f o r H a n d S u r g e r y (1970) International Federation o f Societies for Surgery of the Hand. Reprinted (1972) in The Hand 4. 278-285. R o m a n e s GJ (Ed.) (1976) 515 (1991a) Structure and function o f the abductor pollicis longus muscle. Journal o f Anatomy 174, 221-227. v a n O u d e n a a r d e E (1991/?) The function of the abductor pollicis longus muscle as a joint stabilizer. Journal o f Hand Surgery 16B> 420-423. v a n O u d e n a a r d e E , E l v e r s JW H, G i e l e n C C A M , K a u e r J M G , O o s t e n d o r p RAB, v a n d e r S t r a a t e n JH M (1994) Differences and similaries in electrical muscle activity for the abductor pollicis longus muscle divisions. Journal o f Electromyography and Kinesiology 4, in press. W a r w i c k R, W il l ia m s P L (Eds) (1975) Gray's Anatomy , 35th edn. Edinburgh: Longman. van O udenaarde E