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Flexor digitorum profundus: anatomy, location and function

A deep forearm flexor that bends the distal phalanges. Flexes the distal interphalangeal joints and assists flexion of the other finger joints and wrist.

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Highlighted in the model: Flexor digitorum profundus. Click any part to read about it, or switch off “Highlight topic” to see the whole body. 3D data: BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0; meshes simplified and recoloured. The model is an adult male.

Flexor digitorum profundus at a glance

What it is
A deep forearm flexor that bends the distal phalanges.
Location
Origin: proximal three-quarters of the anteromedial ulna and interosseous membrane. Insertion: bases of the distal phalanges of digits 2–5.
Function
Flexes the distal interphalangeal joints and assists flexion of the other finger joints and wrist.
Body system
Muscular · paired (left and right)
FMA ID
FMA38479 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

  • Innervation: medial part by ulnar nerve (C8–T1), lateral part by anterior interosseous nerve (C8–T1)
  • Its tendons pass through the split tendons of flexor digitorum superficialis

Clinical relevance

A ruptured tendon causes inability to flex the fingertip (jersey finger).

Structures next to the flexor digitorum profundus

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy: Flexor digitorum profundus (FMA38479). EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service.
  2. OpenStax. Anatomy and Physiology 2e, §11.2 Naming Skeletal Muscles. Rice University, 2022.
  3. Mitsuhashi N. et al. (2009). BodyParts3D: 3D structure database for anatomical concepts. Nucleic Acids Research 37, D782–D785. Data © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0.

Related anatomy

Explore the whole body in the interactive 3D human anatomy model, or browse the A–Z list of human structures.