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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Hand Muscles Quiz: Test Actions, Origins, and Insertions

Muscles of the hand quiz for quick practice and instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Pemira Psikologi UeuUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper cut art hand muscles diagram quiz cover on coral background with stylized hand, arm, foot, leg muscle illustrations

Use this hand muscles quiz to check what each muscle does and where it attaches, so you can spot gaps fast before an exam or lab. As you work, compare related structures with our forearm muscles quiz and review bone landmarks in the carpal bones quiz. Want a deeper focus on the small movers? Try the intrinsic hand muscles quiz for extra practice.

Which intrinsic hand muscle is primarily responsible for opposing the thumb?
Opponens pollicis
Abductor pollicis longus
Adductor pollicis
Abductor pollicis brevis
The opponens pollicis muscle originates from the trapezium and flexor retinaculum and inserts on the first metacarpal bone, allowing it to rotate and bring the thumb into opposition, which is a key movement for grasping objects. This action is distinct from thumb abduction and adduction and is essential for precision grips such as holding a pencil. Damage to the recurrent branch of the median nerve can impair this ability.
Which muscle abducts the little finger at the metacarpophalangeal joint?
Opponens digiti minimi
Lumbrical muscle
Flexor digitorum profundus
Abductor digiti minimi
Abductor digiti minimi originates from the pisiform and the tendon of flexor carpi ulnaris and inserts on the base of the proximal phalanx of the little finger, enabling it to move the finger away from the hand's midline. It is part of the hypothenar eminence. Injury to the ulnar nerve can impair this motion.
The lumbrical muscles of the hand originate from the tendons of which muscle?
Flexor digitorum profundus
Flexor digitorum superficialis
Flexor carpi ulnaris
Extensor digitorum
The four lumbrical muscles originate from the radial sides of the tendons of flexor digitorum profundus in the palm. They then pass dorsally to insert on the extensor expansions. They flex the metacarpophalangeal joints and extend the interphalangeal joints.
The thenar eminence is mainly innervated by which nerve branch?
Ulnar nerve proper
Recurrent branch of the median nerve
Superficial branch of the radial nerve
Deep branch of the ulnar nerve
The recurrent (motor) branch of the median nerve curves back around the distal edge of the transverse carpal ligament to innervate the thenar muscles: opponens pollicis, abductor pollicis brevis, and flexor pollicis brevis. Injury to this branch leads to thenar wasting and loss of thumb opposition.
Palmar interossei muscles are responsible for which movement of the fingers?
Flexion at the PIP joints
Adduction toward the middle finger
Abduction away from the middle finger
Extension at the DIP joints
Palmar interossei muscles arise from the metacarpals and insert into the extensor expansions. They pull the fingers toward the central axis of the hand (the middle finger), performing adduction. They also assist flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joints and extension at the interphalangeal joints.
Which muscle extends the medial four digits at the metacarpophalangeal joints?
Lumbricals
Flexor digitorum profundus
Extensor digitorum
Interossei
Extensor digitorum originates from the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and gives rise to four tendons that insert into the extensor expansions of digits 2 - 5, enabling extension at the metacarpophalangeal joints. The lumbricals and interossei assist extension at the interphalangeal joints, but the primary extensors at the MCP joints are the extensor digitorum tendons.
Which muscle flexes the distal interphalangeal joints of the fingers?
Flexor pollicis longus
Flexor digitorum profundus
Flexor carpi ulnaris
Flexor digitorum superficialis
Flexor digitorum profundus originates from the proximal ulna and interosseous membrane, sending tendons into the distal phalanges of digits 2 - 5 to flex the distal interphalangeal joints. Flexor digitorum superficialis flexes only up to the PIP joints. Injury to the ulnar or median nerve branches that supply it can compromise DIP flexion.
Which muscle abducts the thumb away from the palm in the plane of the hand?
Abductor pollicis brevis
Extensor pollicis brevis
Opponens pollicis
Abductor pollicis longus
Abductor pollicis longus originates from the posterior radius and ulna, running through the first extensor compartment to insert on the base of the first metacarpal. It abducts the thumb in the plane of the hand (radial abduction). Abductor pollicis brevis performs palmar abduction, which is perpendicular to the palm.
Which major artery primarily forms the deep palmar arch that supplies the interossei muscles?
Radial artery
Ulnar artery
Anterior interosseous artery
Common palmar digital artery
The radial artery winds dorsally around the lateral wrist and enters the palm to form the deep palmar arch, which supplies the interossei and other deep structures. The ulnar artery predominantly forms the superficial palmar arch. The deep palmar arch gives off palmar metacarpal arteries to the interossei.
Which nerve innervates both the palmar and dorsal interossei muscles of the hand?
Ulnar nerve (deep branch)
Median nerve
Radial nerve
Anterior interosseous nerve
The deep branch of the ulnar nerve enters the palm through Guyon's canal and innervates all palmar and dorsal interossei muscles, enabling finger adduction and abduction. The median nerve supplies lumbricals 1 and 2 but does not innervate interossei.
The adductor pollicis muscle has two heads. Where do both heads insert?
Lateral side of the first metacarpal
Medial side of the base of the proximal phalanx of the thumb
Base of the distal phalanx of the thumb
Flexor retinaculum
Both the transverse and oblique heads of adductor pollicis converge to insert on the medial aspect of the base of the proximal phalanx of the thumb and its extensor expansion. This insertion allows the muscle to adduct the thumb toward the palm. It is innervated by the deep branch of the ulnar nerve.
Lumbrical muscles exhibit dual function. Which actions do they perform at the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints, respectively?
Extend both MCP and IP joints
Flex the MCP and extend the IP joints
Extend the MCP and flex the IP joints
Flex both MCP and IP joints
Lumbricals originate from the flexor digitorum profundus tendons and insert on the extensor expansions. They flex the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints and extend the interphalangeal (IP) joints, contributing to the 'lumbrical grip.' The first two lumbricals are innervated by the median nerve and the last two by the ulnar nerve.
Which group of intrinsic hand muscles would be paralyzed in a lesion of the deep branch of the ulnar nerve, resulting in the inability to abduct and adduct the fingers?
Both palmar and dorsal interossei muscles
Lumbrical muscles
Dorsal interossei muscles only
Palmar interossei muscles only
The deep branch of the ulnar nerve innervates both palmar and dorsal interossei muscles, which are responsible for finger adduction and abduction, respectively. A lesion here abolishes both movements, leading to a 'claw hand' appearance. Other intrinsic muscles like lumbricals and thenar muscles are innervated by different nerve branches.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Hand Muscles -

    Understand the major intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the hand, including their anatomical locations and common names.

  2. Describe Muscle Actions -

    Explain the primary functions of each hand muscle, such as flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction.

  3. Differentiate Limb Muscle Functions -

    Distinguish between muscles in the hand, arm, foot, and leg by comparing their roles in movement and stability.

  4. Apply Knowledge in the Muscles of the Hand Quiz -

    Use your understanding of hand muscle anatomy to accurately answer questions and boost your quiz performance.

  5. Analyze Functional Movement Patterns -

    Evaluate how muscle groups coordinate to perform everyday tasks, enhancing your ability to recognize complex actions.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Muscle Groups -

    Intrinsic muscles of the hand both originate and insert within the hand itself (e.g., lumbricals and interossei), while extrinsic muscles have bellies in the forearm and long tendons reaching the hand (e.g., flexor digitorum profundus). Use the mnemonic "IN HAND for INtrinsic, EXTra for EXTrinsic" to lock in this distinction for your muscles of the hand quiz. Understanding this is also key when you tackle the arm muscle quiz sections on forearm origins.

  2. Thenar vs. Hypothenar Compartments -

    The thenar group controls thumb movements and includes Opponens pollicis, Abductor pollicis brevis, and Flexor pollicis brevis (mnemonic "OAF"), while the hypothenar group (Opponens digiti minimi, Abductor digiti minimi, Flexor digiti minimi brevis) governs the little finger. Remember "OAF on top, MAF below" to differentiate thumb from pinky compartments. This clear division is a staple in any hand muscle anatomy quiz.

  3. Dorsal vs. Palmar Interossei Actions -

    Dorsal interossei abduct the fingers (DAB) and palmar interossei adduct them (PAD), acting between metacarpals to precisely spread or draw fingers together. A quick trick is "DAB spreads the digits, PAD pulls them in." Mastering these terms boosts your score on the muscles of hand quiz when identifying finger movements.

  4. Lumbrical Function and Biomechanics -

    Lumbricals originate from flexor digitorum tendons and insert into the extensor expansions, allowing them to flex the metacarpophalangeal joints while extending the interphalangeal joints. Think "Lumbricals flex at the knuckles and extend the tips" to recall their dual role. This nuanced action often appears in hand muscle anatomy quiz questions on fine motor control.

  5. Innervation Patterns & Clinical Correlation -

    The median nerve innervates the thenar muscles and lateral two lumbricals, while the ulnar nerve supplies interossei, hypothenar muscles, and medial lumbricals. Recognizing "LOAF" (Lumbricals, Opponens, Abductor pollicis brevis, Flexor pollicis brevis) for median-innervated thenar keeps your recall sharp. Spotting these nerve distributions is crucial for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome and acing the hand muscle anatomy quiz's clinical scenarios.

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