Abductor digiti minimi muscle (foot)
Encyclopedia
The Abductor digiti minimi (Abductor minimi digiti, Abductor digiti quinti) is a muscle which lies along the lateral border of the foot, and is in relation by its medial margin with the lateral plantar vessels and nerves.
It arises, by a broad origin, from the lateral process of the tuberosity of the calcaneus, from the under surface of the calcaneus between the two processes of the tuberosity, from the forepart of the medial process, from the plantar aponeurosis
, and from the intermuscular septum
between it and the Flexor digitorum brevis.
Its tendon, after gliding over a smooth facet on the under surface of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone, is inserted, with the Flexor digiti quinti brevis, into the fibular side of the base of the first phalanx
of the fifth toe
.
Its function is to flex and abduct the fifth (little) toe.
Due to its role in posture during all physical activity whlie in an upright position, the abductor digiti minimi is often the target of injury. The most common of such injuries occurs mainly in women and is referred to as orteil de belette, commonly known as Weasel Toe.
In case of polydactyly
it may insert to the sixth toe instead, if there is one.
It arises, by a broad origin, from the lateral process of the tuberosity of the calcaneus, from the under surface of the calcaneus between the two processes of the tuberosity, from the forepart of the medial process, from the plantar aponeurosis
Aponeurosis
Aponeuroses are layers of flat broad tendons. They have a shiny, whitish-silvery color, are histologically similar to tendons, and are very sparingly supplied with blood vessels and nerves. When dissected, aponeuroses are papery, and peel off by sections...
, and from the intermuscular septum
Intermuscular septum
Intermuscular septum can refer to:* medial intermuscular septum of arm* medial intermuscular septum of thigh* lateral intermuscular septum of arm* lateral intermuscular septum of thigh...
between it and the Flexor digitorum brevis.
Its tendon, after gliding over a smooth facet on the under surface of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone, is inserted, with the Flexor digiti quinti brevis, into the fibular side of the base of the first phalanx
Phalanx bones
In anatomy, phalanx bones are those that form the fingers and toes. In primates such as humans and monkeys, the thumb and big toe have two phalanges, while the other fingers and toes consist of three. Phalanges are classified as long bones.The phalanges do not have individual names...
of the fifth toe
Fifth toe
The fifth toe is the outermost and usually the smallest toe of the foot.It is associated with many medical conditions, largely due to the use of shoes....
.
Its function is to flex and abduct the fifth (little) toe.
Due to its role in posture during all physical activity whlie in an upright position, the abductor digiti minimi is often the target of injury. The most common of such injuries occurs mainly in women and is referred to as orteil de belette, commonly known as Weasel Toe.
In case of polydactyly
Polydactyly
Polydactyly or polydactylism , also known as hyperdactyly, is a congenital physical anomaly in humans, dogs, and cats having supernumerary fingers or toes....
it may insert to the sixth toe instead, if there is one.