APL typically has multiple tendon slips (1-4) inserting on the first metacarpal base, contributing to de Quervain stenosing tenosynovitis alongside EPB in the first extensor compartment.
An expanded entry for Abductor Pollicis Longus.
| Origin | Posterior radius, ulna and interosseous membrane, distal half |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Base of the first metacarpal, lateral aspect |
| Nerve Supply | Posterior interosseous nerve (C7, C8) |
| Blood Supply | Posterior interosseous artery |
| Actions |
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|---|
It abducts and extends the thumb at the carpometacarpal joint and assists radial deviation of the wrist, moving the thumb away from the palm to grasp objects.
Multiple APL slips may occupy separate sub-compartments within the first compartment, requiring individual release for complete decompression. The Finkelstein test stretches APL and EPB.
Palpable at the base of the anatomical snuffbox during thumb abduction.
Stenosing tenosynovitis of APL in the first extensor compartment, treated by ultrasound-guided steroid injection or surgical release.
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