Palmaris Longus

Original Editor -

Top Contributors - Mudra Shah, Mandeepa Kumawat, Admin, Nikhil Benhur Abburi and Manisha Shrestha

Introduction

Pictorial representation of an isolated Palmaris Longus muscle in the flexor compartment of the forearm

The Palmaris longus muscle is a long, slender muscle which is usually present in the volar compartment of the forearm. It is usually seen as a small tendon intervened between the flexor carpi ulnas and the flexor carpi radialis muscles.

However, it is currently accepted as a vestigeal muscle since studies have shown that almost 30% of the population could be lacking this muscle either in one forearm (unilateral) or both the forearms (bilateral) but the percentage can always vary. The peculiarity associated with this muscle is not merely its presence or absence, but it's high degree of anatomical variations even when present.