Structure and function of the abductor pollicis longus muscle

The abductor pollicis longus muscle was examined in dissections and histologically to study the insertions around the CMC I joint. The APL consists fundamentally of a superficial and a deep division, both terminating in one or more tendons. The deep division is proximally situated, it is covered by the extensor digitorum muscle and consists of several muscle bellies; it terminates in a central tendon. The fibres are short, obliquely attached to the tendon in a pennate manner and close together. After the passage through the extensor retinaculum the tendon separates into many branches. The superficial division is more distally situated, not covered by other muscles, lying superficial to the tendon of the deep part. The fibres are long, parallel to one another and form a thin layer. The tendon passes, together with the deep division, through the same compartment of the extensor retinaculum and inserts into MC I. If the muscle contracts, then the structures around the CMC I joint will be tensed by the deep division and MC I will be affected by the superficial division. It is to be expected that in the appropriate thumb movements the superficial part will show an isotonic contraction and the deep part, an isometric action. The superficial part, with long thin fibres, presumably has the least strength while the deep part, with its larger number of fibres, is the most powerful. The functional analysis gives the impression that the deep head will mainly support the trapezium as a platform upon which MC I moves. The superficial head will be active in moving MC I.