Origin
Humerus, radius and ulna.
Insertion
The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th phalanges.
Blood supply
Ulnar artery.
Nerve supply
Median nerve.
Action
It flexes the four fingers, hand at the wrist and the forearm at the elbow. It helps to curl the fingers inward toward the palm to make a fist. Also you use the muscle in holding a cup of tea.
Disease/Injury
Overuse of this muscle can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive stress on the tendons of this muscle, as in flexing the wrist and fingers to type on a keyboard, can cause swelling and pain at the wrist.
Muscle Exercise
Flexion exercises at the wrist joint with dumbbells help to strengthen this muscle.
Interesting fact
The tendons of the flexor digitorum superficialis pass through the carpal tunnel.
