Flexor digitorum superficialis tendon
Tendo flexorius superficialis digitorum
- Acronym: FDS
- Related terms: Flexor digitorum superficialis - Tendons; Flexor digitorum superficialis (Tendon)
Definition
Four long tendons come off flexor digitorum superficialis muscle near the wrist and travel through the carpal tunnel formed by the flexor retinaculum. These tendons, along with those of flexor digitorum profundus, are enclosed by a common flexor sheath.
At the level of the fingers, each flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon is volar and superficial to the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon. Next, it splits into radial and ulnar slips. This creates an opening through which the FDP tendon passes to become superficial. Each of the FDS slips continues distally to insert separately on the volar aspect of the middle phalangeal base. On the other hand, the FDS tendon inserts onto the volar aspect of the base of the distal phalanx.
References
Petchprapa CN, Vaswani D. MRI of the Fingers: An Update. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2019 Sep;213(3):534-548. doi: 10.2214/AJR.19.21217. Epub 2019 Jul 3. PMID: 31268729.
Gupta P, Lenchik L, Wuertzer SD, Pacholke DA. High-resolution 3-T MRI of the fingers: review of anatomy and common tendon and ligament injuries. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2015 Mar;204(3):W314-23. doi: 10.2214/AJR.14.12776. PMID: 25714317.
Clavero JA, Alomar X, Monill JM, Esplugas M, Golanó P, Mendoza M, Salvador A. MR imaging of ligament and tendon injuries of the fingers. Radiographics. 2002 Mar-Apr;22(2):237-56. doi: 10.1148/radiographics.22.2.g02mr11237. PMID: 11896215.
