Vinculum breve
Vinculum breve tendinis
- Latin synonym: Mesotendo brevis
- Synonym: Short vinculum; Short mesotendon
- Related terms: Vincula tendinum : Vinculum breve
Definition
The vinculum breve is a short, triangular band of fibrous connective tissue found within the fibrous flexor sheath of the finger. It connects the long flexor tendons to the phalanges - close to their insertion sites - and carries small blood vessels that supply the tendons.
Each finger typically has two vincula brevia:
One links the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) tendon to the middle phalanx.
The other connects the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon to the distal phalanx.
Function
The vinculum breve helps anchor the tendons close to the bone and serve as conduits for the blood supply to these tendons.
References
Ichigaya, T., Fujita, K., Kurisaki, T., Takano, K. and Nagashima, M., 2025. Anatomical relationship between the vinculum breve derived from the flexor digitorum superficialis tendon and the volar plate in the proximal interphalangeal joint of the hand: variation in the distribution of attachments. Anatomical science international, pp.1-10.
