Carpal tunnel syndrome vs normal anatomy: muscles of the forearm and | nursing

Instructions: Peer Responses 125 Words Each

Click Reply when in a post to nest your responses under that main post.RESEARCH (Label this section)

• Teach the topic to students. Responses must add new information not previously discussed. Consider new factual information tied with critical thinking. Share interesting and current research on the topic.
• Use APA citations in the post to clarify sources.
• Do not simply summarize another student’s post and agree/disagree.
• Consider starting out posts with, “A research article I found said,” “Did you know,” or “Three things I found interesting were… .”

CRITICAL THINKING (Label this section)

• Pose new possibilities or opinions not previously voiced.
• Connect the dots. Why is this an important topic for you, your community, society, or the world? How does it relate to other concepts in the text?
•  Add references and word count for all posts.

Peer : research and critical thinking 

The hand is acted upon by extrinsic muscles in the forearm, as well as in the hand itself (Saladin, 2022). These muscles are complex and there are numerous. Their names reflect their position on the body as well as their main function/purpose:  

• Flexor Carpi Radialis: flexes wrist arterially; aids in radial flexion of wrist.
• Flexor Carpi-ulnaris: flexes wrist arterially; aids in ulnar flexion of wrist.  
• Flexor digitorum superficialis: Flexes wrist, metacarpophalangeal, & interphalangeal joints.
• Palmaris Longus: Anchors skin and fascia of palmer region, resists shearing forces when stress is applied. Weakly developed and sometimes absent.
• Flexor digitorum profundus: sole flexor of the distal interphalangeal joint, flexes wrist, and metacarpophalangeal, interphalangeal joints.
• Flexor pollicis longus: flexes phalanges of thumb.
• Extensor carpi radialis longus: extends wrist, aids in radial flexion of wrist.
• Extensor carpi radialis brevis: extends wrist, aids in radial flexion of wrist.
• Extensor Digitorum: spreads digits apart. Extends wrist.
• Extensor Digit minimi: extends wrist and all joints of little finger.
• Extensor capir ulnaris: extends and fixes wrist when fist is clenched or hand grips an object,
• Abductor pollicis longus: abducts thumb in frontal (palmar) plane.
• Extensor Pollicis brevis: extends metacarpal I and proximal phalanx of thumb.
• Extensor Pollicis longus: extends distal phalanx I
• Extensor Indicis: extends wrist and index finger.

The Carpal Tunnel is a tight space between the flexor retinaculum and carpal bones. Prolonged, repetitive movements of the wrist and fingers can cause tissues in the carpal tunnel to become inflamed, swollen, or fibrotic. Since the Carpel tunnel cannot expand, swelling puts pressure on the median nerve of the wrist. This pressure causes tingling and muscular weakness in the palm and medial side of the hand and pain that may radiate to the arm and shoulder (Saladin, 2022, p. 339).  Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to alleviate pain and often surgical procedures where the flexor retinaculum is divided by a longitudinal incision is required in order to bring relief. Those whose career fields involve making repetitive wrist motions (pianists, meat cutters, keyboard users etc.) are most at risk for this problem (Saladin, 2022).  

Critical Thinking:

After researching Carpal tunnel, I realized that this is something that can be treated easily and if caught early can be remedied. Unlike problems that have to do with your bones such as arthritis, the muscles are a little more forgiving in the sense that you can undo the damage to them with time and healing. Also, there are so many muscles in your body alone, but it is interesting to learn how all these muscles work together to allow your body certain functions. Such as the ones in your hands and forearm that allow you to type your responses, or grab a cup of coffee etc. On the other hand, this also led me to research “Muscular diseases”. We take for granted our bodies “simple” abilities, and there are so many problems that can take away our bodies ability to function properly. Injury, overuse, certain medicines, inflammation, diseases etc. can all lead to muscle problems that could potentially lead to weakness, pain, or even paralysis.

WC: 554

Works Cited

Forearm and hand muscles. (n.d.). Retrieved from Science Photo Library: https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/590194/view

Saladin, K. (2022). Anatomy & Physiology: The unity of form and function.