thenar

[thee-nahr]

noun

Anatomy.

1. the fleshy mass of the outer side of the palm of the hand.

2. the fleshy prominence or ball of muscle at the base of the thumb.

adjective

1. of or relating to the thenar.

thenar

/ ˈθiːnɑː /

noun

1. the palm of the hand

2. the fleshy area of the palm at the base of the thumb

adjective

1. of or relating to the palm or the region at the base of the thumb

Word History and Origins

Origin of thenar¹

1665–75; < New Latin < Greek thénar palm of hand or sole of foot

Word History and Origins

Origin of thenar¹

C17: via New Latin from Greek; related to Old High German tenar palm of the hand

Example Sentences

Cramps: In right thenar; ceasing there as it goes to the left.

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In the ox and the horse we meet with no vestige of the muscles of the thenar or hypothenar eminences.

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Wasting of the thenar and hypothenar eminences, and filling up of the hollows above and below the anterior annular ligament, render the appearance on the palmar aspect characteristic.

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While an assistant draws up the skin as much as possible, the surgeon makes an accurate circular incision through the skin, about an inch below the styloid processes, just grazing the thenar and hypothenar eminences.

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The metacarpal is adducted, its head forming a marked prominence on the front of the thenar eminence, and the phalanges are displaced backwards, the proximal being dorsiflexed and the distal flexed towards the palm.

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