The complete name for the muscle described as flexor pollic___ long__ is which?

The complete name for the muscle described as flexor pollic___ long__ is which?

• A. Pollicis longus
• B. Pollicis brevis
• C. Flexor digitorum longus
• D. Flexor pollicis brevis

Answer: (A)

The pattern shows that longus indicates the tendon reaches the distal phalanx, distinguishing it from a brevis muscle that would act on a proximal phalanx. With the blank filled as pollicis and longus, the complete name is flexor pollicis longus. This deep forearm muscle is the primary flexor of the thumb’s distal phalanx, enabling bending at the tip of the thumb. The other options refer to different thumb or finger muscles (or to a muscle that acts on a proximal phalanx), so they don’t fit the longus designation.

The pattern shows that longus indicates the tendon reaches the distal phalanx, distinguishing it from a brevis muscle that would act on a proximal phalanx. With the blank filled as pollicis and longus, the complete name is flexor pollicis longus. This deep forearm muscle is the primary flexor of the thumb’s distal phalanx, enabling bending at the tip of the thumb. The other options refer to different thumb or finger muscles (or to a muscle that acts on a proximal phalanx), so they don’t fit the longus designation.