The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
The interosseous muscles are small bipinnate (two-headed) muscles that connect the metacarpals and metatarsals with the phalanges. They originate on the metacarpals and metatarsals and insert on the first phalange. Their function is to flex the fingers and toes. There is a dorsal and palmar (plantar in the foot group).
There are four dorsal interosseous muscles of the hand. The first, the abductor indicis, connects to the thumb and index finger. It provides a flat pad in between the two fingers. The second and third interossei insert onto the third or middle finger. The fourth inserts on the ulnar side of the ring finger.
The palmar muscles are smaller and cover the palm surface of the hand, There are only three of them. They are attached along the entire surface of a corresponding metacarpal and insert on the first phalanges of the fingers. Contraction (abduction) of these muscles brings the fingers in toward the hand while contraction (adduction) of the dorsal ones flexes the hand back into a flat position.
The foot arrangement of the interossei is quite similar to the hand. Like the hand, the there are four dorsal interossei. Like the hand, the first interossei inserts on the second toe. The other dorsal interossei insert on the outer sides of the second, third, and fourth toes.
The three plantar interossei are beneath rather than between the metatarsals. The third, fourth, and fifth metatarsals provide the base for attachment. Their insertion is on the base of the phalanges of the same toes. The dorsal interossei are the abductors and the plantar are the adductors.