Muscle · Forearm

Extensor digiti minimi

Musculus extensor digiti minimi

A slender muscle running down the back of the forearm from the common tendon on the outer side of the elbow, ending in a tendon — usually split into two slips — that joins the extensor expansion of the little finger. It is the little finger's private extensor, the counterpart of extensor indicis at the other end of the hand, and it is what allows that finger to be raised while the others stay down. Sharing the common extensor origin puts it among the muscles anchored to the outer elbow, which is the region loaded by repetitive gripping with the wrist held out.