Clinical significance of an extensor tendon anomaly to the little finger--a new finding.

A new anatomical variation of extensor digiti minimi (EDM) was discovered during our anatomical studies. The EDM usually gives one tendon to the little finger to extend the metacarpophalangeal joint (MPJ) independently from the other fingers. The EDM in our cadaver had three tendon slips. It supplied the MPJ of the little finger with two tendon slips. Along with the extensor digitorum communis (EDC), the EDM also had an additional slip to the ring finger MPJ extensor hood apparatus. The little finger also received a separate tendon from EDC.