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A total of nine flexor tendons (not the muscles themselves) pass through the carpal tunnel: 1  flexor digitorum profundus (four tendons) 2  flexor digitorum superficialis (four tendons)  flexor pollicis longus (one tendon)
In the carpal tunnel, the tendons of the fingers surround the median nerve. Swelling of the tendons reduces the space in the tunnel and squeezes the median nerve which is softer than the tendons. Pressure on this nerve can injure it. Such injury results in sensations of numbness, tingling, pain, and clumsiness of the hand. This combination of symptoms is called carpal tunnel syndrome.