What are the branches of the median nerve?

What are the branches of the median nerve?

The median nerve makes its final pass underneath the sublime ridge, a sheath of connective tissue formed by the convergence of the medial and lateral heads of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), before emerging to give off two branches, the anterior interosseous nerve and the median nerve proper.

What are the digital nerves?

In the upper extremity, the digital nerves arise from the median, ulnar, and radial nerves. The 2 palmar digital nerves innervate the palmar aspect of the digit and the nail bed, whereas the dorsal nerves innervate the dorsum of the digit (see images below).

What does the palmar branch of the median nerve supply?

The palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve (PCBm) is located in the volar forearm and supplies afferent fibers to the palmar surface of the hand.

What does the recurrent branch of the median nerve innervate?

Motor branch or recurrent branch of the median nerve, also called as the thenar branch, innervates the intrinsic muscles of the thumb (abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, and the superficial head of the flexor pollicis brevis).

What do the digital nerves do?

Anatomy. Nerves form the wiring system that carries messages between the brain and the body. Digital nerves are nerves that travel from the palm to the tips of the fingers and thumb. They can be damaged by pressure, stretching or cutting.

Where are the median nerve branches located in the hand?

The median nerve branches into four sensory nerves within the hand and are composed of the following orientation: common, proper, common, and common (lateral to medial, anteriorly). The most lateral/radial common branch innervates the volar aspect of the thumb. The proper branch innervates the lateral/radial side of the index finger.

Is the ulnar nerve communicating with the median nerve?

A second variation exists where the communicating branch combines with two proper digital cutaneous branches of the median nerve innervating the 3rd webspace. This variation occurs in (20%) of cases. The third variation is that no communicating branch between the median and ulnar nerve exists.

Where is the proper branch of the palmar digital nerve?

The most lateral/radial common branch innervates the volar aspect of the thumb. The proper branch innervates the lateral/radial side of the index finger. The middle common branch innervates the 2nd webspace (and goes to the medial/ulnar index finger and lateral/radial long finger).

Why is the median nerve called the Million Dollar Nerve?

The median nerve also gives off a recurrent branch to the muscles of the thenar eminence (flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis). It is also known as the ‘million dollar nerve’ to signify its importance for basic hand function.