| Nerve: Median nerve |
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| Diagram from Gray's anatomy, depicting the peripheral nerves of the upper extremity, amongst others the median nerve |
| Latin |
nervus medianus |
| Gray's |
subject #210 938 |
| Innervates |
Anterior compartment of the forearm (with two exceptions), Thenar eminence, Lumbricals |
| From |
Lateral cord, Medial cord |
| MeSH |
Median+Nerve |
| Dorlands/Elsevier |
n_05/12566162 |
The median nerve is a nerve that runs down the arm and forearm. It is one of the five main nerves originating from the brachial plexus.
The median nerve is formed from parts of the medial and lateral cords of the brachial plexus, and continues down the arm to enter the forearm with the brachial artery.
The median nerve is the only nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel, where it may be compressed to cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
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Contents
- 1 Course
- 1.1 Course in the Upper Arm
- 1.2 Course and Branches in the forearm
- 1.3 Branches in the hand
- 2 Innervation
- 2.1 Upper Arm
- 2.2 Forearm
- 2.3 Hand
- 3 Additional images
- 4 External links
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Course
Course in the Upper Arm
After receiving inputs from both the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus, the median nerve courses with brachial artery on medial side of arm between biceps brachii and brachialis. At first lateral to the artery, it then crosses anteriorly to run medial to the artery in the distal arm and into the cubital fossa.
The median nerve gives off no branches in the upper arm.
Course and Branches in the forearm
The median nerves arises from the cubital fossa and passes between the two heads of pronator teres. It then travels between flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus before emerging between flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor carpi radialis.
The unbranched portion of the median nerve (which arises from the cubital fossa) innervates muscles of superficial and intermediate groups of the anterior compartment except flexor carpi ulnaris
The median nerve does give off two branches as it courses through the forearm:
- The anterior interosseous branch courses with the anterior interosseous artery and innervates all the muscles of the deep group of the anterior compartment of the forearm except the medial (ulnar) half of flexor digitorum profundus. Its ends with its innervation of pronator quadratus.
- The palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve arises at distal part of the forearm. It supplies sensory innervation to the lateral aspect of the palmar skin (but not the digits).
The palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve, which supplies the lateral aspect of the palmar skin arises proximal to the flexor retinaculum and passes superficial to it so does not pass through the carpal tunnel.
Branches in the hand
The median nerve enters the hand through the carpal tunnel, deep to the flexor retinaculum along with the tendons of flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus, and flexor pollicis longus.
From there it sends off several branches:
- 1. Recurrent branch to muscles of the thenar compartment
- 2. Digital cutaneous branches to common palmar digital branch and proper palmar digital branch of the median nerve which supply the:
- a) lateral three and a half digits on the palmar side
- b) index, middle and ring finger on dorsum of the hand
The median nerve supplies motor innervation to the first and second lumbricals.
Innervation
Upper Arm
No motor innervation.
Forearm
It innervates most of the flexors in the forearm except flexor carpi ulnaris and the medial two digits of flexor digitorum profundus, which are supplied by the ulnar nerve.
Unbranched, the median nerves supplies the following muscles.
Superior Group:
- pronator teres
- FCR
- palmaris longus
Intermediate Group:
The anterior interosseus branch supplies the following muscles...
Deep group:
- lateral (radial) half of FDP
- FPL
- pronator quadratus
Hand
In the hand, the median nerve supplies motor innervation to the 1st and 2nd lumbricals and the muscles of the thenar eminence of the hand by a recurrent thenar branch. The rest of the intrinsic muscles of the hand are supplied by the ulnar nerve.
The median nerve innervates the skin of the palmar side of the thumb, the index and middle finger, half the ring finger, and the nail bed of these fingers. The lateral part of the palm is supplied by the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve which leaves the nerve proximal to the wrist creases. This palmar cutaneous branch travels in a separate fascial groove adjacent to the flexor carpi radialis.
Unbranched it supplies...
Central Compartment:
The recurrent branch supplies...
Thenar compartment:
- Flexor pollicis brevis
- Abductor pollicis brevis
- Opponens pollicis
Additional images
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Cross-section through the middle of upper arm.
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Cross-section through the middle of the forearm.
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Transverse section across distal ends of radius and ulna.
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Transverse section across the wrist and digits.
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Ulnar and radial arteries. Deep view.
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The right brachial plexus (infraclavicular portion) in the axillary fossa; viewed from below and in front.
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Cutaneous nerves of right upper extremity. Anterior view.
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Diagram of segmental distribution of the cutaneous nerves of the right upper extremity. Anterior view.
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Diagram of segmental distribution of the cutaneous nerves of the right upper extremity. Posterior view.
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Superficial palmar nerves.
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Front of right upper extremity, showing surface markings for bones, arteries, and nerves.
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