Median Nerve

Description

• 
  The surface anatomy of the flexor carpi radialis and palmaris longus upon palmar flexion. The dissection of the cadaver reveals flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, and the median nerve

Median nerve anatomy of the hand

Illustration of the carpal tunnel

Median nerve anatomy

Name

• Median Nerve
• Eye of the hand
• Labourer's nerve
• Million Dollar Nerve

General

• Is one of the five main nerves originating from the brachial plexus.
• It provides motor and sensory innervation to parts of the forearm and hand.
• It receives contributions from C5-T1 nerve roots.

Anatomic Course

• It runs lateral to the axillary artery
• Descends in the arm between the biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles
• It crosses over the brachial artery, and becomes situated medially halfway down the arm
• It enters the hand via the carpal tunnel, where it terminates by dividing into two branches

Branches of the Median Nerve

• Anterior Interosseous Nerve
• Palmar Cutaneous Branch of the Median Nerve
• Recurrent Branch of Median Nerve
• Palmar Digital Nerves

Muscular innervations

• Median nerve proper
  • Pronator Teres
  • Flexor Carpi Radialis
  • Palmaris longus
• Anterior Interosseous Nerve
  • Flexor pollicis longus
  • Pronator quadratus
  • Flexor digitorum profundus
• Recurrent Branch of Median Nerve
  • Thenar Muscles
• Palmar Digital Nerves
  • The palmar digital branch innervates the lateral two lumbricals of the hand

Sensory innervations

• Palmar Cutaneous Branch of the Median Nerve
  • Innervates the lateral aspect of the palm, thenar eminence
• Palmar digital cutaneous branch
  • Innervates the palmar surface and fingertips of the lateral three and half digits

---

Clinical Significance

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Median Nerve Injury

---

See Also

• Forearm Anatomy
• Hand And Wrist Anatomy
• Nerve Anatomy Main

---