Median nerve

Median Nerve

The Median Nerve is one of the main nerves in the human forearm and hand. It originates from the brachial plexus, carrying fibers from both the ventral rami of C6 and C7 and the medial and lateral cords of the brachial plexus.

Anatomy

The median nerve is the smallest of the five main nerves that originate from the brachial plexus. It travels down the arm and forearm, passing through the carpal tunnel before ending in the hand.

Arm

In the arm, the median nerve does not supply any structures. It gives off no branches, and runs from the brachial plexus to the elbow.

Forearm

In the forearm, the median nerve gives off many branches, supplying most of the flexor muscles. It also gives off a branch to the pronator teres, the flexor carpi radialis, the palmaris longus, and the flexor digitorum superficialis.

Hand

In the hand, the median nerve supplies the thenar muscles, the lumbricals to the index and middle fingers, and the skin of the palmar aspect of the index, middle, and half of the ring finger.

Clinical significance

Damage to the median nerve can result in median nerve palsy, leading to a number of sensory and motor deficits. This can be caused by a number of factors, including trauma, inflammation, or compression (as in carpal tunnel syndrome).

See also

• Nervous system
• Peripheral nerve injury
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Median nerve Resources
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